02/12/19

Thrash legends at Pol'and'Rock Festival


After three decades of creating some of the best music thrash metal has to offer and touring alongside bands such as Anthrax, Slayer, and Judas Priest, Testament’s music is as fresh and powerful as ever. The band, which is credited with establishing the genre of thrash metal in the early 1980s will be taking the Main Stage at the 25th  edition of Pol’and’Rock Festival.


Formed in 1983 as Legacy, the band became known as Testament in 1986. They soon emerged as the creative leaders of the flourishing thrash metal scene in the San Francisco Bay area. Following the release of their first break-through album “The Legacy” in 1987, the musicians have toured with Anthrax, cementing their position alongside “The Big 4”. Relentless global tours and new music albums soon followed. The band did not slow down their triumphant progress and their 2008 release “The Formation of Damnation”, won the “Best Album” at Metal Hammer’s 2008 Golden Gods Awards. This triumph served to prove that the new millennium is destined to be the band’s stomping ground and there is no-one to match either their talent or commitment to metal.


Eric [Peterson, guitar] and I are still the main songwriting force within Testament, although, of course, we're wide open to whatever the other guys want to bring to the band as a whole. Eric will crank out all these amazing riffs and I'll write the lyrics. We fumble around until the main skeleton of the song comes together and then we'll flesh it out until it's complete. Alex [Skolnick, guitar] and Steve [DiGiorgio, bass] and Gene [Hoglan, drums] adding their talents? It's crazy!
-Chuck Billy, frontman of the band on their creative process 

This song-writing process resulted in an impressive body of work: 11 studio albums, 5 live albums, 6 compilation 3 DVDs, and 12 singles. Testament’s oeuvre is impressive and the band has dominated the heavy metal scene as an inspiration powerhouse ever since its formation. Bands such as Korn, Limp Bizkit, Gojira, and Lamb of God as well as countless other heavy metal acts all have been influenced by Testament. The band combines blistering guitar solos, a frenzied speed of percussion with a characteristic reverberating growl - the result is a prime example of thrash metal. There is no compromise in their music - just the pure essence of powerful heavy metal combined with the manic speed of thrash.


Testament are the precursors of the genre, which is characterized by aggressive and powerful delivery which is typically the result of the onslaught of guitar riffs and powerful thunder of percussion solos. The band still present stunning technical ability and raw energy when unleashed on stage. Testament ’s live sets are known to stir mayhem in the mosh pits of festivals such as Bloodstock, Wacken Open Air, and Mayhem Festival - and finally, the time has come for the massive audience of Pol’and’Rock Festival to sample their talent.  

Vocal and instrumental mastery sets them apart from the many bands which have followed in their footsteps. No-one can deny Testament’s position as leaders of the genre - and with a new album reportedly in the works, fans should get ready to experience what these world-class thrash metallers have to offer!


Testament is:
Eric Peterson, guitars; Alex Skolnick, lead guitar; Steve DiGiorgio, bass; Gene Hoglan, drums; Chuck Billy, vocals

Olga