Instead of recording a full album, Anthrax wisely chose to record an EP for Europe, titled Armed And Dangerous. It included the title track, a new track "Raise Hell," an excellent cover of the Sex Pistol's "God Save the Queen," and two tracks from Joey's audition tape, "Metal Thrashing Mad" and "Panic." This EP helped them secure a contract with Island Records.

Next up was finishing their second LP, appropriately entitled Spreading the Disease, which took five months to record. With some free time on his hands, Scott Ian put together a violent side band called S.O.D. (Stormtroopers of Death) with Charlie, Dan Lilker, and local skinhead named Billy Milano. S.O.D.'s Speak English or Die was also released through Megaforce Records. If one word had to be used to describe the album, it would be heavy. S.O.D. did seven opening gigs through the rest of the year in the New York and New Jersey area before calling it quits. Despite their short career, S.O.D. were a very influential to heavy metal, thrash metal, death metal and hardcore music.

Spreading the Disease was released in October of 1985 in the US, but it was not until March of 1986 that it was released in the U.K., Europe, and Japan. Anthrax signed with DMA booking who set them up with a support slot with the Scorpions in the States. They also headlined in the US and Europe. A single was released for "Madhouse" in May of 1986. There was the regular version of the single, but there were also four different versions besides that. They all had the same songs ("Madhouse," "A.I.R.," and "God Save the Queen."), but they were recorded live. There was a chance to win a trip to see the band live in Europe if all four live versions were bought. The band had a problem with this though, because the recordings had never been approved by them. Production was stopped after a few thousand. A video was also made for the song, which helped in the U.K. and Europe. It was not helpful in the U.S., because all of the major stations banned it, claiming it was detrimental to mental patients. It showed Anthrax and some of their friends jumping around like crazy people just having a good time.

They also did a very US arena brief tour with Black Sabbath and WASP before Sabbath's diminishing popularity caused the rest of the dates to be canceled. Anthrax came to the U.K. to play before 1,200 moshers at the Hammersmith Palais. This was an especially exciting show for Anthrax, as Scott explained to Kerrang. "What sticks out in my mind particularly was the cup fight at the end of the show! The audience had been throwing plastic cups onstage throughout the set and our roadies just collected them on the side and when it came to the encores we just hurled them all back into the crowd - only for them to throw them back at us in the best possible spirit. Oh boy, what a great night!"

They also supported Metallica in Europe, which made a very intense bill. The grueling touring ended on October 26 with the Aardshok Festival, also featuring Slayer and Metallica, three of the bands considered to be the leaders of this new wave of metal called thrash.