This years blue print for a thrash record is the new Testament album ‘Brotherhood Of the Snake’. No way a certain band called Metallica can top this. If anyone asks you what thrash music is, just let them listen to this album and no other words need to be said. The music even sounds angrier than before, fast like in their early days and played with so much pleasure and catchy melodies that it almost can’t get any better. Chuck Billy grunts, growls and sounds aggressive like being chased by a giant pitbull. Razor sharp riffs, unbelievable drums and fingerlicking melodic guitarsolos are the main ingredients on this album. Steve DiGiorgio’s \u00a0rumbling bass parts\u00a0form a perfect foundation and drum God Gene Hoglan does the rest. How can things go wrong with such a great line-up! One great riff after another gets fired at you by Alex Skolnick and Eric Peterson and after three quarters of an hour you only want more, more and more…<\/p>\n
The title track opens very heavy and sets the standard for the album. Next song “The Pale King” is perhaps a bit slower, but the groovy riff is not a tad softer. Fast, faster, fastest is the\u00a0key word for “Stronghold”. Chuck growls and grunts it all together and the speedy solos do the rest. “Seven Deals” combines mid-tempo pieces with fast ones and the finishing touch is delivered\u00a0by Alex and Eric with nice twin guitar work.\u00a0The weakest\u00a0track in my opinion is “Born\u00a0In A\u00a0Rut”,\u00a0one of the slowest ones and\u00a0it just doesn’t reach the same high\u00a0level as the others. Fortunately this is already forgotten as soon as the\u00a0next\u00a0starts. A fast motherfucker with great growls and drums reaching the speed of sound.<\/p>\n
After that the most melodic song follows,\u00a0with the most beautiful guitar parts\u00a0 half way the song.\u00a0 Just when you thought that it couldn’t get any faster than “Centuries of Suffering” you get treated with “Black Jack”. Then one of the lyricaly most interesting tracks follows. I don’t think you have to guess twice about what subject “Canna Business” is about.\u00a0In combination with the music I think this is together with the title track\u00a0my personal favorite.\u00a0If you are still waiting for a soft part on this album with clean vocals, I have to disappoint you, because the last one is as fast and awesome as the entire album, a\u00a0heavy track with great riffs. The reason I don’t give them 10 devils is because I want to give the band the opportunity and the challenge even to top this one in the future.<\/p>\n
Those of you who are still hoping that Metallica will release an album this year that is as fast, good\u00a0and\u00a0 thrashy as their first 2…. just don’t, it’s all idle hope. Just buy this ‘Brotherhood Of the Snake’ instead!<\/p>\n