Breathing Lightning

Album: For All Kings (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Anthrax played this song live for the first time on January 27, 2016 in Columbus, Ohio.
  • The novelist Stephen King was very much an influence on this song. Guitarist and lyricist Scott Ian said: "I feel like, and Stephen King has been such a giant part of my life. His 'Dark Tower' series is… If I had to pick one thing that I love the most from him, it would be 'The Dark Tower' books, 'cause there's seven books, so I don't have to choose one. The character Roland, it's just something that stays with me a lot, this character from those books. So I kind of re-entered that world again. 'Cause I wrote ['Lone Justice'] way back when, on the Spreading The Disease record, which was based on that character, and I decided to re-visit it, because, metaphorically, there's so many things you could use it for.

    But then I kind of wrap it up all in this giant ball of this Roland character from 'The Dark Tower' series, because I just love that world so much. So I'm kind of weaving in and out of reality and fantasy in that song. And 'Breathing Lightning', of course, is a metaphor for shooting."
  • Drummer Charlie Benante: "'Breathing Lightning' was a song that… I would call it more of an accessible song on the record. It just came out that way. I just had this really nice, pretty intro, and then it built into this song, and it has a really, really catchy chorus. So I like this song a lot."

Comments: 1

  • Ivan from Frankenmuth, MiMy personal favorite Anthrax song. The slow opening going into the heavy drums is one of the best transitions ever.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Early Days of MTV

Early Days of MTVFact or Fiction

If you can recall the days when MTV played videos, you know that there are lots of stories to tell. See if you can spot the real ones.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

U2 Lyrics

U2 LyricsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the lyrics of U2?

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The Remasters

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The RemastersSong Writing

Brian has unearthed outtakes by Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello and hundreds of other artists for reissues. Here's how he does it.

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.