Testament Stay True To Their Style Thrash HOB Sunset Apr. 2

Testament

TESTAMENT Thrash HOB Sunset Apr. 2; Photo: Stephanie Cabral

Recreating a classic thrash metal line-up in their Dark Roots of Thrash II Tour, Testament is performing their original albums, including all of “The Legacy” and “The New Order”, plus songs from “Practice What You Preach”. The tour will hit the House of Blues in Hollywood on April 2 alongside Exodus and Shattered Sun.

Band members Eric Peterson, Alex Skolnick, Chuck Billy, Gene Hoglan and Steve DiGiorgio are creating a new album amidst the touring season, using the revival of their old albums for inspiration.

With the members currently living in different states, Chuck Billy and Eric Peterson have been making demos for songs for the new album to be collaborated with the entirety of Testament during tour breaks.

“It’ll be nice to get on the road and kill two birds with one stone,” Billy said.

“In the back of my head, I’m thinking we’ve been touring doing the same kind of set just with new records for a few years and right now doing this in the middle of writing, we thought, ‘let’s just doing something different.’ Trying to get inspired by where we all started is kind of the hopes of it.”

Testament, previously known as Legacy, developed during the creation of thrash metal. With six songs demoed for critique among the rest of the members, the new album is diving back into the heart of thrash metal, rekindling the roots of the band.

“I think we started as a thrash band because we were young and probably doing speed back then and drinking. Playing fast was the way to do it,” Billy said.

“I think I started definitely changing where I was going lyrically with our songs as the years progressed. From our first couple of records where they were kind of typical gloom and doom metal lyrics, to now they’re personal things that have touched my life- parents passing away, friends on drugs, war, and the planet.

“There’s just so much going around that impacts my life every day that I’ve just worked it into my writing.”

Testament’s lyrics have continuously created the harsh, thrash metal feel alongside emotionally developed lyrics. With the rekindling and reunion of Chuck Billy and Testament in the early 2000s, the band continues to grow in fan base and talent.

“Right after “The Gathering” record was the point I got sick with cancer in 2001, so I was kind of down for a few years,” Billy said.

“When they had that benefit for me in San Francisco, Thrash of the Titans, we all came together for that show and we all got up on stage and played a song that kind of kicked off the reunion. The reunion started in ’05 and carried through until today.”

To continue the reunion, the band will be reintroducing bassist DiGiorgio in their Dark Roots of Thrash II Tour. Having a strong line-up and set-list to offer audiences, Testament has stood the test of time, becoming the “legacy” they had always wanted.

“I think over close to 30 years, we’ve stayed true to ourselves as far as Testament style without trying to conform to what’s hip and what’s current.”