This is the first production with Jon Donais on lead guitar. He came in 2013 as a replacement for Rob Caggiano. Otherwise, everything has remained the same: Joey Belladonna takes over the vocals, band founder Scott Ian the rhythm guitar, Frank Bello plays bass and Charlie Benante the drums.

Anthrax had already begun recording "For All Kings" in 2014. Over time, the band wrote around 20 songs together, eleven of which made it onto the new album in the end, including the singles "Evil Twin" (October 2015) and "Breathing Lightning" (January 2016). Both songs make it clear without detours what listeners can expect from "For All Kings": untamed thrashy but still melodic heavy metal, clever songwriting and songs with an important message. In songs like "Evil Twin" and "Zero Tolerance", for example, they settle accounts with religious fanaticism. There's also a message behind the album's title: everyone can be their own king by taking responsibility for themselves and their stuff, says Scott Ian.

Jay Ruston, an old acquaintance, took care of the recording of "For All Kings". The producer had already pulled the strings on the previous album "Worship Music" from 2011.