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07-14 Testament Release 2nd New Song
06-27 Testament stream new song
05-16 Testament album info
12-02 Testament lose drummer
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Thrash, Death Metal |
Testament were the biggest thrash metal band never to reach the platinum plateau. In fact, the San Francisco
quintetseemedon the vergeof challenging Metallica (their most obvious influence) in the melodic thrash sweepstakes, but
their runtowardthe top was eventuallyderailed by inconsistency, bad business decisions, and the genre's dwindling appeal.
Unable tochangewith the times like Metallica,Testament quickly faded from sight in the early '90s, but have remained active
and verypopularwithin the metal underground.
Influenced by the then-emerging Bay Area thrash metal scene, ...read more
Testament were the biggest thrash metal band never to reach the platinum plateau. In fact, the San Francisco
quintetseemedon the vergeof challenging Metallica (their most obvious influence) in the melodic thrash sweepstakes, but
their runtowardthe top was eventuallyderailed by inconsistency, bad business decisions, and the genre's dwindling appeal.
Unable tochangewith the times like Metallica,Testament quickly faded from sight in the early '90s, but have remained active
and verypopularwithin the metal underground.
Influenced by the then-emerging Bay Area thrash metal scene, vocalist Steve Souza, guitarists Eric Peterson
andDerrickRamirez, bassistGreg Christian, and drummer Louie Clemente came together as Legacy in late 1983. But it wasn't
untilthearrival of lead guitarist AlexSkolnick and a name change to Testament two years later that the band's Metallica.
inspiredthrash metal began distinguishing it from less-refined peers such as Forbidden and Vio-Lence. By 1986, the
groupwasattracting record company attention, but was handed a severe blowwhen Souza abruptly quit to join original Bay
Areascenelegends Exodus. Ironically, however, his departure would prove a godsend, as theband soon drafted a
significantlymoreversatile (and downright intimidating) replacement in Chuck Billy. His greater melodic talents andinimitable,
bowl-shakinggrowl would better complement the band's increasing diversity and mastery of melodic crunch.
Signed by thrash metal mecca Megaforce Records, the group lent its original name to the following year's
remarkabledebut,The Legacy.Hailed as an instant classic within thrash metal circles, the album's coupling of furious riffs and
harmonicsensibility stood second only to Metallica in controlled power, technical delivery, and sheer confidence. It also
benefitedfromMegaforce's recently obtained distributiondeal with Atlantic Records, and Testament lived up to their promise
whiletouringAmerica and Europe in support of Anthrax -- thenexperiencing their peak with the Among the Living album.
Recordedon thattour, the Live at Eindhoven EP cemented Testament's standingas champions of thrash's second wave, and
despitelacking theconsistency of their debut, 1988's sophomore The New Order maintainedtheir forward momentum and led
to yetanotherlengthy world tour that took the band as far as South America.
More focused and driven than ever, Testament took painstaking care in constructing their follow-up, 1989's Practice
WhatYouPreach -- amassive achievement that saw them expanding their melodic reach while losing none of their
powerandaggression. A yearlong tour,including a long stint headlining over Savatage and Wrathchild America across
theU.S.A.,ensued, and even MTV gave their videos arespectable amount of exposure. Testament truly seemed to be poised
ontheverge of greatness when everything started to unravel.Offered the chance to support Judas Priest on their career.
revitalizingPainkiller tour (also featuring Megadeth), Testament rushed straightfrom the back of their tour bus and into
thestudio torecord 1990's Souls of Black. A hodgepodge collection of rehashed demos andunfinished ideas, the album stalled
onrecordstore shelves and the seeds of frustration and discontent were sown. Not even a coveted sloton the European leg
ofthe Clashof the Titans tour, alongside Slayer, Megadeth, and Suicidal Tendencies, could stall the inevitable, and
thebandstartedtearing apart at the seams.
By the time they regrouped with 1992's somewhat improved The Ritual, grunge had arrived, musical tastes
hadchangeddrastically, andTestament were only one of countless casualties whose once highly anticipated albums fell on
deafears. Aceguitarist Skolnick, who hadlong complained of the creative limitations imposed by the band's style, was the
firstcasualty,leaving to join Savatage. He was replaced byGlen Alvelais (ex-Forbidden) for the subsequent tour, which also
sawthe firingof drummer Clemente midway through, replaced by anotherForbidden alum, Paul Bostaph. Following the
ratherpointlessReturn to the Apocalyptic City EP, 1994's brutally negative Low -- featuringjourneyman James Murphy
(Death,Obituary,Cancer, etc.) on guitar and Exodus' John Tempesta on drums -- would be their last withAtlantic. Tempesta
was soonoff tojoin White Zombie and new drummer Jon Dette (ex-Evil Dead) only lasted long enough to perform on theirnext
tourbeforealso leaving to join Slayer.
Amazingly, Testament persisted, launching their own Burnt Offerings label to release 1995's Live at the Fillmore
andanotherstudio effort,1997's Demonic. The latter renewed their violent commitment to going back to basics, and
featuredlegendarydrummer Gene Hoglan (ex-Dark Angel, Death) and returning founding member Derrick Ramirez,
nowreplacingdeparted bassist Christian. While their former homeAtlantic was busy releasing the Signs of Chaos greatest.
hitscollection,Testament were moving forward with yet another independentrelease, 1999's The Gathering, which saw
usualsuspects Billyand Peterson supported by bassist Steve DiGiorgio, returning guitaristJames Murphy, and the awesome
talentsof originalSlayer drummer Dave Lombardo.
A major snag was right around the corner, however, when popular frontman Chuck Billy was diagnosed withcancer,prompting
a slew ofbenefit concerts throughout the Bay Area to raise funds for his treatment. Thankfully, herecovered indue time, and
Testament chose tocelebrate by welcoming back former members Steve Souza and Alex Skolnick(nowinvolved with the
Trans-Siberian Orchestra, butpredominantly acting as a jazz player fronting his own New York-basedtrio)to participate in a
personally sanctioned collection of their best-loved songs, released in 2001 as First Strike StillDeadly.Eric Peterson was also
active with a black metal side project named Dragonlordaround this time, and little was heardofTestament in the next few
years.
Another retrospective collection (Days of Darkness, featuring one disc of highlights from the group's late-'90s releases
andasecondsimply recycling First Strike Still Deadly) was released in 2004, and in 2005 Testament's classic lineup
ofBilly,Skolnick, Peterson,Christian, and Clemente reunited for a tour including several major European
festivalengagements,bringing along occasional drummer JohnTempesta to spell their long inactive original drummer on some
of theirmorechallenging material. In 2008, Testament released their firststudio album in nine years, The Formation of
Damnation. « hide |
Similar Bands: Kreator, Demolition Hammer, Exodus, Death Angel, Exhorder
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