Testament new album: an impression

[Wyvern]

I managed to download most of the labum that has leaked. I must say that:

1. It's heavy as fuck
2. It's pure thrash undoubtedly
3. Chuck Billy is using TOO much his harsh vocals, to the point that 'Formation Of Damnation' sounds almost death metal

I'm now with mixed feelings towards the album, I didn't had a problem with Chuck's vocals on "Low" and "The Gathering" but here for some reason they annoy me.

I would have to spin it more to digest it. One thing for sure they haven't sold out and they haven't lost a bit of energy, this is probably their heaviest album ever.

 

[delize]

I can't wait to hear it.

 

[sixxswine]

It's a better album than Exodus', it's heavier than Death Angel...

 

[Psychonaut]

I for one am glad it's super heavy. Nice to see Testament come out swinging and show they still have what it takes. Of course, I'll reserve final judgement for when I actually hear the whole thing.

 

[Platinum Maze]

I can't wait either. From the 1 song I've heard, this should easily be one of my top 3 albums of 2008. I do expect it to be better than any recent Bay Area thrash albums....

 

[Vicious Robbie]

As my friend Wyvern mentioned, the album has leaked out completely except for one track. I must agree with him on points 1 and 2. And I love Billy's mighty roar on the title track!! When a song is thrashing, man, you need that roar to get the blood going and keep up the pace.

Th album is a throwback album of sorts and the production is crystal clear. Paul is amazing on the drums (as usual) and the band is on top form, including Chuck's clean and harsh vocals, an integral part of their sound in my opinion. Actually, the only song where Billy uses the roar on the whole song is the title track. Everywhere else is pretty much controlled and clean, with an occasional roar or two.

Is it a perfect album? Nope, it isn't. It tends to fade a bit in the end, especially the last two tracks but overall I don't feel the band has lost its momentum and like sixx said, this one blows Exodus away easily (and unfortunately, it does the same thing with the Death Angel release). Wyvern mentioned that this is their heaviest and I have to disagree, bro...The Gathering will always be their heaviest album for me. Yet, Formation is a close second and it has lots of solos and more melodic elements than TG.

The Evil Has Landed....are you in?

 

[Wyvern]

Wyvern mentioned that this is their heaviest and I have to disagree, bro...The Gathering will always be their heaviest album for me. Yet, Formation is a close second and it has lots of solos and more melodic elements than TG.

You sure? I love TG but this one sounds way heavier maybe becuase of the vocals, I had a difficult time digesting it while TG was easy to pass on. There was more changes in tempo for instance.

We can discuss more on Friday

And indeed it's heavier than Death Angel, but I definitively likes more DA over Testament this time.

 

[IntoPhagist]

It was boring to me. But I'll give it a goo dlisten when the full album leaks

 

[Vicious Robbie]

You sure? I love TG but this one sounds way heavier maybe becuase of the vocals, I had a difficult time digesting it while TG was easy to pass on. There was more changes in tempo for instance.

We can discuss more on Friday

And indeed it's heavier than Death Angel, but I definitively likes more DA over Testament this time.

I love it when we get into an educated discussion

If we gauge the heaviness of an album because of the vocals, then TG is still the heavier album. TG has growls all over the place (Legions, Fall, DNR, Sewn, Eyes) while TFOD only one real growler. I agree that the album has more tempo changes and that actually takes some of the heaviness down a bit (my opinion). For example, listen to The Persecuted Won't Forget. The song starts out as a real thrasher but the mid section, with all its changes, I feel takes almost all the momentum off. Still, the song rebounds at the end.

Nonetheless, this will be a good topic for friday! Catch you there, bro!