i think THE RITUAL and SOULS of Black have the best Skolnick solos. I like the Ritual a lot and it would be awesome to hear the tunes with better drums. I would like to hear the demos from THE RITUAL era. I think Eric mentioned somewhere that Alex and the record company want to go a more mainstream. But "too many lies", "electric crown", "the ritual" and "return to serenety" a really awesome songs and should be in the setlist.
Next Testament CD
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Angelic Slayer
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Louie was always the weak link in Testament, and hearing "Electric Crown" on the Live At London DVD with John Tempesta on drums really highlighted how much better those songs sound with a great drummer. Sadly, I've never got to hear that song live at a Testament concert I've attended, or indeed any song from "The Ritual" album. I love the individual songs on "The Ritual", but it's a bit one dimensional, so it can drag a bit listening to the full album in one sitting.
Combining "The Ritual" sound with the sound of their heavier and faster material really excites me, and it should make for a really great album. Especially with Gene behind the kit, who can even intensify the more mid-paced stuff... so bring it on!
Combining "The Ritual" sound with the sound of their heavier and faster material really excites me, and it should make for a really great album. Especially with Gene behind the kit, who can even intensify the more mid-paced stuff... so bring it on!
one man
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Yeah, I can't really imagine any Testament fan not loving the album (judging by what has been revealed already). I personally love the Ritual, but I think that for any fan the idea of taking the best out of that album (awesome melodies, great solos and atmosphere) and combining it with everything that's good in the newer albums (soulflypl described it as "The Ritual on steroids") must be exciting. It's obviously too early to judge, but the chances that this will be their best album hitherto are gargantuan to me. If anyone misses the speed, growls or brutality (although I think it's all still there, in different proportions and form) - there are other bands that are more intense in this area - Testament's always been about something more: musicianship and wonderful music (be it heavy, soft, fast, groovy, melodic, brutal, experimental or simplistic, metal or beyond metal).
Respect to the band for once again experimenting, expanding and exploring something different. This is what real musicians do instead of constantly rehashing the old like so many of Testament's peers. Isn't that why we love the band - for being true to themselves, but not doing the same for the second time? Hopefully this will be a trend-setting release that brings them the well-deserved dose of comercial success, as artistically they seem to have climbed really high with this one.
Respect to the band for once again experimenting, expanding and exploring something different. This is what real musicians do instead of constantly rehashing the old like so many of Testament's peers. Isn't that why we love the band - for being true to themselves, but not doing the same for the second time? Hopefully this will be a trend-setting release that brings them the well-deserved dose of comercial success, as artistically they seem to have climbed really high with this one.
Angelic Slayer
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It's clear that at the time, Eric and Chuck saw "The Ritual", as a compromise. Specifically with Alex. Which was perfectly exemplified by the "Low" album that was made after Alex's departure. It seems as if finally, Chuck and Eric have been able to embrace "The Ritual", and the many great points about it. The key here really, is Eric realises now that he need not abandon Testament's roots or core sound, in order to be more experimental and melodic. It's like a final acceptance on the part of Chuck and Eric that hey, maybe "The Ritual" was pretty good after all. They can now embrace the many great qualities of that album, and this time weld them together with the heavier, more aggressive (and traditional) side of Testament. As someone who likes "The Ritual" and the more melodic side of Testament as much as I love their faster, heavier stuff, "Dark Roots Of Earth" should be like mana from Heaven for me. 
What I think what we're going to have now, is a more "epic" Testament album. An album that embraces all of their strong points, not only some of them, whilst adding a slightly more modern touch to things too.
What I think what we're going to have now, is a more "epic" Testament album. An album that embraces all of their strong points, not only some of them, whilst adding a slightly more modern touch to things too.
one man
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I totally agree with your observation of the change of Eric and Chuck's attitude towards The Ritual. They don't need to prove anything to anyone anymore, so they can view the album from the musical perspective only, not overshadowed by the compromises and discords its recording entailed.
Oh man,the solos on Souls are just over the top outstanding.
I remember reading years ago Eric saying Alex would take much of the double bass out of the music.
Angelic Slayer
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"Souls Of Black" was the first Testament album I ever heard, and it's still very much a favourite of mine today.
Talking of Alex's solos on that album, the solos on "Face In The Sky" and "Malpractice" in particular, are just stunning, and both of those songs are amongst my very favourite Testament songs! Shame they are so underrated, and never played live...
Talking of Alex's solos on that album, the solos on "Face In The Sky" and "Malpractice" in particular, are just stunning, and both of those songs are amongst my very favourite Testament songs! Shame they are so underrated, and never played live...
Oh my god! The beggining rythem for Malpractice is better than most bands solos! Both of those songs are great!
I say this over and over again,I hope if/when Souls ever gets remastered that they bring up the volume on Beggining Of The End.That is just brilliant,and by the time it reaches volume to really hear it,it's over!
I say this over and over again,I hope if/when Souls ever gets remastered that they bring up the volume on Beggining Of The End.That is just brilliant,and by the time it reaches volume to really hear it,it's over!
"Souls Of Black" was the first Testament album I ever heard, and it's still very much a favourite of mine today.
Talking of Alex's solos on that album, the solos on "Face In The Sky" and "Malpractice" in particular, are just stunning, and both of those songs are amongst my very favourite Testament songs! Shame they are so underrated, and never played live...
I saw them on the Souls of Black Tour. I think it's a pity that they ignore most of PWYP, SOB and Ritual, alone of these 3 records you could make damn good setlist. Face in the sky, Malpractice, Seven Days in May...and so on...
Ok, focus on the new record...one more week
ms.a said it was and that they would talk to Eric about maybe letting us hear it somehow.But that was over a year ago.....ahem...ms.a? 
I should add,I'm pretty sure it wasn't profesionally recorded and I don't know if it was the whole record.But I'm dying to hear it.I wish someone would ask him about it in an interview.
One more week and still no word from cdjapan
I can't find the track listing for the Japanese pressing anywhere. I checked the Japanese pages for the record label (King Records), Amazon's Japanese site and none of them have anything for a track listing.
I know! I can't either,or any info on bonus stuff.they didn't even have the image up last time I looked a few days ago.
Wow, these 90sec-samples sound really great, can't wait to finally hold the CD in my hands!
Looks like this one is gonna be the album of the year
Looks like this one is gonna be the album of the year
You know,I wouldn't be surprised at if it gets album of the year.I still haven't listened to the samples lol
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