[翻譯] 評四鞭經典，看美鞭興衰（四）：Among the Living

[coolfly (早安，黑色星期五)]

Anthrax《Among the Living》
炭疽熱《生活之中》
作者：Matthijs van der Lee
來源：Sputnikmusic（http://tinyurl.com/2ckvr2l）

Part IV of IV: Among the Living, by Anthrax
四之其四：《生活之中》──炭疽熱專輯

Prologue
前言

Anthrax formed in mid-’81, set up by rhythm guitarist Scott Ian and bassist
Danny Lilker. Eventually, their initial line-up was completed by vocalist
Neil Turbin, lead guitarists Dan Spitz and drummer Charlie Benante. Debut
Fistful of Metal earned the boys some success, but Lilker was soon afterwards
kicked out due to unprofessional behaviour, and replaced by Frank Bello. In ’
84, Turbin got kicked out next, and was after some time replaced by Joey
Belladonna. The new formation would eventually be regarded as the classic
Anthrax line-up, and lasted 7 years.
Anthrax在1981年年中成軍。該團由節奏吉他手Scott Ian和貝斯手Danny Lilker發起，最
後確定的初期陣容包含了主唱Neil Turbin、主奏吉他手Dan Spitz，以及鼓手Charlie
Benante。處女作《Fistful of Metal》為他們贏得了一些成功，但Lilker隨後很快就因
不敬業的行為而被開除，由Frank Bello取而代之。接著在1984年，Turbin也被踢出樂團
，過了一陣子之後由Joey Belladonna接任主唱。這個新組合後來將被認為是Anthrax的經
典陣容，並維持了七年之久。

The band were quite different from most other metal bands playing at the
time, having a less serious, even often humorous approach to music and image.
Follow-up Spreading the Disease saw the new band earning some more experience
together, and it was then, in 1986, that Anthrax would continue to record
their contribution to the Big Four Albums: Among the Living. This would only
be released in 1987, but is accounted to the Four famous 1986 works
nonetheless, and many agree Anthrax have never come close to equalling it.
該團和當時大多數的金屬樂團風格不太一樣，比較不那麼嚴肅，甚至在音樂和形象上都常
採取比較幽默的路線。接著發行的《Spreading the Disease》中，可以看出樂團的新陣
容還在磨合，然後，在1986年，Anthrax繼續錄製了他們貢獻給這四張偉大專輯的作品：
《Among the Living》。這張專輯要到1987年才會發行，但還是應該要算在四張1986年的
著名專輯之中；並且許多人同意，Anthrax再也沒有過接近這張作品的表現。

Among the Living
正文：《生活之中》

Among the Living’s Anthrax was:
本專輯中，樂團陣容如下：

- Joseph Bellardini ~ Vocals
- Dan Spitz ~ Lead Guitar
- Scott Ian Rosenfeld ~ Rhythm Guitar
- Frank Bello ~ Bass Guitar
- Charlie Benante ~ Drums

Dedicated to the memory of Clifford Lee Burton. 
本作獻給Clifford Lee Burton，永誌緬懷

Artwork by Don Brautigam.
美術設計：Don Brautigam

With tributes to Stephen King novels (Among the Living, Skeleton in the
Closet) and comic book characters (I Am the Law), Anthrax indeed doesn’t
seem to take the thrash approach at all in manner of subject. That doesn’t
mean Among the Living is entirely without serious thematics. Both Indians and
One World both touch the political subject matter, and Efilnikufesin deals
with the life and death of John Belushi, and most importantly his drug abuse
(it says Nise Fukin Life spelled backwards). But even on the more serious of
songs, Anthrax’s tone remains light-hearted, and though they’ve always been
the smallest brother of the Four, this plays of their greatest strengths and
establishes necessary uniqueness.
這張專輯上有著向史蒂芬金小說致敬（〈Among the Living〉、〈Skeleton in the
Closet〉），以及關於漫畫角色（〈I Am the Law〉）的作品，Anthrax的確不打算在處
理歌曲主題上採取鞭笞金屬慣用的路線。這不是說《Among the Living》完全沒有嚴肅主
題的歌曲，像〈Indians〉和〈One World〉這兩首就觸碰到了政治議題。而〈
Efilnikufesin〉則是在談論John Belushi的生涯與死亡（按：美國喜劇演員，Saturday 
Night Live的原始班底，在1982年因喀藥過量被人發現陳屍於旅館房內），以及最重要的
：他的毒癮問題（歌名就是Nise Fukin Life(這他媽的人生)的反轉）。但即使是在這些
比較嚴肅的作品上，Anthrax聽來仍很活潑開朗。而儘管他們一直是四天王中最小的一團
，這種風格正是他們的強項，並且令他們與眾不同。

The boys behind the record form a musical powerhouse. Especially impressive
are Ian’s rhythmic work and Bello’s very strong, clear, and instantly
recognizable bass lines (especially very present on the first half of the
album). Benante shows a wide variety of drum patterns and fills, and manages
to play varied in both fast and slow tempos. While Spitz takes on lead guitar
however, his work, and especially solos are not very impressive, and perhaps
a bit of a letdown, though it works well for the interplay of the band. 
團員在這張專輯中就像個音樂發電廠一樣。特別出色的是Ian的節奏吉他編曲，以及Bello
那強勁、清晰而且立即可辨的貝斯旋律（尤其在專輯前半部特別有存在感）。Benante將
鼓的花式和過門編得豐富多變，而且盡可能在快拍和慢拍時都打得充滿變化。雖然擔任主
奏吉他手的Spitz，他的表現，尤其是在solo上，實在不怎麼搶眼，或許甚至是有點差。
但就跟其他樂器相互搭配的結果來說，還算是不錯。

The real odd man out, although in the positive way, is Belladonna, who is
surprisingly talented for a thrash vocalist. Just listen to Hetfield, Araya
and Mustaine. None of them can really sing, but Belladonna here is quite the
exception. He has the expression of a power metal vocalist, almost, reminding
of the greats such as Halford and Dickinson, but his range falls in the lower
register, making for a very interesting combination of features. He shows his
versatility in some powerful shouts more reminiscent of his thrash
contemporaries, while his high screams are quite the force to be reckoned
with (I Am the Law, anyone?). While he tends to get annoying after listening
to him for too long, he is also an unique player is old school thrash.
這之中真正明顯的怪傢伙──這是褒義──是Belladonna，作為一個鞭金主唱，他展現了
驚人的才華。聽聽看Hetfield、Araya和Mustaine，他們沒有一個是真的會唱歌的，但
Belladonna在此是個例外。他有類似力量金屬主唱的表現力，讓人聯想到Halford和
Dickinson這些偉大主唱，但音域較低，令他的歌聲像是許多特色的有趣結合。他也展現
了自己作為主唱的多才多藝，他的一些嘶吼令人想起他那些鞭金同儕，但同時他的尖叫也
強而有力（〈I Am the Law〉，大家都同意吧？）。雖然如果聽他唱歌太久，會覺得有點
煩，但他在老學校鞭金中是個獨特的人物。

What these musiscians produced together is an aggressive, fast and very
consistent record that contains much of Anthrax’ very best material. It
combines the constant riffing of Metallica with the ongoing ferociousness of
Slayer, while adding some unique standout features in incredibly enjoyable
bass lines and a somewhat different vocalist. Although it gets a tad
repetitive towards the end, Among the Living will pound your ears for a whole
50 minutes, and you’ll be sure to like it. Certainly one of the more unique
of the Four.
這些音樂家一起做出了一張富有侵略性、快速並且結實一致的專輯，收錄了絕大多數
Anthrax的最佳作品。它結合了Metallica穩重的Riff，和Slayer勇往直前的暴烈，並且在
那好聽得不可思議的貝斯旋律中加入了一些獨特精采的特色，並且有著一位不太一樣的主
唱。雖然它在快到結尾時變得有點令人生膩，但《Among the Living》將會整整撼動你的
耳膜50分鐘，而你一定會喜歡上它，絕對是四張專輯中較為特殊的一張。

Essential listening:
推薦聆聽

Among the Living
Caught in a Mosh
I Am the Law
Indians

Epilogue
結語

After the classic line-up fell apart after 7 years, the band parting ways
with Belladonna, Anthrax’ success was still moderate with John Bush but
unsurprisingly never equalled or surpassed that of the good old days. The
classic line-up reunited in 2005, only to fall apart again in 2007, not
actually having recorded anything. The band had a brief stint with newcomer
Dan Nelson, but as of now, he left, and Anthrax remains with the
half-finished Worship Music and need of a new vocalist.
這個經典陣容在七年後破散，樂團與Belladonna拆夥。主唱改換為John Bush 後，
Anthrax依然還是個蠻成功的樂團，但毫不意外地無法達到或超越過去的光輝歲月。2005
年，經典陣容破鏡重圓，然而又在2007年拆夥，沒有真的錄製什麼作品。該團在新成員
Dan Nelson加入後，短暫製作過專輯一陣子；但在目前，他已經離團，而Anthrax手上是
一張做到一半的《Worship Music》，並且需要一個新主唱。

…And so it was that thrash metal reached a great peak. 1986 was the year,
and its releases were great. Shaped out of traditions found in early British
heavy metal, the genre chose its roots well. Rebellious, ranting,
straightforward and anti-commercial were just a few of its key features, and
the Four established a whole new look upon the musical world. It was long
that thrash lasted, and it still lives on today, in the hearts of young and
old. For those willing to delve deeper than the surface, they will find
beauty and joy in the genre that is perhaps not to everyone’s full endeavour.
……而這就是鞭笞金屬的顛峰，1986年！這年推出的作品偉大非凡。這個流派妥善地選擇
了它的源頭，從早期英國重金屬樂所建立起的傳統中磨削成型。叛逆、張狂、直言無諱，
且反商業化，只是它的幾項主要特色；而這四張專輯替它在音樂世界中建立起全新的面貌
。鞭金存續了很久，而今時今日，它依然活著，活在老一輩和新一輩的樂迷心中。對於那
些不僅淺嚐，而願深掘的人，他們會發現也許不用竭盡全力，就能體會到這個流派的美妙
。


THE END
全文完


（高仕艷　譯）

--
      I had nothing but the embittered sun...
      我一無所有，除卻那怨毒的太陽……

--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 114.38.106.89
推 FFAF:推 附上中英順便學英文= =學測快到了
推 MotleyCrue:推~~也祝樓上考試順利~~
推 dtrock:唉 輝煌的80年代阿 ......
推 loudness:平凡中更顯偉大  推ANTHRAX
→ loudness:TESTAMENT的LEGACY要是早一年推出  就成了BIG 5
推 twod758:其實個人覺得Overkill可以擠進去....擠掉Anthrax..(跑
推 Thrasher:我推.......The Legacy
   Anthrax慘遭忽略...XD
推 doomtwtw:Belladonna不是已經回來了嗎?
   因為這篇文是09年9月寫的，Belladonna今年才回團:)
※ 編輯: coolfly         來自: 114.38.125.139       (11/30 21:58)
推 marspooh:Anthrax在那時太火紅,很難被擠掉~~
→ wpd:Big 4才初次聽到A團  有些尾音還真的滿像鐵媽的 XDD