Testament

One of the most influential thrash acts to emerge from the Bay Area in Metallica's wake, Testament, who initially operated under the moniker Legacy, helped to lead the genre's second wave in the late 1980s. Part of the thrash metal "big eight," which also includes Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, Exodus, Overkill, and Death Angel, the band found mainstream success in 1988 with the release of their sophomore outing, The New Order. Despite enduring multiple personnel changes over the years -- guitarist Eric Peterson has remained the group's sole constant member -- Testament have remained active for decades and experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 2010s with acclaimed efforts like Dark Roots of Earth (2012), Brotherhood of the Snake (2016), and Titans of Creation (2020).
Influenced by the then-emerging Bay Area thrash metal scene, vocalist Steve Souza, guitarists Eric Peterson and Derrick Ramirez, bassist Greg Christian, and drummer Louie Clemente formed Legacy in late 1983. But it wasn't until the arrival of lead guitarist Alex Skolnick and a name change to Testament two years later that the band's Metallica-inspired thrash metal began distinguishing them from less-refined peers such as Forbidden and Vio-Lence. By 1986, the group were attracting record company attention, but they were handed a severe blow when Souza abruptly quit to join original Bay Area scene legends Exodus. Ironically, however, his departure would prove a godsend, as the band soon drafted a significantly more versatile (and downright intimidating) replacement in Chuck Billy. His greater melodic talents and inimitable, bowl-shaking growl would better complement Testament's increasing diversity and mastery of melodic crunch.
Signed by thrash metal mecca Megaforce Records, the group lent their original name to the following year's remarkable debut, The Legacy. Hailed as an instant classic within thrash metal circles, the album's coupling of furious riffs and harmonic sensibility stood second only to Metallica in controlled power, technical delivery, and sheer confidence. It also benefited from Megaforce's recently obtained distribution deal with Atlantic Records, and Testament lived up to their promise while touring America and Europe in support of Anthrax, the latter then experiencing their own peak with the Among the Living album. Recorded on that tour, the Live at Eindhoven EP cemented Testament's standing as champions of thrash's second wave, and despite lacking the consistency of their debut, 1988's sophomore The New Order maintained their forward momentum and led to yet another lengthy world tour that took the band as far as South America.
More focused and driven than ever, Testament took painstaking care in constructing their follow-up, 1989's Practice What You Preach, a massive achievement that saw them expanding their melodic reach while losing none of their power and aggression. A year-long tour, including a long stint headlining over Savatage and Wrathchild America across the U.S., ensued and even MTV gave their videos a respectable amount of exposure. Testament truly seemed poised on the verge of greatness when everything started to unravel. Offered the chance to support Judas Priest on their career-revitalizing Painkiller tour (also featuring Megadeth), Testament rushed straight from the back of their tour bus and into the studio to record 1990's Souls of Black. A hodgepodge collection of rehashed demos and unfinished ideas, the album stalled on record store shelves and the seeds of frustration and discontent were sown. Not even a coveted slot on the European leg of the Clash of the Titans tour, alongside Slayer, Megadeth, and Suicidal Tendencies, could stall the inevitable, and the band started tearing apart at the seams.
By the time they regrouped with 1992's somewhat improved The Ritual, grunge had arrived, musical tastes had changed drastically, and Testament were only one of countless casualties whose once highly anticipated albums fell on deaf ears. Ace guitarist Skolnick, who had long complained of the creative limitations imposed by the band's style, was the first casualty, leaving to join Savatage. He was replaced by Glen Alvelais (ex-Forbidden) for the subsequent tour, which also saw the firing of drummer Clemente midway through, replaced by another Forbidden alum, Paul Bostaph. Following the rather pointless Return to the Apocalyptic City EP, 1994's brutally negative Low -- featuring journeyman James Murphy (Death, Obituary, Cancer, etc.) on guitar and Exodus' John Tempesta on drums -- would be their last with Atlantic. Tempesta was soon off to join White Zombie, and new drummer Jon Dette (ex-Evil Dead) only lasted long enough to perform on their next tour before also leaving to join Slayer.
Amazingly, Testament persisted, launching their own Burnt Offerings label to release 1995's Live at the Fillmore and another studio effort, 1997's Demonic. The latter renewed their violent commitment to going back to basics, and featured legendary drummer Gene Hoglan (ex-Dark Angel, Death) and returning founding member Derrick Ramirez, now replacing departed bassist Christian. While their former home Atlantic was busy releasing the Signs of Chaos greatest-hits collection, Testament were moving forward with yet another independent release, 1999's The Gathering, which saw usual suspects Billy and Peterson supported by bassist Steve DiGiorgio, returning guitarist James Murphy, and the awesome talents of original Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo.
A major snag was right around the corner, however, when popular frontman Chuck Billy was diagnosed with cancer, prompting a slew of benefit concerts throughout the Bay Area to raise funds for his treatment. Thankfully, he recovered in due time, and Testament chose to celebrate by welcoming back former members Steve Souza and Alex Skolnick (now involved with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, but predominantly acting as a jazz player fronting his own New York-based trio) to participate in a personally sanctioned collection of their best-loved songs, released in 2001 as First Strike Still Deadly. Eric Peterson was also active with a black metal side project named Dragonlord around this time, and little was heard of Testament in the next few years.
Another retrospective collection (Days of Darkness, featuring one disc of highlights from the group's late-'90s releases and a second simply recycling First Strike Still Deadly) was released in 2004, and in 2005 Testament's classic lineup of Billy, Skolnick, Peterson, Christian, and Clemente reunited for a tour including several major European festival engagements; occasional drummer John Tempesta spelled their long inactive original drummer on some of their more challenging material. In 2008, Testament released their first studio album in nine years, The Formation of Damnation, followed by a steady stream of live performances, including a stint as the supporting act for Judas Priest, Motörhead, and Heaven & Hell on the Metal Masters tour. The band's tenth studio album, Dark Roots of Earth, arrived in 2012 on Nuclear Blast, followed in 2013 by the live double album/DVD Dark Roots of Thrash.
The bandmembers promised to start releasing music more frequently, and made good on their word with another new studio album in 2016, Brotherhood of the Snake. Named for an ancient secret society, it saw them return to their thrash roots with some of their fastest material in ages, and featured the return to the fold of bassist Steve DiGiorgio for the first time in 15 years. The 2020 follow-up, Titans of Creation, their 13th studio album, was co-produced by Juan Urteaga and tackled mythological themes. It marked the first time since 1992's The Ritual that the band had recorded two albums in a row with the same lineup. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia