CD Review – Testament
The Formation of Damnation
Nuclear Blast
It’s nice to stumble across an album that simply brings back the days when old school metal (the Bay Area scene in particular) was exciting enough to stand in the rain outside a record store at midnight, waiting to get a copy of the latest act to have street cred without the influence of blogs and zines all claiming the throne of knowing what’s hot. Back then, the release date was the adrenaline rush, then the cover… then the music. Of course – those days are ruined. Salvation however, can be found once in awhile. The latest Testament is a dedicated old school nostalgic mind fuck to say the least.
With the recent “Nuclear Bay Area Blast” from the past ( label mates Exodus and Death Angel both touring to support new releases), it seems Testament’s latest has arrived in time to signal the re-birth of thrash metal in 2008 An all original line up featuring the “Chuck Billy Club” (no pun) assures the listeners will get their money’s worth, provided they actually kick it old school by buying the fucking CD for once.
If anything – for the act of tearing off the cellophane and sniffing the fresh ink off the liner notes. That is what metal was all about. Standout tracks like “More Than Meets The Eye” and “Killing Season” will have you donning patch-encrusted denim vests all over again and tossing lawn furniture through the drywall of Mom’s basement in Anytown USA.
Welcome home.