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We
have many things to thank this Bay Area combo for. Not only do
they have a more than respectable and highly influential back
catalogue –with the exception of a couple of stinkers (ahem,
The Ritual sucked)-, but through their most tumultuous times
when they couldn’t even keep a line up together for longer than
a month they were still capable to dish out some really
exceptional albums (The Gathering, Demonic). Even more
important is that those records in question managed to push the
band into more brutal territory, into sonic spaces that their
most arduous thrash metal didn’t even approximate.
Around the
time, our dearest Chuck Billy, who it must be said, is by far
one of the finest thrash metal vocalist period not only because
he could growl like a horny demon in search of some kittens like
he proved in those two albums mentioned above, but also because
he could sing like a diabolical angel, which most thrasher
vocalists couldn’t, fell ill with Cancer. Little did we know
that such tragedy would help kick start the old school thrash
metal revival all fans of the old style are rejoicing in today.
The Formation
of Damnation
is more than a return to form. But Testament is simply
concentrating in what they do best and that’s craft powerful
thrash metal, speedy and dynamic without putting the spotlight
in the band’s technical abilities, this record shines because
its classic re-treatment of the genre. Perhaps not as bestial as
Demonic,- though Billy goes apeshit on us in several
instances, most notably the title track -, but certainly as
expert and flawless as the band’s best work, this album reunites
Testament’s classic line up with the exception of drummer Louie
Clemente who is replaced by Paul Bostaph who has also been
around the block a few times with tiny, unknown and
insignificant bands like Slayer and the still underrated
Forbidden.
More
importantly, The Formation of Damnation sees the band
reuniting with guitar god Alex Skolnick who left the band in
1992 and who has been active in several fronts, playing jazz
with his trio, recording with Savatage and, on occasion, making
guest appearances such as his memorable seconds in Lamb of God’s
Ashes of the Wake. As Testament has proved with their
powerful latest releases (we are only talking about those that
contain original material, not the numerous rehashed
compilations), they do not need Skolnick to make good music, but
damn it if his presence helps. Their current riffs have a whole
new dimension; check out the awesome technicality of “The
Persecuted Won’t Forget”, I’d like to see a math metal axeman
doing that with some soul, or feel inspired by some of those
smooth solos. The Formation of Damnation is well-rounded,
a thorough album that has been aided by the punch of the
recording of Vincent Wojno and Andy Sneap.
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