PODCAST: EPISODE 79 – Chuck Billy of Testament on “Titans of Creation”


Ghost Cult caught up with Thrash Metal legend Chuck Billy of Testament by phone to discuss their brand new album Titans of Creation out on April 3rd 2020, via Nuclear Blast Records. Read our review here. Chuck discussed the concept of the new album, his creative process with Eric Peterson, the more collaborative and positive nature of making the new album compared to Brotherhood of the Snake, work Juan Urteaga in the producer’s chair, the history of the band and reflections on Souls of Black which turns 30 in 2020. Buy the album here:

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Testament Shares New Single – “Children Of The Next Level”


Thrash Metal legends Testament have shared a new single, ‘Children Of The Next Level’ from their forthcoming Titans Of Creation, which will be released on April 3 via Nuclear Blast. Jam out to the song now! The album was produced by singer Chuck Billy and guitarist Eric Peterson while Juan Urteaga of Trident Studios handled co-producing, recording and engineering. Andy Sneap was responsible for the mixing and mastering of the album. Eliran Kantor stepped up once again to create a new masterpiece of artwork for the cover of this release. The band is currently on its The Bay Strikes Back tour with Exodus and Death Angel! Watch the video now! Continue reading


Testament Partners With PriVACY For Cryptocurrency Partnership


Testament has delved into the world of Cryptocurrency with a new long-term promotional agreement partnership announced with PRiVCY (PRIV), the “hottest new cryptocurrency”. PRiVCY is a POW/POS privacy coin project, utilizing several security elements to protect the anonymity of PRiVCY users. Offering fast, secure and cheap transactions, the PRiVCY coin is integrated with TOR and has stealth addresses enabled to provide additional layers of privacy and security. Buy bitcoin cash. To celebrate the partnership Testament and PriVACY are hosting a huge contest for the Decibel Metal And Beer Festival: Los Angeles, coming this December. Details below. Continue reading


Testament – Live at Eindhoven, Live At Fillmore, First Strike Still Deadly, Demonic, The Gathering Reissues


Well into their fourth decade, the history of Bay Area Thrash legends Testament is already a well-documented one. We all know they were originally called Legacy, and that Steve “Zetro” Souza from Exodus used to be their vocalist, and we all know that they are one of a select bunch of bands many Thrash Metal fans would like to have seen included in the so-called “Big Four”. While it looks like we may have a long wait for classics like The Legacy, The New Order, Practice What You Preach and Souls of Black (all Atlantic/Megaforce) to be reissued and/or remastered, Nuclear Blast have done (close to) the next best thing and reissued two live records, a collection of re-recorded tracks, and two studio albums.Continue reading


Testament – Brotherhood Of The Snake


testament-brotherhood-of-the-snake

Whenever the subject of The Big Four of Thrash Metal pops up in conversation, the first thing that tends to happen after the absolutely compulsory ranking process (THIS MUST ALWAYS BE DONE) is the equally mandatory “Band X should have been included instead of Band Y” debate.Continue reading


Testament To Host A Listening Party For Brotherhood Of The Snake At Affliction Studios Tonight


Testament, by Hillarie Jason

Testament, by Hillarie Jason

In conjunction with Affliction Clothing, Testament are hosting a listening party for their new album Brotherhood of The Snake, due out on October 28th , from Nuclear Blast Records. Details are below: Continue reading


Watch Testament Discuss Their New Album Artwork


testament-brotherhood-of-the-snake

Testament are closing in on the release of their new album Brotherhood Of the Snake, due out on October 28th from Nuclear Blast . You can watch Chuck Billy and Eric Peterson discuss the artwork concept by created by Eliran Kantor (Hatebreed, Soulfly, Kataklysm) in the clip below: Continue reading


Testament Reveal Artwork For New Album, Brotherhood Of The Snake, Due This Fall


Testament band 2016 photo credit Gene Ambo ghostcultmag

Testament. Photo credit: Gene Ambo

 

Bay Area Thrash legends Testament have announced their new album, Brotherhood Of The Snake, will release this October 28th from the bands longtime label, Nuclear Blast. They have revealed the cover art for the album as well, created by artist Eliran Kantor (Hatebreed, Soulfly, Kataklysm) who also worked on 2012’s Dark Roots Of The Earth. You can see the artwork below:

 

Testament Brotherhood of The Snake ghostultmag

 

Producer Juan Urteaga (Exodus, Heathen, Machine Head), guitarist Eric Peterson and singer Chuck Billy, Brotherhood Of The Snake was mixed and mastered by well-known metal producer Andy Sneap (Accept, Arch Enemy, Cradle Of Filth, Kreator, Machine Head, Megadeth).

Peterson commented on the new music:

“It’s very diverse, but it’s very epic. There’s nothing on there that breeds commercial. And I think for thirty years of recording music and trying different formulas and stuff, we’ve found a formula that is very metal. I think for the metal fan that is looking for something, for the nooks and crannies… not just your normal, ‘Oh, it’s got a thrash beat and a riff.’ There’s a lot going on here.”

“It’s different. This one is more thrash. I mean, this has got some of the fastest stuff that we have ever played. Usually, we have one or two thrash songs, and then we have some mid-tempo, and then we have a slow, heavy one, and then up-tempo kind of stuff. Half of the new record is thrash, which we’ve never done before.”

“It’s kind of like ‘Demonic’ and ‘The Gathering’, but a little bit wiser. Chuck’s not singing so death. I mean, he does some death stuff but he’s singing more like he did on the last record and then with the craziness of ‘The Gathering’ or even heavy stuff like ‘Demonic’.”

Testament will support the new album with a UK/Ireland tour this fall with Amon Amarth and Grand Magus this autumn.

Testament tour dates with Amon Amarth and Grand Magus:

Oct 31: Manchester Academy, Manchester, UK

Nov 01: -O2 ABC, Glasgow, UK

Nov 02: Vicar Street– Dublin, UK

Nov 04 : Roundhouse- London, UK

Nov 05 : O2 Academy, Birmingham, UK


Testament/Overkill/Flotsam And Jetsam/4ARM Live @The Palladium, Worcester MA


DSC34994ArmDannyTomb011-800x533 1Two nights in a row I visited the storied Palladium in Worcester MA to see a great metal show. I’m not a kid anymore so by the end of the second night I was feeling my age. But until the final chord rang out on this evening I was rejuvenated by the sounds of the metal I grew up on. Not only are these veteran acts some of the premier names in Thrash Metal history, each one is proving vital and important as ever.Continue reading