The Classic Metal Album Reviews:
Title: The New Order
Artist: Testament
Label: Megaforce/ Atlantic
Release Date: 1988

Rating: 5 Skulls
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    • Submitted by Solomon:
    In the late 80's, I was convinced that Metallica was the greatest band in the land. Their string of albums from Lightning to Justice were just too good to be true. No one was higher on the thrash/speed metal totem pole except for one group: Testament. The Legacy was a pure juggernaut in terms of thrash prowess, but The New Order took the power of speed and married it with a sense of musicianship that is almost impossible to match.

    The nature of the record is two-fold: Testament did an excellent job of making the songs powerful in their dynamic appeal and, at the same time, giving them an overwhelming sense of doom. The album has a great sense of consistency in feel. There is little room for air as the album bulldozes from one intense track to the next. Alex Skolnick and Eric Peterson are largely to blame for this greatness. Their "buzzsaw" guitar tone on the record is one of the best I've ever heard. The rhythm section offers one great riff after another, from the interlude of "The New Order" to the driving main riff of "Trial By Fire." Not only are the hard parts killer, but they are matched by some excellent, gloomy clean sections, notably the intro to "Trial" and "Disciples of the Watch." Skolnick's lead playing is astounding. His elegant mixture of pentatonics, legato phrasing, and arpeggiations are an excellent complement to the melancholic nature of the album. Some of metal's finest lead guitar moments can be found in the intro to "Trial" and the gothic instrumental "Hypnosis." This last track is passionate as hell, and gets my vote as one of the greatest guitar solos ever written.

    The New Order essentially has no filler: each song is a carefully constructed masterpiece. Even the Aerosmith cover rocks, and the final instrumental tune is the only real breather in an other-wise psychotic stomp-fest. I can't really say anything bad about this record other than the fact the band never made another one like it!
    5 out of 5

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