Published: September 8, 2026 · 2:24 AM EDT
Anthrax bassist Frank Bello speaks with Gino Alache about Cursum Perficio, the band’s first studio album in a decade, its first singles, the evolution of Anthrax, his life in the band and what continues to drive them after more than four decades.
Anthrax are preparing to release Cursum Perficio, their first studio album in ten years, on September 18, 2026. Ahead of its arrival, bassist Frank Bello joined Gino Alache for an exclusive conversation with Rockum about the making of the record, the long road that led to it and where Anthrax find themselves after more than four decades together.
The new album arrives a decade after For All Kings, making Cursum Perficio a particularly important chapter in Anthrax’s history. During the interview, Bello discusses how the record finally came together despite the members of Anthrax being involved in numerous projects outside the band, how the writing developed and what separates the new material from its predecessor.
The conversation also looks at what Cursum Perficio adds to Anthrax’s catalogue and what may surprise listeners when they finally hear the complete album. The record is due September 18 and features 11 tracks, marking the band’s first full-length studio release since 2016.
Several of those songs had already begun introducing this new era before the album’s release. Bello talks about “It’s For The Kids,” “The Edge Of Perfection” and “Everybody’s Got A Plan,” including why those songs were chosen to represent the record and how they connect the classic identity of Anthrax with the band as it exists today.
The reaction to new Anthrax music also becomes part of the discussion. Anthrax began in an era decades before YouTube and social media, yet new songs and videos continue reaching audiences on a scale that would have been impossible when the band started. Alache asks Bello what it means to see new Anthrax material continue finding listeners after more than 40 years.
The title Cursum Perficio can be translated as “I complete my journey,” opening a more personal part of the conversation with Bello. The bassist reflects on what that idea means after the road he has travelled with Anthrax, what still excites him about playing bass, what makes him proud when he looks back at his career and what he might tell the younger Frank Bello who was only beginning that journey.
From there, the interview turns toward the road and the future. Bello discusses performing the new material live, what continues to keep Anthrax hungry after approximately 45 years and whether there are still things he hopes to accomplish with the band.
The conversation was recorded before Anthrax’s September 3, 2026 appearance in Montreal with Iron Maiden and Megadeth. That portion of the interview also touches on Anthrax’s relationship with those bands, the friendships built over the years, the fans and the band’s longstanding connection with Montreal.
At the center of the conversation, however, remains Cursum Perficio: a new Anthrax record arriving after a ten-year studio gap and another chapter in a career that has continued to evolve without leaving behind the identity that established the band as one of thrash metal’s defining names.
Watch the complete exclusive interview with Frank Bello of Anthrax, conducted by Gino Alache for Rockum.
Interview conducted by Gino Alache – Founder and Editor of RockumWeb.com
Rockum Radio Show – CFRC 101.9 FM, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
