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Testament – Brotherhood of the Snake

Label: Nuclear Blast
Format: CD
Released: 2016
Reviewed By: Rich Catino
Rating: 8/ 10


Testament have been on a roll in the last ten years making new music and even more so touring. “Brotherhood” completes a trilogy of new albums (with “Formation of Damnation” and “Dark Roots”), where they have found a formula (in a sense), that combines their past and late 90s albums. As you can see from the title track, “The Gathering” continues to be a noticeable influence when Eric (Peterson-guitar) writes these thrash songs. Some of these riffs sound like a swarm of bees coming. Here is also where Chuck (with Eric backing him up) throws in a couple lower end almost death growls. Now while the first track is more contemporary, ‘The Pale King’ goes back to their 80s roots, dropping right in the pocket with a crunchy riff, bouncy bass, and drums setting the beat. This song feels like it could have been on “Souls Of Black” or even “Low”, which is creatively interesting because that’s the album where a couple more death metal and groove elements were added. And yes, Mr. Skolnick still is in the house doing his thing for the solo, and harmonizing with Eric.

 

Like I said earlier, these last three albums are more in the framework of “The Gathering”, and ‘Stronghold’ contains that album’s forcefulness and harsher vocal, yet, still you get plenty of lead work. ‘Seven Seals’ again goes back to earlier Testament as riffs and leads trade off and harmonize, slowing down the tempo leaving room more for Chuck to be heard and the accenting leads. Love how the tempo changes midway, picks up and the bass comes through with more tasty soloing. A tune more progressive in nature for sure. Would like to have had the initial riff and delivery for ‘Born In A Rut’ carry on to the first quarter of the song cause it slows down and drags, yet moving into the chorus section feel like something from “The Ritual”. Love the catchy guitars and harmonizing leads for ‘Neptune’s Spear’, so classic “New Order” album. ‘Centuries of Suffering’, ‘Black Jack’, bite back quick with those three snakes on the cover, and ‘Canna-Business’ is about the business of cannabis.

Overall, its again another strong album, although, I think Eric gets a little repetitive when it comes to some riffs and arrangements for the fast thrash songs. He would benefit from co-writing with Alex for variety and dynamics. Testament have found a comfortable place in how to incorporate their roots while being relevant in the more extreme and harder hitting heavy metal scene of the millennium. Nice artwork and packaging for the Cd and LP. But, after three really aggressive albums, I’d like to see the more melodic side of them come back next round, something that merges “Practice What You Preach” with “The Ritual”.

 
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