Surely one of the biggest comebacks in recent years has to the resurgence of the mighty Testament, who continue to release great album after great album. I can’t imagine not having ‘Dark Roots Of Thrash’ playing on a regular basis, and with this album released at the end of 2016 they are showing no sign at all of slowing down. I am convinced that it was the return of Gene Hoglan who has made such a difference to the band, as he is a monster behind the kit, and on this album, there has been another returnee in bassist Steve Digiorgio, who was in the band for six years before leaving in 2004. Apart from Gene, we now have the same line-up that released ‘First Strike Still Deadly’ in 2001, but they have all matured and are playing better than ever.
They deliver everything that one could wish for, with a rhythm section unlike any other in the scene, two guitarists who have been playing together on and off since 1986, and then there is Chuck Billy. His rough and raspy vocals are there front and centre, and he is in full control of the band, bringing it all together in a manner that only makes the listener to keep reaching for the volume control. Testament have always been somewhat pushed behind the Big 4 in the pecking order, but for me these guys slot in tightly behind Megadeth as being the most important band to listen to in the genre, followed by Slayer and then Anthrax, with Metallica not even on the same bus but walking dejectedly along in the rain. If you enjoy thrash, then this is essential. ‘Nuff said.
