Testament

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San Francisco Bay Area (1983 – present)

Testament was one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1980s. Originally formed as ‘Legacy’ in 1983 by founding members Eric Peterson (rhythm guitar), Derrick Ramirez (guitar) and Louie Clemente (drums), the line-up included vocalist Steve Souza and Greg Christian (bass). Ramirez was later replaced by wunderkind Alex Skolnick (lead guitar). Souza soon departed to join Exodus and suggested that the towering Chuck Billy take over as frontman(and was later run over by a bus). The band became known as ‘Testament’ 3 years later, while recording their debut album in Ithaca, New York.

“The Legacy” was a brutal intro in 1987, putting Testament at the forefront of the flourishing thrash metal scene. Following “Live At Eindhoven”, an EP recorded at Holland’s Dynamo Festival, “The New Order” in 1988 was well received producing one of the band’s most memorable classics “Disciples Of The Watch”. Next came the highly successful “Practice What You Preach” in 1989, then the release of “Souls Of Black” in 1990, coinciding with the European ‘Clash Of The Titans’ tour with Slayer, Megadeth and Suicidal Tendencies.

After “The Ritual” in 1992, Skolnick, who was losing interest in pure metal, decided to pursue his interest in jazz and left the band. Clemente also departed. “Return To Apocalyptic City” in 1993 brought Glen Alvelais (guitar, ex- Forbidden) into the fold, and filling in temporarily for Clemente, Paul Bostaph (ex- Forbidden, Slayer).
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Popular tags: thrash metal, metal, heavy metal, death metal, thrash  See more

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  • seevag

    the new order is a really god song!

    Thursday evening

  • zephranthes

    I nearly shit myself when I read "Testament was..."

    Thursday morning

  • Regi_Amorim

    Testament no MOA!!!

    Thursday morning

  • CrozzWolf

    chuck billy es una bestia con esas voces que se carga !!! ImI

    Wednesday morning

  • ignjholio

    Legions of the Dead!!!

    Tuesday evening

  • SK-Futhark

    Pretty good pick M4DerPirat...but I did avoid picking the generally superior Teutonic bunch...also if we're going to make it global England's Sabbat deserve a mention, and Canda's Voivod of course...(back in the 80s)...also regarding the US ones I should have mentioned Detente, amazing hugely underrated band

    Monday afternoon

  • Reverie-I--I-

    Check out these amazing & underrated thrash metal classics Entropy --- Devastation --- Demolition Hammer

    Monday afternoon

  • nekultura

    tard!tard!tard!tard!tard!tard!tard!tard!tard!tard!tard!tard!tard!tard!

    Monday morning

  • M4DderPirat

    Kreator > Destruction > Testament > Sepultura > Metallica > Onslaught > Slayer > Overkill > Machine Head > Megadeth > Anthrax > rest

    Sunday afternoon

  • SK-Futhark

    Actually should perhaps take that back, what I have heard of exodus is pretty heavy...

    Sunday morning

  • SK-Futhark

    Think testament are perhaps the heaviest of the US thrash bands (though have not heard much of dark angel, death angel or forbidden)...even in the 80s they were heavier and better than the others without relying on sheer speed like slayer (not that that's all slayer had, I do still love slayer's stuff up to and including seasons and the abyss)

    Sunday morning

  • SK-Futhark

    V Bender who listens to shit like metallica, chimaira and all that remains

    Sunday morning

  • o2w4e

    V Moron

    Saturday afternoon

  • SK-Futhark

    way better than anthrax [2] Anthrax are shit, never got into them...why are they seen as one of the 'big four'? Testament deserve to be in that group instead...I would say sepultura but they came later of course...Sepultura>Testament>Megadeth>Slayer>Metallica (the latter of which only ever made one decent album)

    last week

  • farbodmetalone2

    fuck yeah \m/

    last week

  • Megadieftw

    Amazing band :D

    last week

  • OutBreakOfEvil2

    way over rated.

    last week

  • josephivanda

    way better then anthrax

    12 days ago

  • Piske81

    Low is my absolute favorite too

    16 days ago

  • FjordSweetFjord

    Low is easily their most overlooked and under-appreciated album, the guitar / bass / drum production on there absolutely kills!!!!

    17 days ago
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