Cursum Perficio

This article is about the studio album. For the Enya song, see Watermark (Enya album).
Cursum Perficio
Studio album by
Anthrax
ReleasedSeptember 18, 2026 (2026-09-18)
Recorded2023 – 2026
StudioStudio 606, Northridge
LabelMegaforce
ProducerJay Ruston
Anthrax chronology
XL
(2022) 		Cursum Perficio
(2026)
Anthrax studio chronology
For All Kings
(2016) 		Cursum Perficio
(2026)
Singles from Cursum Perficio
  1. "It's For the Kids"
    Released: May 15, 2026[1]

Cursum Perficio is the upcoming twelfth studio album by American thrash metal band Anthrax, expected to be released on September 18, 2026.[1][2] It will be the band's first studio album in ten years since For All Kings (2016), marking the longest gap between two albums in their career. This album is the band's first since Volume 8: The Threat Is Real (1998) not to feature a lineup change from the previous album.

Background and recording

When asked in May 2018 if Anthrax had begun working on their twelfth studio album, guitarist Scott Ian stated, "Very, very, very preliminary stages. There's a couple of really great riffs. Charlie's sent around some really great ideas. But we haven't actually started working on anything. We've just been too busy touring."[3] A month later, bassist Frank Bello claimed that Anthrax had intended to be back in the studio by mid-2018, but because they agreed to open for Slayer on their farewell tour, they were not expected to start writing their new album until at 2019 at the earliest.[4][5]

After years of false starts and stops,[6][7] Anthrax entered the studio in the spring of 2023 to begin recording their twelfth studio album.[8] Frontman Joey Belladonna began recording his vocals on November 5, 2023,[9] and production of the album continued within another two years.[10] Although Bello had stated the album would be in the fall of 2025,[11] it was left unfinished by the middle of the year, with drummer Charlie Benante revealing that the band had thrown "out a bunch of old tunes and made some new ones that destroy the older ones", and Belladonna claiming he had "maybe two or three more" songs left to record.[12][13] Bello confirmed in July 2025 that the album was in the mixing stages,[14] and Benante announced the same month that a new Anthrax song would be released before the end of the year.[15] Bello announced in February 2026 that the new album would be released in May of that year,[16] though Benante later clarified that it will be released in September while the first single will be released in May.[17] In a March 2026 interview with Bravewords.com, Ian and Benante revealed Cursum Perficio as the title of the album.[18][19]

Title meaning

Despite the album's title, which is translated as "My journey has come to an end", "My journey is over" or "I complete my journey" in Latin, the members of Anthrax have clarified that this will not be their final studio album.[1][2][18] In March 2026, drummer Charlie Benante commented on the meaning of the album title:

There was a whole idea going around about, all the four bands, the Big 4 bands, kind of getting to the point where, "Wow, this may be the time that this could be the last record". And I was watching this Marilyn Monroe documentary. She has this plaque in her house, which said, "Cursum Perficio" which means "My journey has come to an end" or "My journey is over". And we were talking, and "What about this?". We don't really have to say that this is the end.[18]

Release and promotion

On May 11, 2026, Anthrax announced that Cursum Perficio will be released on September 18, 2026, with the first single "It's for the Kids" to be released on May 15.[1][2]

Prior to the release of Cursum Perficio, the band (along with Exodus) opened for Megadeth on the Canadian leg of their final tour in February and March 2026,[20] and they will also support Iron Maiden on select dates to the North American leg of their Run for Your Lives World Tour that fall.[21]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Joey Belladonna, Frank Bello, Charlie Benante and Scott Ian.

Cursum Perficio track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Persistence of Memory"1:07
2."The Long Goodbye"5:34
3."It's For the Kids"4:20
4."Everybody's Got a Plan"4:36
5."The Edge of Perfection"6:46
6."Infectious"5:16
7."NYC 93"4:48
8."Cursum Perficio"6:08
9."T.O.M.B."4:31
10."Watch It Go"5:43
11."My Victory"4:54
Total length:53:43

References

  1. ^ a b c d "ANTHRAX Announces New Album 'Cursum Perficio', Shares First Single And Video 'It's For The Kids'". Blabbermouth.net. May 15, 2026. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  2. ^ a b c "ANTHRAX To Release New Single 'It's For The Kids' On Friday; Long-Awaited New Album 'Cursum Perficio' To Arrive In September". Blabbermouth.net. May 11, 2026. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  3. ^ "Anthrax Guitarist Scott Ian: 'For Us, Writing Songs Is Still Super Exciting'". Blabbermouth.net. May 31, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  4. ^ "Anthrax: When Are We Going to Work on Another Album". Ultimate-Guitar.com. June 6, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  5. ^ "Anthrax to Begin Work on New Album After Touring with Slayer". Ultimate-Guitar.com. June 13, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  6. ^ "Anthrax: New Album May Not Be Released Until 2022". Ultimate-Guitar.com. November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  7. ^ "New ANTHRAX Album 'Should' Be Released In 2023, Says SCOTT IAN". Blabbermouth.net. May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  8. ^ "ANTHRAX To Begin Recording New Album In Two Weeks". Blabbermouth.net. April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  9. ^ "JOEY BELLADONNA to Begin Recording Vocals for New ANTHRAX Album Today". November 5, 2023.
  10. ^ "Anthrax readies first new album in 10 years: 'So riff-centric and brutal'". 105.7 The Point. April 30, 2025. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  11. ^ "Anthrax Planning Fall Release for Long-Awaited New Album". Consequence. January 27, 2025. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  12. ^ "ANTHRAX To Resume Recording New Album Next Week: 'It's In The Oven And Cooking', Says CHARLIE BENANTE". Blabbermouth.net. March 30, 2025. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  13. ^ "ANTHRAX's JOEY BELLADONNA Says He Still Has 'Maybe Two Or Three More' Songs Left To Record For Upcoming Album". Blabbermouth.net. February 5, 2025. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  14. ^ "FRANK BELLO Says New ANTHRAX Album Is 'Done': 'It's Going Into Mixing Now'". Blabbermouth.net. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  15. ^ "ANTHRAX To Release New Song Before The End Of 2025". Blabbermouth.net. July 25, 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  16. ^ "ANTHRAX's Long-Awaited New Studio Album Is Tentatively Due In May 2026, Says FRANK BELLO". Blabbermouth.net. February 11, 2026. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
  17. ^ "New ANTHRAX Album Pushed Back To September 2026; First Single To Arrive In May". Blabbermouth.net. March 19, 2026. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
  18. ^ a b c "ANTHRAX' CHARLIE BENANTE, SCOTT IAN Talk About New Album - "MARILYN MONROE Has This Plaque In Her House Which Said 'Cursum Perficio'"". Bravewords.com. March 28, 2026. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
  19. ^ "ANTHRAX Reveal New Album Title "Cursum Perficio" (Release Now Set For September 2026)". Music Anvil. March 30, 2026.
  20. ^ "MEGADETH Announces 2026 Canadian Tour With ANTHRAX And EXODUS". Blabbermouth.net. November 25, 2025. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  21. ^ "IRON MAIDEN Announces 2026 North American Tour With MEGADETH And ANTHRAX". Blabbermouth.net. October 23, 2025. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
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