Review Summary: Testament's debut, the embodiment of thrash metal.
Recorded at a time when thrash was having its mainstream peak, Testament were rather late to the party. The band is one of the most well known acts from the Bay-Area thrash scene, and are one of the most stable acts of the genre, having been active for nearly thirty years. During its near thirty year existence, the band has experienced many changes in sound and line-up, but one thing has always stood out from them, and that's the band's first 3 albums.
For its debut, the band would be playing a fast but primal form of thrash, with subtle melodic elements courtesy of guitarist Alex Skolnick. The albums subject matter ranges from the occult and witchcraft, to nuclear warfare and global destruction. The band manages to incorporate these things into their sound, and this makes for a truly haunting album at times. The mood is very energetic, yet aggressive and menacing, with each track having its own unique feel and sound. The tracks also transition into each other nicely, and each song shows a lot of focus and integrity, making for a very cohesive effort. For a debut album, Testament comes off as seasoned veterans of the genre.
The band is very musically sound, with each member playing their instruments with skill. The guitar stands out the most, with some really shredding guitar solos that sound like they come straight from the depths of hell. The Vocals from Chuck Billy also stand out, due to his menacing and evil sounding approach. Because of some excellent producing from Alex Perialas, each instrument can be heard and the recordings manage to capture the bands raw and energetic approach to playing. Perhaps the one downside to this album is repetitive riffs in a couple of songs, but this is balanced by some really melodic and skillful guitar solos found in almost each song.
Testament had always been a band I wanted to check out. People were comparing them to Metallica and other well known thrash acts wherever I looked, and so I finally took a chance and bought this album. This album changed the way I seen thrash metal. After listening to this album I determined that Testament embodies everything that thrash metal stands for; attitude, integrity, and above all else, the ability to shred. This album truly stands the test of time, and is one for the ages.
RECOMMENDED TRACKS
- Burnt Offerings
- First Strike Is Deadly
- Alone In The Dark
- Apocalyptic City
Chuck Billy - vocals
Alex Skolnick - lead guitar
Erik Peterson - rhythm guitar
Greg Christian - bass guitar
Louie Clemente - drums
Produced by Alex Perialas
Recorded: 1986
Released: April 21, 1987
Atlantic/Megaforce Records
