Anthrax announce first new single in a decade and release date for upcoming album
Anthrax have confirmed that their new single “It’s For The Kids” will be released on Friday, May 15, 2026. The track is the first taste of the band’s twelfth studio album, “Cursum Perficio”, scheduled for September 18 via Megaforce in North America and Nuclear Blast in Europe. It marks the group’s first new studio material since For All Kings in 2016.
Recording and mixing sessions took place at Dave Grohl’s Studio 606 in Northridge, California, once again with producer Jay Ruston, who previously worked on both For All Kings and Worship Music (2011). The official music video for “It’s For The Kids” was filmed last December. The album is reported to contain 11 tracks, including “Persistence Of Memory”, “The Long Goodbye”, “Everybody’s Got A Plan”, “NYC 93” and the title track “Cursum Perficio”.
The album’s Latin title is taken from an inscription at the doorstep of Marilyn Monroe’s final home in Brentwood, Los Angeles. Drummer Charlie Benante said the phrase emerged from discussions among members of the thrash metal “Big Four” about whether their next albums might be their last. Guitarist Scott Ian put the decade-long gap in context: the For All Kings tour ran until November 2019, and the pandemic followed immediately after. In practical terms, writing and recording took roughly three years.
Bassist Frank Bello described the record as one of the most technically demanding of the band’s career, singling out Joey Belladonna's vocal performances as a particular highlight. The physical release will feature elaborate packaging including a pop-up element, with artwork created by illustrator Mark Stutzman.
