(As featured on The Metalheadz facebook page- link below)
My jaw drops and my head bangs as soon as I hit the play button. Did I really expect anything less for the tenth album from American Thrash metallers Testament? They’re one of the bands that make me wish I was about in the 80’s to enjoy. But here we are in 2012 enjoying an album that almost seems to be sprung straight out of the decade of Def Leppard, drainpipes and old school thrash. With a ‘special guest’ slot booked for Bloodstock festivals this year, Testament are out to prove they’re not going anywhere soon. Phew.
This album is gloriously dark and angry, with themes on death and war that are poignant throughout. Sitting down and doing my usual ritual of listening to an album in its entirety, I can honestly say I enjoyed every track on the record. It has all the elements that a good thrash album needs. Face melting solos, extreme drum fills, grumbling bass-lines and powerful vocals from an amazing front-man.
Firstly the opening track of the album lets us know straight away that this is Testament, and you’re in for one hell of a ride. It’s deliciously speedy with a catchy gang vocal opportunity ‘When I say rise up, you say war! RISE UP. WAR!’ etc. The title track slows things down a little, but it’s a stomping song that really reminds you of their back catalogue of songs, showing that Testament have changed in some ways, but in others, they’re still throwing out massive thrash hits like the good old Testament always have (and probably always will!)
Personally, my favorite tracks on this album are A Day in the Death for its awesome bass riff and on the button lyrics. Secondly I can’t help but absolutely love the track Throne of Thorns, as it is both beautiful, sexy and dark all at the same time. As the penultimate song on the album it brings you onto the finishing track, which is the complete climax of the whole record, a fast paced song plucked from the depths of hell it seems.
From the outside Dark Roots of the Earth may look like a relatively small album, but all nine tracks combine together to create one giant masterpiece that I absolutely love. Get this album now.
My rating 9/10
Testaments official Website
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