Original Anthrax Singer Neil Turbin w/ Drowning in Blood: Montreal, Canada Oct 11, 2025- Review, Setlist & Video
- The Metal Voice
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
It's been a staggering 41 years since Neil Turbin — the original voice of Anthrax — last performed his classic Anthrax material in Montreal. The last time these songs echoed through the city was back in 1984, when the band opened for Raven at the legendary Le Spectrum. Fast forward to 2025, and Turbin is on a min Canadian East Tour, OTTAWA, MONTREAL and TORONTO , bringing the thrash back to the heart of downtown at the gritty and beloved Piranha Bar.
Backed by rising local metal outfit Drowning in Blood, Turbin delivered a set that fused old-school thrash with fresh energy. Though the band members were likely half his age, their performance was nothing short of fierce — tight, energetic, and dripping with youthful aggression. They didn’t just play the songs; they ripped through them with the kind of edge that proves Montreal’s metal spirit is alive and thriving.
Neil Turbin 'Death From Above' Video
Full disclosure: We might be a little biased — Turbin has been a metal journalist and contributor at The Metal Voice for the past decade — but it’s undeniable that the man earned this spotlight through sheer talent. His voice is still razor-sharp, and his songwriting? As potent now as it was in the early '80s.
The night’s setlist was a thrash fan’s dream. Turbin tore through the entire Fistful of Metal debut, added a few solo cuts, and threw in a killer cover for good measure.
Turbin’s solo material, though never officially released, went over surprisingly well — maybe even too well. Songs like “Give ’Em Hell” and “Crimson Warrior” showed off his legendary range, blending banshee wails with a soulful grit and maturity. These tracks felt like a natural evolution of the Fistful era — same fury, more finesse.
Of course, the crowd exploded for the Anthrax staples. “Death from Above” hit hard early on, but the real eruption came with “Soldiers of Metal” — a true anthem that turned the Piranha Bar into a thrash battleground. And then came “I’m Eighteen,” Turbin’s nod to Alice Cooper, which he transformed into a mid paced speed-laced, that paid tribute while upping the aggression.
But the true peak? “Metal Thrashing Mad.” The fans had been chanting for it all night, and when it finally dropped, fists in the air, and voices screaming every lyric. It was the moment everyone came for.
The night closed with a full-throttle version of “Gung-Ho,” with fans singing-along .
Verdict:
Neil Turbin didn’t just return to Montreal — he conquered it. With the help of Drowning in Blood, he proved that true thrash never dies. It just evolves… and screams even louder.
SETLIST
Give 'Em Hell
Death From Above
Crimson Warrior
I'm Eighteen
Armed and Dangerous
Across the River
Howling Furies
Subjugator
Soldiers of Metal
Raise Hell
Panic
Fight to the Death
Deathrider
Metal Thrashing Mad
Gung-Ho
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