Artist: Testament
Label: Spitfire
Release Date: 6/8/99
|
|
Title: The Gathering Artist: Testament Label: Spitfire Release Date: 6/8/99 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
|
5 | ||
|
5 | ||
|
5 | ||
|
|
Go to Reader Reviews | ||
Abyss's Review:
When the term "Bay Area Sound" is used nowadays many people’s thoughts immediately turn to Machine head, Skinlab, and Killingculture. However, for some of us that are a little longer in the tooth, that term brings up warm, pleasant memories of what feels like a distant past. A time when a visit to the local high school would show, amongst the clean-cut students, a silent of army of malcontents in black shirts that read: Metallica, Megadeth, Exodus, Slayer (even though they’re from LA), Overkill (even though they’re from NYC), and our centerpiece today, Testament. These bands made me the metalhead I am today, and enjoyed far more success financially than their counterparts today. Most all of these bands are still together and putting out albums, but as much as I’ve liked their new albums (By the way I stopped talking about Metallica a long time ago), all of these bands’ glory years are well behind them. Testament, however, has weathered the evolution into the 90s much better than their peers. Their last effort, Demonic, was well received and sold about 200,000 copies. Many saw it as a step away from their thrash roots and a step towards death metal, based solely on the vocals. I have to admit, I was among those asking the Metal Gods, "Why did Chuck have to give up on his old singing style, I like the new stuff too, but come on!" Well apparently Chuck heard me, because The Gathering showcases his voice that we all know and love, while keeping a death growl around as an accessory. This is done with amazing success, as I can think of no better vocal performance by Mr. Billy. The music has gotten quite technical while maintaining a Thrash base. Songs come in many different tempos, from the brooding True Believer, to the speedy Legions of the Dead, and maintain a sing-along type of hook that is less obvious in 90s death and black genres. There is no doubt that all of these guys can play too. From the brutal rhythm section of Digiorgio and Lombardo, to the riffmeisters Peterson and Murphy, there is no doubt that this is one of the most talented bands in metal today. An album that I can’t really recommend enough. Whether you’re a reject from the 80s that wants to remember the old days with enough 90s in it to keep it vital, or if you’re a youngin’ that believe Testament to be one of those old 80s bands that everyone talks about, but seem so outdated, The Gathering is the perfect non-compromise. Now, if by any chance The Gathering names their next album Testament, please just read this review from bottom to top, Thank you
"Testament has weathered the evolution into the 90s much better than their peers."
Death's Review:
"The Gathering" is the best album of 1999 so far. Rivaling the "The Legacy" and "The New Order" in intensity, ferocity, and technicality, "The Gathering" stands tall as a shining example of first-rate, late nineties American metal. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is the state of the art. Not only does "The Gathering" represent a return to form and an important high water mark in Testament’s decade-plus career, it will hopefully signal an urgent return to the lost quest for the perfect speed-metal album. Welcome to what should be your new favorite record.
Testament has fully recaptured the sound and the furor of the most glorious of mid-to-late-eighties Bay Area thrash bands. They have restored relevance to the multitude of other eighties war-horses still out there fighting the metal wars. "The Gathering" is a culmination of years of expertise honed in search of metallic perfection. It stands tall, a battle-tattered flag flown in the faces of those who forgot the cause. All hail "The Gathering," an incredible masterpiece, a modern day classic, an album that clearly contends as one of the best metal albums the storied Bay Area has ever produced.
"The Gathering will hopefully signal an urgent return to the lost quest for the perfect speed-metal album." Such excellence must is partially attributable to the fact that original Testament members Chuck Billy (vocals) and Eric Peterson (guitar) now have serious weaponry at their disposal, the likes of drummer Dave Lombardo (Slayer, G.R.I.P., Inc., Phantomas), bassist Steve DiGiorgio (Sadus, Death), and guitarist James Murphy (Obituary, Death, Low-era Testament). It shows. "The Gathering" kicks ass. Technical speed metal is all about the drums and the riffs, and the presence of Lombardo alone is enough to make this an important release. But the advanced songwriting and uncompromising attack radiating from every second of "The Gathering" forms the core of this album’s genius. Repeated listens are essential. There is much to be learned.
"D.N.R. (Do Not Resuscitate)," is a killer opener which sets the tone for the entire album. A slow fade brings up a dramatic Lombardo roll, before . . . slam! You’re hit with old school, Testament-style Peterson/Murphy DiGiorgio galloping riffage, topped by a mid-range, melodic, catchy Chuck Billy vocal line, yet backed by incredibly fast and totally intense double bass drum pounding by Lombardo. This album shreds. And when you hear Chuck shout "D.! N.! R.!," in Demonic-style, low death metal form, you realize that, on this album, nobody’s fucking around. "God Save Me Now!"
"Backed by incredibly fast and totally intense double bass drum pounding by Lombardo. This album shreds." "Down for Life" is very catchy and melodic. "Down for Life" is also totally heavy and totally intense. Another amazing drum performance by Lombardo, meshing perfectly with the riffing assault and almost mandating head banging. It features a great breakdown section where, instead of what probably could have been the solo, Chuck yells "Fight!" repeatedly, over a very heavy and cool "mosh-part" type riff. It just has to put a smile on your face.
"Eyes of Wrath" starts with a subtler, experimental-sounding, delay-ridden clean guitar/drum interplay that segues perfectly into a total old school Testament riff. Again the riff is mid-tempoed, and, surprise, surprise, again the riff is perfect for head banging, although Chuck does have a bit of a harsher vocal tone this time. The song shows some cool dynamics, moving between heavy and quiet before evolving into a melodic little thrash jam, just like the best days of old. Melody takes the lead, but heaviness carries the day. Lombardo drives with sixteenth notes on the rock ride cymbal a la "Criminally Insane," before emerging with a more progressive beat to accommodate the riff’s strange timing. It’s moments like these that prove that labels like "state-of-the-art" are not hyperbole when placed here. This is as good as it gets.
"True Believer" begins as a very melodic and straightforward little tune. Sounding at first like the closest thing to "Practice What You Preach" on this record, it adds the death-metal vocal twist to the bridge, and then goes into a great midtempo, moshy, part, with a dramatic harmonic minor, harmonized solo, just like the great metal albums of old. The solo ends in a beautiful flourish before smoothly transitioning back into the nice little song it started out as.
"3 Days in Darkness" begins with one of the best riffs of the decade. Bouncy and bluesy, filled with Zack Wyylde-ish pick harmonic squeals, this is the ultimate. Is it the riff as much as the incredible feel added by Lombardo’s beat? Either way, this is what Lombardo playing with Testament should sound like! This is one of the best tracks on the record. Chuck’s apocalyptic vocal line adds further rhythm, and follows a great melody. The middle gang-chorus type stuff works perfectly. And the false-ending slowdown primes you to come right back into the riff of the year, begging for more. Awesome.
"Legions of the Dead" is just fast. Basically death metal. All-out, full on. Very nineties sounding, way heavier than anything anyone was doing when Testament was getting airtime on MTV. Shows they are keeping it metal. Like anyone ever doubted them.
"Metal is alive and well in 1999. All is right with the world." "Careful What You Wish For" is also very bluesy. It starts with a base riff which evokes Testament’s "Souls of Black", or say, Overkill’s "Spiritual Void," but the drums kick so much ass, they bring the riff to life. The breakdown parts just highlight the mastery behind the kit. And Billy’s cautionary lyrics stick in your mind. I’ve found myself walking around work singing "we live in a fucked up world." Not good. But a great tune.
"Riding the Snake" begins with more adventurous musicianship which once again quickly morphs into a double-bass fueled riffing frenzy. This song, with enough rhythmic picking and harmonized guitar fills to qualify as the bastard-child of "Burnt Offerings," would have blown people away if it had been included on "The New Order." Yet this track has Dave Lombardo is playing drums. If you haven’t heard the album, at least imagine the possibilities. ‘Cause what you’re thinking? That’s what this record sounds like.
"Allegiance" is another melodic, catchy, sing-songy Testament metal song. It even starts with a lyric like "Hey Everybody!" But, once again, the Peterson/Murphy riffing and Lombardo drumming just takes this to never-before seen levels.
"Sewn Shut Eyes" is heavy, with Chuck using a guttural, death metal type vocal. But his most interesting death-type vocals come on the ultra-fast closer, "The Fall of Siple Dome." Lombardo freaks will leave happy. Riff-aficionados get tended to. And there’s a neat solo for good measure. But this one’s about Billy, staying raw while barking with the authority of a metal warrior at the top of his game. If "Demonic" wasn’t an excellent record in its own right, "The Gathering" might be called a triumphant return to glory. But in many ways, "The Gathering" represents an even more important shift in glacial plates of metal "The Gathering" is a glorious return to a sound, a vibe, an intensity and a feeling. Metal is alive and well in 1999. All is right with the world.
Hel's Review:
OH, my GOD! I had no idea. The combination this album hits, the breed of pure speed metal strewn with death metal. Beautiful. Normally, I wouldn’t review an album track by track. But with this one, I don’t know how to stop myself. Let me just say now, if you’re looking for a band that sold out with their new album. Go away. You’re so looking in the wrong place.
The first track, "D.N.R", rips out in a blaze of glory. We get a good dose of Lombardo’s drumming right out of the gate. The passage, "when we were young and disarranged/we didn’t know it/any other way/now we’re grown/he’s still the same/people see him suffering" has a rhythm that you almost start dancing to, but the song quickly falls back into the hardcore headbanging.
"If you're looking for a band that sold out with their new album. Go away. You're so looking in the wrong place." "Down for Life" is a good strong second track. Just a slight fraction mellower than the first track, the groove you didn’t have time to notice in the first song comes to the fore. "All I’ve got/are these lessons learned in life" – some of the catchiest lyrics on the entire album. I find myself singing that in the middle of the day.
"Eyes of Wrath" has a long - very mellow - opening that segues into a beautiful, full-on metal assault. Double bass, death vocals and more, then we are lulled back once more to the lovely mellow passage. And then again back to death metal. The lyrics, "rage/rage soothes the pain/pain/pain soothes the rage" strikes right to my core.
"True Believer" rocks. The tearing vocals, "Never gonna take me/never gonna change me/never gonna escape me now…" bookends a great guitar solo on one side, with an amazing mellow segue into a Chuck moment on the other side.
"Three Days in Darkness" makes me just want to slam around. I’m a little small and fragile for the pit, but this is the kind of song that makes me think about it. If you’ve heard this song, I think you know what I’m talking about. Great anti-Chuck vocals.
This is quickly followed up by "Legions of the Dead". Great speed metal opening that REALLY highlights Dave Lombardo. Did I say opening? My mistake. Dave doesn’t stop for a moment during this song. A wonderfully hectic music moment. Sometime I’m gonna have to tell you about how they do this one in concert. Just when you think Dave can’t drum any faster, he does. Too cool.
"Careful What You Wish For" is another track that makes me wanna boogie – to completely down-tuned guitars. "Hey/we live in a fucked up world" – never were truer song lyrics written.
"The world would be a better place if we were all metalheads." Who would have thought that a song titled "Riding the Snake" started so pretty? I fully expected Chuck to sing a little falsetto for us. Instead, it turns into the kind of song you expect from the title "Riding the Snake".
"Allegiance". Yet another song that makes me want to stomp around. Nice fast opening, breaking down to a heavy groove with a little squealing guitar tossed in. "Everybody symbolize/join together unified" – the world would be a better place if we were all metalheads. I’m convinced all over again.
A few bars into "Sewn Shut Eyes", I’m ready to jump up and start dancin’ again. Then, in conjunction with more anti-Chuck vocals, everyone turns heavy. Later in the song we get another great guitar solo and some pretty cymbals too. This track too, does rock.
The album ends with "Fall of Sipledome". Epic. This song makes me want to thrash more than any other song on the album. And that’s no small feat. I love the vocal rhythm with guitar accent in the chorus. Again, there’s an amazing guitar solo. This solo is mellower and a nice contrast to the full-out ransacking we experienced through most of the track. A very fitting closer for the album.
"Each time I listen to this album, I grin wider and wider as one amazing song is followed by another." A side note. It pleases me greatly to hear Lombardo playing drums on this album. He plays metal drums like no one else. And it’s gratifying to hear him play hardcore thrash again. Grip, Inc.’s fine and all. But it’s not Slayer. And it sure ain’t Testament.
Each time I listen to this album, I grin wider and wider as one amazing song is followed by another. And I find that if you listen to an album and feel yourself grinning throughout every time you listen to it, it’s a great album.
[- Metal Judgment Home -] [- Email Metal Judgment -]
©1999 Metal Judgment. All rights reserved.