I don't know about you guys..but S. Criag Zahler (writer for Maniacs) rubs me the wrong way sometimes. I hate some people's elitist know it all attitudes! Here is his review of the Metal Gods tour...Testament's performance in particular...
"The first time I saw Testament, they opened for Judas Priest on the Painkiller tour. The crowd went nuts (particularly during "Disciples of The Watch"). I enjoyed all of Alex Skolnick's solos. The second time I saw Testament they opened up for Iron Maiden on the Fear of The Dark tour. They did not have Alex Skolnick and the crowd did not go nuts for them. And Testament proceeded to chastise the crowd for not going crazy. So to punish the unresponsive crowd, Testament sat down indian style and finished out their set. Having little intrest in the non-Alex Skolnick part of this band, I didn't care that they sat down to play their songs. The only people who did care were the people who liked the band. How ironic.
Nine years later I am subjected to Testament again. Most irritating member award goes to the self-aggrandizing bass player du jour Steve DiGiorgio, who often played wacky bass licks on his five string fretless that had nothing to do with the music at hand. Considering DiGiorgio's obvious technical prowess, he might have wanted to tell the two guitar players that they were out of tune with each other (but then again, I doubt he was listening to them). Also irritating were the endless demands of Chuck Billyto make the crowd mosh-perhaps the dumbest activity ever to be incorperated into heavy metal. Since Testament has chastised audiences so many times I feel it's time to return the favor: if the music is good enough, it will make people go crazy. If it's not, don't berate the audience for not gettin' wild enough-people enjoy music different ways. Hell, I like some of Testament's tunes (Desciples of the Watch and Malpractice), but this "chastise the audience" modus operandi (which many thrash bands have, especially Metallica and Belladonna-era Anthrax) is egotistical garbage that indicates the musicians do not get enough pleasure in their own music anymore and now need the audience reaction to enjoy it. Sure, audience response is great, but earn it, don't coax it. It should be said that many people were going crazy for Testament, but apparently not enough for their liking."
God this guy is an ass..and he obviously knows nothing of Testament. He calls Steve and Eric "the two guitar players" (because I don't know what their names are). Then the comments about Alex...people who don't know much about Testament always mention Alex..as if he's the only good guitar player they've had. Has he heard the Gathering or Low? Doubt it. Another really stupid thing he says is the part about moshing..hellooo ass-hole..like it or not this IS a part of heavy metal culture and has been for many years..as a matter of fact Anthrax coined the phrase...Caught in a Mosh....the only dictionary you'll find this word in is a METAL dictionary!! Of course bands want the audience to enjoy and get into their music..that's why they perform! If people are standing around like a bunch of geriatric patients the band's gonna try to encourage some sort of reaction...
We all need to send e-mails to Mr. Zahler and give him a little lesson about the culture surrounding this crazy music we love........jackass!!!!
"The first time I saw Testament, they opened for Judas Priest on the Painkiller tour. The crowd went nuts (particularly during "Disciples of The Watch"). I enjoyed all of Alex Skolnick's solos. The second time I saw Testament they opened up for Iron Maiden on the Fear of The Dark tour. They did not have Alex Skolnick and the crowd did not go nuts for them. And Testament proceeded to chastise the crowd for not going crazy. So to punish the unresponsive crowd, Testament sat down indian style and finished out their set. Having little intrest in the non-Alex Skolnick part of this band, I didn't care that they sat down to play their songs. The only people who did care were the people who liked the band. How ironic.
Nine years later I am subjected to Testament again. Most irritating member award goes to the self-aggrandizing bass player du jour Steve DiGiorgio, who often played wacky bass licks on his five string fretless that had nothing to do with the music at hand. Considering DiGiorgio's obvious technical prowess, he might have wanted to tell the two guitar players that they were out of tune with each other (but then again, I doubt he was listening to them). Also irritating were the endless demands of Chuck Billyto make the crowd mosh-perhaps the dumbest activity ever to be incorperated into heavy metal. Since Testament has chastised audiences so many times I feel it's time to return the favor: if the music is good enough, it will make people go crazy. If it's not, don't berate the audience for not gettin' wild enough-people enjoy music different ways. Hell, I like some of Testament's tunes (Desciples of the Watch and Malpractice), but this "chastise the audience" modus operandi (which many thrash bands have, especially Metallica and Belladonna-era Anthrax) is egotistical garbage that indicates the musicians do not get enough pleasure in their own music anymore and now need the audience reaction to enjoy it. Sure, audience response is great, but earn it, don't coax it. It should be said that many people were going crazy for Testament, but apparently not enough for their liking."
God this guy is an ass..and he obviously knows nothing of Testament. He calls Steve and Eric "the two guitar players" (because I don't know what their names are). Then the comments about Alex...people who don't know much about Testament always mention Alex..as if he's the only good guitar player they've had. Has he heard the Gathering or Low? Doubt it. Another really stupid thing he says is the part about moshing..hellooo ass-hole..like it or not this IS a part of heavy metal culture and has been for many years..as a matter of fact Anthrax coined the phrase...Caught in a Mosh....the only dictionary you'll find this word in is a METAL dictionary!! Of course bands want the audience to enjoy and get into their music..that's why they perform! If people are standing around like a bunch of geriatric patients the band's gonna try to encourage some sort of reaction...
We all need to send e-mails to Mr. Zahler and give him a little lesson about the culture surrounding this crazy music we love........jackass!!!!
