Testament--The Gathering (1999/Burnt Offerings)
Rating--9.5
True Believer--RealAudio Careful What You Wish For--RealAudio
Gawd. Testament descends with an ultra-heavy, no-holds-barred bonecrusher of an album. This is ripping metal to the hilt, ala 'Low,' as James Murphy
returns opposite Eric Peterson to reunite one of the hardest-hitting and chop-heavy guitar combos in metal. The vocals return to the edged style that marked the majority of Chuck Billy's career,
and in a case of the rich getting richer, perched behind the drumkit is none other than Dave Lombardo.
Opener "D.N.R." is pure rip, and the runaway train pace of
"Down For Life" culminates in some deep chorus thudding. "Eyes of Wrath" is nasty and caustic, and "Riding the Snake" is another energetic track.
A smooth, winding intro frame to "True Believer" eventually gives way to an open-handed pre-solo crush, and check out that malicious neck-bending drive rhythm
in "Careful What you Wish For"! The guitars are separate at track's beginning, then converge... and roll.
Nice background harmonics and excellent vocal
chant sections highlight "Legions of the Dead," while a snowballing rhythmic mold encompasses "Allegiance". Some of the band's patented top-fret riffing
lurches forward in "Sewn Eyes Shut" towards disc's end.
When the smoke clears, a formidable opus has been laid down for all. Not for the weak or weary-- this is
pure attitude and aggression.
TRACK LIST: D.N.R. (Do Not Resuscitate)/Down For Life/Eyes of Wrath/True Believer/3 Days in Darkness/Legions of the Dead/Careful What You Wish For/
Riding the Snake/Allegiance/Sewn Shut Eyes/Fall of Sipledome
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