The Belated Testament

There is the Big Four of thrash. And then there are Testament and Exodus. Even though the commercial and financial greatness eluded the latter two bands, they have always been musically on a par with Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax. Well, almost. Exodus had a chronological advantage over Testament, in that they have been around longer than most, only to be blindsided by their record company's dire financial situation. Testament, on the other hand, could have been much bigger for entirely different reasons: they had the best vocalist and guitarist combo of all the thrash bands. Chuck Billy and Alex Skolnick deserve all the praise that are bestowed upon them. However, it was never meant to be. Fast forward to 2007 and Testament releases The Formation of Damnation. It is an album that screamed its way in to the mainstream heavy metal by people who don't reminisce about good old days, but remind us how good those days were.

I don't want to sound like somebody who has just discovered, or re-discovered, Testament in the last few years. I have been an ardent fan for ages and I'm absolutely chaffed that they are getting the recognition they fully deserve. So, with an air of self-imposed authority I went to see them at Shepherd's Bush Empire last week. Here's the low-down of what transpired.

I had bought the tickets online to pick them up at the venue. Now, I did a silly thing and went in line to think that our tickets were to be disposed to us at the venue (my memories of the Empire is a bit hazy, so I forgot that the box office is outside to the left of the main entrance). There were probably 50 metalheads ahead of me and I thought my chances are good to get a good spot and maybe get a brand-spanking-new t-shirt too. Sadly, the girl that checks our tickets told me that I needed to get mine from the box office. And that meant that I lost my place in line and went to the back of the line. No biggie, really. It wasn't a sold-out show.

The first disappointment of the show were the merchandise - boring as can be. I am wondering if Testament's merchandising department are up to date with international politics, but there hasn't been a Czechoslovakia for nearly two decades. And somehow Testament will be playing in that country next week. Hmmm. Money well saved for not buying that t-shirt.

The first band to appear were Warbringer. My first impression was very positive: the bassist was wearing a Zappa t-shirt and wouldn't have been out of place as a Mothers of Invention member; the lead guitarist had a Siouxsie and the Banshees shirt; and the vocalist had a Demolition Hammer shirt. This band has an interesting taste in music. And it somehow shows in their songs too. Albeit mildly. Theirs wasn't anything new or exciting.  That is the main problem with the current batch of thrash bands - they are rehashing the same stuff from the 80s. They should have done what Testament did and embrace the new and the old.

Next up were Anaal Nakrath. Quite what the management of Testament were thinking when they picked this bunch. I have nothing against black metal, but it's just not something I can get in to. They were massively out of place and that showed in their stage presence. They were loud, non-sensical, and pretty fucking anonymous. But that's just me.

Testament, on the other hand, were a different breed altogether. Chuck Billy is now more menacing than ever, his stage presence mirrors his belt size. Alex Skolnick and the rest of the band couldn't have been tighter. Without the wrinkles in their faces, this could easily have been 1989. It was that good. It was a greatest hits show: "Burnt Offerings", "Alone in the Dark", "Practice What You Preach", "Souls of Black", "Low" ... the list goes on. The highlights, though, strangely were the songs off the new album. The versions of "More than Meets the Eye" and "The Formation of Damnation" are up there with some of the most amazing live performances I have experienced.

Testament should have been the fourth in the Big Four (just kick Anthrax out). Or at least they should have been the fifth. Surely they demonstrated tonight that they truly deserve commercial greatness.

Peace.

The Best Testament

Having recently read at the newest edition of the Classic Rock magazine a brief interview with Testament's lead guitarist, Alex Skolnick, I was pleasanlty surprised and elated to learn that the band will be playing  a best-of set that will also include some tracks from their latest release, the amazing The Formation of Damnation. Watch this space as there will be a review of this gig at Shepherd's Bush Empire.

Peace.