Bringing The Poison Down Under With SCOTT IAN From ANTHRAX

Thrash metal titans ANTHRAX return to Australia later this month for four huge shows. Bold and uncompromising, ANTHRAX stands as one of the legendary “Big Four” of thrash, a band whose breakneck riffs and mosh-pit anthems have shaped heavy music for over four decades.
On their 2026 Australian tour, ANTHRAX will ignite stages in Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, performing a career-spanning arsenal of classics. Fans can expect a high-octane set packed with fan favourites, deep cuts and new-era highlights as Anthrax once again prove why they remain one of metal’s most vital live forces.
HEAVY caught up with guitarist Scott Ian to find out more. One of the things we ask is what has changed with the band since they were last here in 2019.
"The main thing is we made a record," he replied with a sense of pride. "We finished an album. It's done and it's coming out soon. There will be an announcement soon. That's all the information I have or that I can give. And we're very I'm very, very, very excited about it. And maybe people in Australia will get to hear a little bit of it when we're down there at the end of the month. That's the that's the major, the major change from six years ago, for sure."
In the full interview, Scott addressed setlist strategy, noting the band balances staple hits with rotating deeper cuts because it is impossible to please every fan, and the group continues to adjust choices to keep shows engaging. Scott reviewed geographic differences in crowd energy, highlighting particularly passionate responses in Melbourne and several South American cities. He also described a recent back injury sustained during a cold outdoor cruise show, his appearance in Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition and more.


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