As soon as I saw this disc in the store I was thinking to myself, "Oh hell yeah, a new Testament CD!!!!" As you can see I have been out of the real metal loop for a little while, consequently I didn't even realize Testament had a new album out. I run from the store (yes, I did pay for the album! I SWEAR I DID!) To get back to the car and throw this in my CD player. I rip the shrink wrap off go to open it up and can't get the damn CD out. I spend the next 10 minutes getting that damn piece of tape across the top of the CD off… AAARRRGGGHHH. I finally get it open throw the CD in and realize I left the keys to my car in the store… AAARRRGGGHHH again. Ok I have the keys, the CD is finally in the player and I take a look at the inside cover and see Dave Lombard on drums?!? James Murphy on guitar?!? Oh HELL YEAH!!! And that's when the first strains of "D.N.R." hit me and I start getting goosebumps and then all hell breaks loose as the guitars kick in and Lombardo starts pounding till your ears bleed and doesn't let up for another 10 tracks. If you are not familiar with the band (in this incarnation anyway) we have Chuck Billy on vocals, Eric Peterson and James Murphy on guitar, Steve DiGiorgio on bass and in my opinion the best heavy metal drummer out there right now, Dave Lombardo.
Let me start by saying that everything about this album can be summed up in one word…AWESOME!!! Chuck's vocals have never sounded better. I love the way he mixes the clean vocals with one of the best death metal style growls I have heard in a long time. The guitar work is just killer riffs and leads from beginning to end and the rhythm section is just unbelievable. The songs range from groove oriented (Eyes Of Wrath, True Believer, 3 Days in Darkness) to pure out and out thrash that will snap your neck (D.N.R., Down for Life, Legions Of the Dead, Fall of Sipledom).
I have had this CD in my personal rotation since the day I bought it. I cant go more than week without listening to it and I swear it seems to get better each time I do. This album has got me thinking there is a God and he must like HEAVY METAL!!!!
Track By Track
D.N.R. - 10
Down For Life - 10
Eyes Of Wrath - 9.0
True Believer - 8.5
3 Days in Darkness - 10
Legions of the Dead - 9.5
Careful What You wish For - 9.5
Riding the Snake - 9.5
Allegiance - 9.5
Sewn Shut Eyes - 9.5
Fall of Sipledom - 10
Vocals - 9.5
Guitars - 9.5
Bass - 8.0
Drums - 10++
Keyboards - N/A
Production - 9.0
