ANTHRAX I'm The Man Thrash Metal 12" EP Vinyl Album Cover Gallery & Information #vinylrecords

"I'm The Man" Album Description

Anthrax's 1987 EP, "I'm The Man," is a pivotal release that showcases the band's unique blend of thrash metal intensity and tongue-in-cheek humor. This extended play, cemented Anthrax's status as innovators of the burgeoning thrash scene while simultaneously pushing the genre's boundaries. Let's explore its musical attack, social commentary, and the playful visual elements of its artwork.

Musical Fury and Unexpected Covers

Anthrax's musical prowess shines throughout the EP. Tracks like "I'm The Man" and "Caught in a Mosh" (live) showcase Joey Belladonna's frantic vocals and the band's trademark razor-sharp riffs. The inclusion of a blistering cover of Black Sabbath's "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" serves as both a homage to their forefathers and a flex of their own musical muscle. By interweaving humor and heaviness, the band set themselves apart from their thrash metal contemporaries.

Artwork: A Playful Assault

The "I'm The Man" vinyl sleeve captures the record's playful spirit. The cover features a cartoonish depiction of the band, a far cry from the grim imagery prevalent in thrash metal artwork. This lighthearted visual approach, combined with the album's unexpected lyrical content, added a layer of accessibility and satire.

Featured Song: "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" Explained

Heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath left an indelible mark on the genre with their 1973 album, "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath". The title track, with its brooding atmosphere and iconic riffs, became a cornerstone of the metal sound. In 1987, thrash metal giants Anthrax paid homage to Sabbath by offering their own blistering take on this classic.

While Black Sabbath's version embodies a slow-burning doom, Anthrax's cover of "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" injects a dose of adrenaline. Their rendition stays true to the song's core structure but ratchets up the tempo, adding a relentless thrash energy. Joey Belladonna's powerful vocals bring a fresh dimension to the track, while the band's signature intensity is woven throughout.

Anthrax's cover is more than a simple reproduction; it's a masterful tribute and an exciting reinterpretation. They honor the foundational work of Black Sabbath while seamlessly introducing their own thrash metal style, creating a thrilling fusion that stands on its own.

The playful conclusion of Anthrax's version further highlights their unique approach. Dedicating the song to Arnold Ziffel, the pig from the sitcom *Green Acres*, showcases their sense of humor and adds a lighthearted twist to the song's inherent darkness.

Listen to it:

Music Genre: Thrash Metal Music
Collector's info: The band, Eddie Kramer and Paul Hammingson produced the album, which includes the single, "I'm the Man". I'm the Man was certified platinum by the RIAA.
Album Production Information: Produced by Eddie Kramer , Jon Zazula and Anthrax for Remarkable Productions. Edwin H. “Eddie” Kramer – Producer, Audio Engineer The guy who could take Hendrix saying “make it sound green” and somehow turn that into real audio. Read more... Edwin H. “Eddie” Kramer, in my book, is rock’s ultimate behind-the-glass magician: starting in London studios in the early 1960s, then going full-throttle with Jimi Hendrix from 1967–1970, capturing Woodstock (1969), engineering major Led Zeppelin work from 1969 onward, steering Electric Lady Studios as engineering director in 1970–1974, and later locking in that arena punch with Kiss through the mid/late 1970s (and beyond). When I see his credit, I expect big guitars, bigger atmosphere, and a mix that still feels alive. Edwin H. “Eddie” Kramer Wiki Jon Zazula – Megaforce Records founder & metal scene catalyst The “Jonny Z” era starts in the East Brunswick trenches (early ’80s), then detonates with Metallica in 1982–1983 and keeps rolling through Megaforce years with bands like Anthrax (notably 1985–1991), Overkill, Testament, and Manowar. Read more... Jon Zazula, in my head, is proof that heavy metal didn’t just “happen” in the ’80s—it got built by obsessive weirdos with good ears and zero chill. He ran the Rock ’n’ Roll Heaven record store in East Brunswick, New Jersey, and used that shop as a kind of underground command center, blasting demos through the tape-trading network until the right bands found the right people. The pivotal moment (and yeah, it’s basically metal folklore at this point) lands in the winter of 1982, when he heard Metallica’s “No Life ’Til Leather” demo, pulled them to New York, and helped push them onto their first real East Coast stages—then Megaforce Records followed, and “Kill ’Em All” hit in 1983 like a crowbar to the radio. After that, his “periods” with bands were less about being onstage and more about being the guy who opened doors: the Megaforce run expanded from Metallica and Manowar in the early ’80s to a wider roster that included Anthrax (a key 1985–1991 stretch), plus acts like Overkill and Testament—basically a roll call of bands that helped define what American metal would sound like when it stopped asking permission. Jon Zazula Wiki Produced by Paul Hammingson George Marino (1947-2012) - Mastering Engineer George Marino – Mastering Engineer When my site brain goes full 1980s metal mode, his name keeps showing up like a hidden signature in the dead wax. Read more... George Marino is one of those behind-the-glass legends who made heavy music feel larger than the room it was playing in. Before the mastering console became his throne, he was a Bronx guitarist doing the NYC band grind in the 1960s with groups like The Chancellors and The New Sounds Ltd. Then he went pro for real: starting at Capitol Studios in New York (1967), and eventually becoming a long-running force at Sterling Sound (from 1973 onward). For a collector like me—living in that sweet spot where 1980s heavy metal, hard rock, and a dash of prog-minded ambition collide—Marino’s credits read like a stack of essential sleeves: Holy Diver (Dio), Tooth and Nail (Dokken), Stay Hard (Raven), Master of Puppets (Metallica), Somewhere in Time (Iron Maiden), Among the Living (Anthrax), Appetite for Destruction (Guns N’ Roses), Slippery When Wet (Bon Jovi), and Blow Up Your Video (AC/DC). That’s the kind of resume that doesn’t just “master” records—it weaponizes them, but with taste. George Marino Wiki Mark "Weissguy" Weiss - Photography Mark Weiss – Photography Mark Weiss is a renowned rock and roll photographer who has captured some of the most iconic moments in music history. Known for his dynamic images of legends like Bon Jovi, Van Halen, and Guns N’ Roses, Weiss’s work defines the visual essence of rock’s golden era. His photography continues to inspire generations. Learn more about Mark Weiss.
Record Label & Catalognr: Megaforce Worldwide / Island Records 208 786 (208786)
Media Format: 12" EP
Year & Country: 1987 Made in EEC

Band Members and Musicians on: Anthrax I'm The Man

Joey Belladonna Vocals
Joey Belladonna ( Lead Vocals, Drums ) is an American Singer from Oswego, New York and best known as lead singer in the American ( East-Coast ) Thrash Metal band Anthrax. Belladonna has been with Anthrax since 1984 with several long breaks in-between. Learn more about him
Dan Spitz Guitar
Dan Spitz ( full-name: Daniel Alan Spitz ) is an American musician and Heavy Metal watch-maker. Spitz started his musical career in 1981 as guitarist in the American Thrash Metal band Overkill. He left Overkill in 1983 to join Anthrax as lead guitarist. Spitz performed in Anthrax mainly from 1983 until 1995. After 1995 he started to developed himself into mechanical watchmaker and has won several awards for this.
Scott Ian Guitar, Vocals
Scott Ian – Rhythm guitarist, lyricist & thrash metal co-founder
Scott Ian (born Scott Ian Rosenfeld) is the riff-engine who’s been steering Anthrax since 1981, with side-quests that hit like bonus levels: S.O.D. (1985–1991; reunions in 1999 and 2007), The Damned Things (2009–2012; 2019–present), Motor Sister (2014–present), and Mr. Bungle (around 2020–present). Read more...
Scott Ian, I’ve always thought of him as the human proof that rhythm guitar can be the main character. He’s best known as the co-founder, rhythm guitarist, and primary lyricist of Anthrax (1981–present), and he’s the only member who’s been there for the whole ride while the rest of the lineup history does its usual metal soap-opera thing. Outside Anthrax, his “periods” with other bands map out a whole corner of crossover and hard rock: he co-founded Stormtroopers of Death (S.O.D.) for the original run in 1985–1991, then popped back in for reunion eras in 1999 and 2007; he shifted into supergroup mode with The Damned Things (2009–2012, then back again from 2019 to the present); he formed Motor Sister in 2014 and kept it rolling; and he became part of the revived Mr. Bungle lineup around 2020. The vibe I get is simple: Ian doesn’t just play riffs—he builds lanes for other people to drive dangerously fast through.
Scott Ian Wiki
Frank Bello Bass
Frank Bello ( Full-name: Francis Charles Joseph Bello ) is from the Bronx, New York and has been bass guitarist with the American Thrash Metal band Anthrax since 1984.
Charlie Benante Drums
Charlie Benante ( Drums ) long-time drummer with the American Thrash Metal band Anthrax, since 1983 and also performed in S.O.D. Stormtroopers Of Death.

Complete Track Listing of: Anthrax I'm The Man

I'm the Man (Censored Radio Version) (Joey Belladonna, Frank Bello, Charlie Benante, Scott Ian, John Rooney, Dan Spitz) 3:03
I'm the Man (Def Uncensored Version) (Belladonna, Bello, Benante, Ian, Rooney, Spitz) 3:04
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Bill Ward) 5:48
I'm the Man (Live) (Belladonna, Bello, Benante, Ian, Rooney, Spitz) 4:39
Caught in a Mosh (Live) (Anthrax) 5:34
I Am the Law (Live) (Anthrax/Lilker) 5:48

Album Cover Photo Gallery of: Anthrax I'm The Man

Photo of Album's Back Cover

High Resolution Photo #1 Anthrax Im The Man EEC

Note: The images on this page are photos of the actual album. Slight differences in color may exist due to the use of the camera's flash. Images can be zoomed in/out ( eg pinch with your fingers on a tablet or smartphone )