Was State of Euphoria too happy for thrash metal or was that exactly what made it so damn fun?
Released on September 18th, 1988, State of Euphoria arrived with a difficult job: follow Anthrax breakthrough Among the Living.
The pressure was massive.
The result was an album that mixed razor-sharp thrash riffs with catchy choruses, humor, social commentary and a surprisingly upbeat energy. It reached No. 30 on the Billboard 200 and eventually earned Gold certification from the RIAA.
But State of Euphoria has always been an interesting chapter in Anthrax history.
Some fans loved its personality. Others thought it sounded too “happy” compared with the darker, more aggressive thrash coming out at the time.
And then there’s “Antisocial”.
Let’s get into the tracks that make this album worth cranking up again.
“Antisocial”
You don’t have to be an Anthrax die-hard to recognize this one.
“Antisocial” became the album biggest hit and one of Anthrax most recognizable live songs. But here’s the fun part: it wasn’t originally an Anthrax song.
The track was written and recorded by French rock band Trust and Anthrax turned it into a fast, aggressive metal anthem of their own.
That “Oi!”-driven chorus is impossible to ignore.
And once thousands of people start shouting it together at a concert, there’s really no going back.
“Be All, End All”
The album opens in a much more dramatic way.
“Be All, End All” begins with a moody cello introduction performed by Carol Moore before suddenly exploding into a classic Anthrax thrash riff.
It’s a great example of what made the album interesting: the band wasn’t afraid to throw unexpected elements into their thrash attack.
Quiet. Dramatic. Then — BOOM.
“Make Me Laugh”
Anthrax weren’t exactly known for keeping their opinions to themselves.
“Make Me Laugh” takes aim at televangelists, specifically the highly publicized scandals surrounding Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker.
The song lyrics are sarcastic, aggressive and packed with the kind of cynical humor that fits Anthrax perfectly.
And yes, the song goes after details that sound almost too ridiculous to be real including the Bakkers’ infamous air-conditioned doghouse and Heritage USA Christian theme park.
Sometimes reality writes the best metal lyrics.
“Who Cares Wins”
“Who Cares Wins” takes the album in a more serious direction.
The song addresses homelessness and society’s indifference toward people living on the streets, showing that beneath Anthrax humor and comic-book energy was a band willing to tackle uncomfortable real-world issues.
It’s one of the tracks that gives State of Euphoria some extra weight.
“Now It’s Dark”
This one comes with a seriously strange inspiration.
“Now It’s Dark” was inspired by Frank Booth, the twisted character played by Dennis Hopper in David Lynch cult classic Blue Velvet.
Musically, the song is heavy and rhythmic, giving it a darker character than some of the album more upbeat material.
And years later, it found an entirely unexpected second life when Anthrax re-recorded it in Simlish for The Sims.
Yes. Anthrax. Thrash metal. Simlish.
Somewhere, Frank Booth is probably still confused.
An Album the Band Thought Was Rushed
Here’s where the story gets interesting.
Despite State of Euphoria eventually going Gold, members of Anthrax particularly Charlie Benante and Scott Ian have said they felt the album was rushed.
The enormous success of Among the Living put pressure on the band and the record label wanted to capitalize on that momentum.
The turnaround was tight.
As a result, the band later described the record as feeling more like a collection of demos than a completely finished album.
That’s a strange thing to say about an album that went Gold.
But maybe that’s part of what makes State of Euphoria so fascinating.
It’s imperfect. It’s energetic.
And it sounds like Anthrax having fun.
Mort Drucker Meets Anthrax
The back cover is another perfect example of the band personality.
The cartoonish illustration was created by legendary Mad magazine caricaturist Mort Drucker, depicting the band members with plenty of hidden details and pop-culture jokes.
Look closely and you’ll find Frank Bello wearing a Spy vs. Spy shirt plus an unexpected white chicken casually wandering through the scene.
Because apparently even the album artwork needed a little Anthrax chaos.
Charlie’s Archives
The 30th Anniversary edition added another fascinating piece of history.
Disc 2 featured “Charlie’s Archives” a collection of raw rehearsal recordings that lets fans hear the songs taking shape.
Instead of only hearing the polished album versions, you get a glimpse into how the riffs developed from basic rehearsal-room ideas into finished Anthrax tracks.
For anyone interested in how thrash songs are actually born, that’s pretty damn cool.
So… What’s the Best Track?
State of Euphoria has the massive cover song, the dramatic opener, the cynical humor, the social commentary and one of the strangest inspirations in Anthrax’s catalog.
Maybe “Antisocial” is impossible to beat.
Maybe “Be All, End All” deserves more love.
Or perhaps you’re going straight for “Now It’s Dark”.
There’s only one way to settle it.
Vote for Your Favorite
What’s the best track on Anthrax’s State of Euphoria?
Cast your vote below and if your favorite isn’t the obvious choice, tell us why.
Because with Anthrax, the answer doesn’t always have to be the expected one. 🤘
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