Testament – The Formation of Damnation

It has been almost ten years since Testament released new studio material, but now, finally, the thrash metal legends are back with a new album that sees original guitarists Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick recording together for the first time in sixteen years. The album also marks the return of original bassist Greg Christian for the first time in fourteen years. And if that wasn’t enough, drumming duties are handled by Paul Bostaph (ex-Slayer, ex-Exodus).

Expectations for this album are sky-high, and the only question is: can this impressive lineup deliver an equally impressive album?

It all starts with a short and effective instrumental that immediately showcases a tight and powerful sound – a hallmark of the rest of the record. The sound isn’t particularly complex or unique, but it’s extremely effective, much like Machine Head’s The Blackening. The intro flows directly into track two, “More Than Meets the Eye”, which stands out as one of the strongest songs the band has recorded in years. With its catchy melody, sharp axe work, and galloping rhythms, this track is the perfect opener and leaves the listener wanting more.

More is quickly delivered in the form of the 9/11-inspired “The Evil Has Landed”, which maintains the album’s high energy level. The vocals are both aggressive and melodic, echoing Testament’s earlier material, though the title track features a harsher vocal style reminiscent of the Demonic era.

The album serves as an excellent representation of Testament’s career, offering no filler – just one solid track after another. By the time the blistering “Henchmen Ride” hits, the listener may start to wonder if the album’s quality will ever dip. This bombastic track evokes nostalgia and feels like this decade’s answer to “Metal Thrashing Mad”.

While the overall quality does dip slightly toward the end – mostly due to a lack of experimentation – it remains impressively high throughout. Peterson and Skolnick work flawlessly together, with Skolnick’s solos delivering the chilling atmosphere fans have come to expect from his work. The drumming is equally impressive; while comparing Bostaph to past Testament drummers (like Lombardo, Tempesta, and Dette) would be futile, he might just be the best fit for the band yet.

On the downside, the bass is somewhat buried beneath the wall of sound created by the guitars and drums. This is the only real flaw in the otherwise strong production of The Formation of Damnation.

One of the original four from the legendary Clash of the Titans tour is back – and their new album is their best in a long time. For any heavy metal fan, this is a must-have release.

www.testamentlegions.com