In 1997 they began writing a recording demos for their new album. A rumor began to spread around that John had left Anthrax and was forming a band with Megadeth's David Ellefson, ex-Slayer, Ex-Testament, ex-Forbidden, ex-Truth About Seafood drummer Paul Bostaph and ex-Death, ex-Obituary, ex-Testament, ex- Disincarnation guitarist James Murphy. There were plans for those guys to work together, but John never left Anthrax. People were led to believe that by the idiots at Metal Maniacs magazine who don't know how to report news. Anthrax took some time off in May to got to the F-Music Fest. John participated in the War Stories panel. They headlined a packed show at the at the Whiskey in San Francisco. They played three new songs there, "604" (named after the weight of a woman featured in National Enquirer), "Giving The Horns," and "Catharsis." Mike Tempesta played lead guitar for most of the set. Other new songs include "Hog Tied," "A Toast to the Extras," "Killing Box," "Coffee Song," "Alpha Male," "Piss ‘n' Vinegar," "Crush," "Big Fat," "Harm's Way," and "Stealing from a Thief." They will record the following cover tunes for b-sides: "Snap" and "I'd Rather be Sleeping" by D.R.I., "Number of the Beast" by Iron Maiden and "The Bends" By Radiohead. Scott and Charlie got back together with S.O.D. to play a festival in Germany on July 5. In the middle of July, Anthrax did two shows in Mexico opening for Pantera in front of 20,000 people.

S.O.D. started a short tour on July 5 headling the Full Force festival in Germany in front of 23,000 people. It was their first show outside of the United States. The tour continued on July 25 headlining the first day of the Milwaukee Metal Fest and ending on August 4 in Hoboken, New Jersey. It was a farewell tour for Billy Milano, who was retiring from stage due to a degenerative bone condition in his right hip. Yes, it took them twelve years to headline a tour. It eventually had to happen. A tribute album for S.O.D. is also being made. Life of Agony recorded "March of the S.O.D./Sgt. D and the S.O.D." Sepultura recorded "D.C." Other bands involved include Cannibal Corpse, Agnostic Front, Clutch, Marilyn Manson, Killingculture, Sepultura, and Biohazard. S.O.D. will finally record "Aren't You Hungry" written back in 1985 for a planned second S.O.D. album. The S.O.D. version is different than the version on M.O.D.'s U.S.A. for M.O.D.

Scott, Charlie and Frank, Paul recorded "Walk All Over You" with Dee Snider for the upcoming AC/DC tribute album. The lead guitar was played by Paul, who also produced, mixed, and engineered the song. Anthrax has formed their own record label, Skism Records, to release their next album. It will be distributed Ignition Records, a division of Tommy Boy records, a division of Warner Brothers, who owns Elektra Records too. The title for the album is Volume 8, but was originally planned to be self titled. Paul Crook and Anthrax will be producing the album. Paul will also be mixing and engineering it. They finally started recording on October 17, 1997. They will take a break from recording from November 8 until December 7 to open for Pantera in the U.S. Coal Chamber will open before Anthrax. Apparently the musical direction of Volume 8 is heavier and faster than Stomp 442. "We didn't soften our sound or go alternative, like so many others," says Charlie. "We've stayed real!" Well duh, this is Anthrax we are talking about!