Testament
Biography
Testament were the biggest thrash metal band never to reach the platinum plateau. In fact, the San Francisco quintet seemed on the verge of challenging Metallica (their most obvious influence) in the melodic thrash sweepstakes, but their run toward the top was eventually derailed by inconsistency, bad business decisions, and the genre's dwindling appeal. Unable to change with the times like Metallica, Testament quickly faded from sight in the early '90s, but have remained active and very popular within the metal underground.
Influenced by the then-emerging Bay Area thrash metal scene, vocalist Steve Souza, guitarists Eric Peterson and Derrick Ramirez, bassist Greg Christian, and drummer Louie Clemente came together as Legacy in late 1983. But it wasn't until the arrival of lead guitarist Alex Skolnick and a name change to Testament two years later that the band's Metallica-inspired thrash metal began distinguishing it from less-refined peers such as Forbidden and Vio-Lence. By 1986, the group was attracting record company attention, but was handed a severe blow when Souza abruptly quit to join original Bay Area scene legends Exodus. Ironically, however, his departure would prove a godsend, as the band soon drafted a significantly more versatile (and downright intimidating) replacement in Chuck Billy.
Selected Discography
The Formation Of Damnation
2008
The Spitfire Collection
2007
Live In London
2005
First Strike Still Deadly
2001
The Gathering
1999
All haters just dont realize a hardcore band that has withstood the test of time....Not every 80,s metal band has made it this far...so just keep hating...wis h i n g god smack had this many albums..or could make it 20yrs
|
||
I grew up in the 80's listening to thrash. Most of the bands i liked then are still fukin awesome and still makin music. To continue to classify metallica as a thrash band is pure ignorance! As far as im concerned metallica lost there balls after AJFA.
|
||
Testament are in a class by themselves.. . t o group them with Greedtallica is a blight on metal. They have stay true to the sound...and that sound is HEAVY! Greedtallica is just a shell of what they used to be...Long Live Testament.
|
||
I havnt heard alot of Testament, but from what i have heard they are badass. I dont know about them beating most other thrash bands though, Megadeth is one of my favorite bands. Dave Mustaine makes amazing metal
|
||
It looks like they just didn't get it together until it was a little too late. By the time they got a label the Big 4 were already established, and Pantera was soon to make it big. Just bad timing.
Band definitely rocks! |
||
Just saw them 3 nights ago on there 2009 tour and they were awesome like usual. Alex Skolnick can really shred on guitar and Chuck Billy still has the great voice for thrash. Keep bangin boys!
|
||
I think it's a discredit to liken Testament to a bunch of Metallica clones. They truely had some groundbreaki n g material. "The New Order" is arguably the best thrash album of all time.
|
||
Chuck Billy, Alex Skolnick, and the rest of the guys in Testament rule! I love the new album (The Formation of Damnation) and the old stuff as well. I listen to Low all the time.
|
||
Thrash might've gone ungerground according to all the posers, but thrash, and bands like Testament have been kicking a** for 20+ years.
|
||
sebastio1226 says: 04-10-2009
de las mejores bandas de trash de todos los tiempos,agre s i v a , m e l o d i c a en fin lo mejor de lo mejor... ---- wth man this is AMERICA SPEAK ENGLISH |
||
de las mejores bandas de trash de todos los tiempos,agre s i v a , m e l o d i c a en fin lo mejor de lo mejor...
|
||
I saw them live in Tijuana, Mexico with Annihilator back in 1989 at Iguanas, great live band, very aggresive atmosphere and one of the most violent mosh pits' I've ever been in, even the chicks were punching people and starting fights!! those we're the good old days.
|
||
i saw testament last year at peabody's in cleavland and landed headfirst onstage from a crowdsurf, right next to alex!! quite a memorable experience i must say. they played all my favorites from the legacy including apocalyptic city, C.O.T.L.O.D. , and of course, over the wall as the opener
|
||
I know most of you will disagree, but that's why we are lucky to be FREE; "The Ritual" is Testament's greatest creation by a large margin. Even the lyrics rang true leading to not only their demise, but also Metal's moving underground for awhile. They touted society's ills and the constant constant thievery and oppression of our government and the rich. Fantastic Metal.
|
||
Listen to disciples of the watch, sins of omission, practice what you preach, into the pit, down for life, henchmen ride and formation of damnation but their older stuff is thrash the newer stuff is more thrash and death metal.
|
||
my cousin just showed me this band. anyone have suggestions for songs to listen to?? thanks
|
||
Louie Clemente looks like Chaka from the old Land of the Lost t.v. series......
Horry!! Horry!! |
||
talent wise:
Testament kills godsmack by about 4x as much sound wise: Testament is still better than godsmack (not by a ton, but about 50% more) NOTE OF ADVICE!!!:be f o r e you diss a band on a fan page just look at the fan base you are talking to before someone shoves their foot up your a**. |
||
uprooted needs to shove godsmack up his fing a$$ there is no way they are better than testament
|
||
Every song Godsmack does sounds the same so just go away at least Testament is still bad a**
|
||
eternal happiness and joy... from godsmack? Please... don't be such a tool just because you enjoy light rock. I'll take Testament over Godsmack any day.
|
||
I'd rather compare them to slayer than anything. And even that is silly. They have good songs and not good songs just like every other band and it's completely subjective. Arguing about it is sometimes fun though. Oh and I think the gay Devil worshipers are all in Northern Cali close to the beach. :)
|
||
thats rite thats why testament,ex o d u s , d e a t h angel are sons of death-this has nothing to do with those sell-outs-me t a l l i c a - Y U C K !
|
||
metallica sold out testament didnt period. once metallica sold out they should have changed their name they arent metallica anymore. they used to make fun of iron maiden and hell iron maden rocks harder than they do now at least they didnt sell out
|
||
Ha, I like the part where it said "unable to adjust, like Metallica"
...like metallica. F**k metallica! They're not a metal band anymore, because a metal band wouldn't conform - EVER!!! I remember a time when the soft spoken girl and wierd guy in my science class wouldn't have even f**kin' dreampt of going to see a Metallica concert - it was too loud and intense for them. But they're going to see the Death Magnetic concert tomorrow! |
||
lets just pretend they were not metallica derived-it makes all the s**t of the world easier to digest.
|
||
Wow, I didn't use to think they were so exceptional, but now they are probably my favorite thrash band.
|
||
never too late, keep on going Testement, Mr. Shred Mr. Jazz . ALEX SKOLNICK GREAT PLAYER
|
||
Go Skolnick! How can one man make two entirely different forms of music (Metal and Fusion) and both be so effing awesome?
|
||
They aren't anything like Metallica, because Metallica is gay, Testament isn't
|
||
Whoever said that these guys were nothing like Metallica has either never listened to either band, did not grow up with both bands (in the 80's and 90') or is simply making a statement that is dead wrong. Sure, Testament has some albums after they attempted to mimick Metallica that go beyond the Metallica formula, but everyone from that era pretty much acknowledges "Practice what you Preach" and New World Order, while FANTASTIC albums, were very Metallica derived.
|
||
Testament has made some of the best thrash of all time, especially The New Order. That is definitely in my top 10 of all time. They make pure EAROTICA, so please don't mention Metallica, because they can't compare, ever.
|
| report abuse |
Portions of content provided by All Music Guide © 2006 All Media Guide, LLC.