Worship Music was positively received upon release, with critics describing it as "fresh and eruptive as ever" and qualified it as a return to form for the band.

The record debuted at number 12 in the United States, their highest chart position since 1993's Sound of White Noise.

In the December 2008 edition of his monthly SuicideGirls column, Food Coma, guitarist Scott Ian revealed that he had been in the studio working on the new Anthrax album since November 4.

[10] In October 2010 at Nassau Coliseum, Anthrax performed the song "Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't" for the first time with Belladonna.

Although the songs were written long before, he cited the 2011 Egyptian revolution and Occupy Wall Street demonstrations as examples of this phenomenon coming to pass.

[18] "The Devil You Know", despite the line "Let the right one in" and the band's history of using horror stories as subject matter, was not a reference to the 2004 Swedish vampire novel Let the Right One In; it was about World War II veterans.

"Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't" is about a zombie apocalypse, and "In the End" was written as a tribute to the late Ronnie James Dio, an inspiration for the band, and Dimebag Darrell, a friend and collaborator on three Anthrax albums.

[21] It is notable for its tribal-sounding introduction with clean guitars backed up by a marching drum beat, before taking off into a heavy riff and gradually breaking into a melodic chorus.

[28] A few days later, band members announced that five covers were included: "Anthem" by Rush, "Smokin'" by Boston, "Neon Knights" by Black Sabbath, "T.N.T."

AllMusic's Greg Prato noted that in spite of the issues surrounding the departure of Dan Nelson, the album fits together "seamlessly" and called it the group's finest studio recording since Persistence of Time (1990).

[37] Michael Christopher of The Boston Phoenix commented that Anthrax has learned from its past mistakes in making the album.

[40] Mark Fisher, writing in Metal Forces, highlighted the guitar performance, saying it reminded him of the sound Anthrax is mostly associated with.

Although Fisher preferred the albums with John Bush on vocals, he remarked that Worship Music is a fine recording with a career-defining performance by Joey Belladonna.

[42] Chad Bowar from About.com also praised Belladonna's performance, noting that the vocal delivery was filled with angst and emotion.

He believes this wasn't "the glorious comeback" for Anthrax, but called it a solid album with signs of progress for the group.

The band started the tour with the "big four" shows alongside Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth, which took place in the summer of 2011.

Due to the birth of his child, Ian missed the European leg of the tour; Sepultura guitarist Andreas Kisser acted as a fill-in.

In October and November, Anthrax embarked on a 23 date US tour co-headlining with Testament and openers Death Angel.

[50] The trio announced further dates in the US and Canada in the fall of 2012, with Testament promoting their then-new album, Dark Roots of Earth.

Supporting acts included Exodus, Municipal Waste, and Holy Grail, with the headliner Anthrax performing Among the Living in its entirety.