TESTAMENT
While thrash hegemomists and Big Four vanguards Metallica have been sporadically drip-feeding their fans albums with frustrating infrequency, with each new one proving their best years are most certainly well behind them (by decades, some would argue), Testament have been steadily delivering a number of quality releases. Obviously, they’re not part of the Big Four… only because they came after the scene’s established quartet that helped shape and popularise the genre. However, we’re not talking second tier by any means. Testament have, for me, always deserved their place among thrash’s elite.
Their latest record, ‘Titans of Creation’, is upon us, and it’s a twenty first century thrash metal beast; harking back to idioms from the genre’s glory days, yet still managing to sound fresh and invigorating. And, rather refreshingly, Testament get down to business right from the start, with no instrumental intro track, opting instead for such as an album outro, with the two minute atmospheric ‘Catacombs’. So, what makes this one so exhilarating? The axiomatic passion, energy and fiercely delivered bursts of refined, adrenaline-fuelled aggression are all breathtaking throughout. Not to mention some finely crafted compositions, arrangements and first-class musicianship.
Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick’s fretboard work conveys the very heart of Testament’s essence, through killer riff after killer riff, and leads and solos delivered with virtuosic precision. Chock-full of memorable guitar moments, many of Peterson and Skolnick’s riffs and melodic licks were firmly lodged in my head long after I finished listening to the album each time; luring me back for repeated plays, time and again. Gene Hoglan, the drumming legend who now seems to be a firmly established presence in the band, provides his usual high quality sticksmanship with some evidently well thought out patterns, fills and muscle. Bassist Steve DiGiorgio adds both low-end oomph and more of a pronounced melodic impetus at times, where his basslines cut through the mix in the likes of ‘City of Angels’, ‘Symptoms’ and ‘Code of Hammurabi’, to become part of the tracks’ ascendency as opposed to merely a part of their resonantly rhythmic texture. And then there’s frontman Chuck Billy, a man who sounds even more impassioned in his delivery than he ever has, and delivers lyrics with a hundred per cent conviction.
From the off, with opening track ‘Children of the Next Level’, it’s evident that ‘Titans…’ is going to be something special, and it’s a quality that Testament succeed in sustaining throughout the entire album. Zero filler, nil faff and no compromises, ‘Titans of Creation’ is a masterful outing of thrash metal might, fleshed out with plenty of nostalgic nods, twenty first century aggression, impassioned performances and a degree of diversity in both pacing and compositional innovations. Predominantly though, every song preserves and delivers essence of Testament. The production’s immense, too, which packs a seriously sonorous punch. All in all, a mightily impressive thirteenth studio album from one of the scene’s very best.
Their latest record, ‘Titans of Creation’, is upon us, and it’s a twenty first century thrash metal beast; harking back to idioms from the genre’s glory days, yet still managing to sound fresh and invigorating. And, rather refreshingly, Testament get down to business right from the start, with no instrumental intro track, opting instead for such as an album outro, with the two minute atmospheric ‘Catacombs’. So, what makes this one so exhilarating? The axiomatic passion, energy and fiercely delivered bursts of refined, adrenaline-fuelled aggression are all breathtaking throughout. Not to mention some finely crafted compositions, arrangements and first-class musicianship.
Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick’s fretboard work conveys the very heart of Testament’s essence, through killer riff after killer riff, and leads and solos delivered with virtuosic precision. Chock-full of memorable guitar moments, many of Peterson and Skolnick’s riffs and melodic licks were firmly lodged in my head long after I finished listening to the album each time; luring me back for repeated plays, time and again. Gene Hoglan, the drumming legend who now seems to be a firmly established presence in the band, provides his usual high quality sticksmanship with some evidently well thought out patterns, fills and muscle. Bassist Steve DiGiorgio adds both low-end oomph and more of a pronounced melodic impetus at times, where his basslines cut through the mix in the likes of ‘City of Angels’, ‘Symptoms’ and ‘Code of Hammurabi’, to become part of the tracks’ ascendency as opposed to merely a part of their resonantly rhythmic texture. And then there’s frontman Chuck Billy, a man who sounds even more impassioned in his delivery than he ever has, and delivers lyrics with a hundred per cent conviction.
From the off, with opening track ‘Children of the Next Level’, it’s evident that ‘Titans…’ is going to be something special, and it’s a quality that Testament succeed in sustaining throughout the entire album. Zero filler, nil faff and no compromises, ‘Titans of Creation’ is a masterful outing of thrash metal might, fleshed out with plenty of nostalgic nods, twenty first century aggression, impassioned performances and a degree of diversity in both pacing and compositional innovations. Predominantly though, every song preserves and delivers essence of Testament. The production’s immense, too, which packs a seriously sonorous punch. All in all, a mightily impressive thirteenth studio album from one of the scene’s very best.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
Nuclear Blast
Album
TITANS OF CREATION
Review by Mark Holmes
RUNNING TIME:
58:34
RELEASE DATE:
3rd April 2020
TRACK LISTING
1) Children of the Next Level
2) WW III
3) Dream Deceiver
4) Night of the Witch
5) City of Angels
6) Ishtars Gate; 7) Symptoms
8) Fale Prophet
9) The Healers
10) Code of Hammurabi
11) Curse of Osiris
12) Catacombs
2) WW III
3) Dream Deceiver
4) Night of the Witch
5) City of Angels
6) Ishtars Gate; 7) Symptoms
8) Fale Prophet
9) The Healers
10) Code of Hammurabi
11) Curse of Osiris
12) Catacombs
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
USA
"Zero filler, nil faff and no compromises, ‘Titans of Creation’ is a masterful outing of thrash metal might, fleshed out with plenty of nostalgic nods, twenty first century aggression, impassioned performances and a degree of diversity..."
