Testament
The Formation Of Damnation

Perhaps the most anticipated album of the year. Actually, without perhaps. This is because, to be fair, if it weren't for Testament, thrash would have already closed its doors and laid its spiked boots in the sun. And, despite delays, illnesses, and severe health issues, despite "The Gathering" sounding like one of the most violent, technical, and melodic albums ever written by human hands and, let's face it, despite this rather anxious wait lasting a whole nine years during which they have given us some questionable releases, including the useless and irritating "Best of" albums, despite everything, in short, the new "The Formation Of Damnation" sounds damnably and terribly like Testament, as if the band kept its arrows in its bow, all ready, venomous, to be unleashed in eleven shots (ten if you exclude the intro).

And so, if in "The Gathering" it seemed that the band had already said all they had to say, well, with the complete original lineup, they draw on their family jewels for a result that is nothing short of amazing. Speed, technique, melody, rage, and you name it, they are all there. The captain is back with a fury in his body that gets the adrenaline going. His voice, his screamings, his growls... They are a perfect blend of everything he has learned over the years. If in "Low" Chuck Billy discovered the growl that he took to extremes in "Demonic" and "The Gathering," in "TFOD" his voice is a balance between the angriest verve of Low and The Gathering and the clean parts of "The New Order." And it is precisely to this last album that, probably, at least from the point of view of production, the band wants to bring to mind their musical reminiscences.

Listening to "The Evil Has Landed," I realize how they try to follow in the footsteps of "Low," while the title track is a perfect punch in the face that completely knocks your teeth out. Violent and menacing. The band's anger is mitigated in "Dangers Of The Faithless"; anger that is ready to explode entirely in the extremely violent "Hencemen Ride" which brings to mind the eras of "Practice ...." and, above all, that signature thrash metal album which is "The Legacy."

We continue, passing through the granite "Afterlife" (in which both Chuck and Eric Peterson send a personal message of hope, that is to see their fathers again in the afterlife), "F.E.A.R." (whose complete title is "False Evidence Appearing Real"), then landing on the more "melodic" one (a term to be taken with a grain of salt, if only for a split second you thought of a ballad), beautiful in the very melodic intro which then gradually transforms into a real barrage of boulders.

Applause to the whole band, the singer, guitarists Alex and Eric, the drummer (who challenges Lombardo to a "... And there will be only one..."). Applause to all the compositions that don't travel a hundred thousand miles per hour but know how to alternate faster and more ferocious moments with more meditative, paced, and slow ones.

And, allow me, a special mention goes entirely to the song lyrics, very intelligent, among which stand out those of "The Evil Has Landed" (dedicated to the tragedy of 9/11), the title track (almost a continuation of "Souls Of Black") and, finally, "Dangers of the Faithless" where it talks about losing faith in religion and society (understood by the wise...).

As always, there's nothing else to add except the usual: TESTAMENT: DO IT BETTER!