Well I just got through the first listen of Testament's new one.

I'm a little disappointed.

The positives:

Andy Sneap mix always = awesome sound
Chuck's voice sounds great
Bostaph's drumming makes me wish he was always in the band since day one (Loved him in Forbidden)

The negatives:

The songs are very "samey"
Skolnick's leads aren't as melodically memorable as his previous Testament work - more shredding than memorable licks IMO

We'll see how a second listen goes, but so far I'd probably not rank this one higher than anything from Low or earlier, but higher than Gathering and Demonic due to the awesome sound and Bostaph.

I'm really enjoying the Testament so far, but it's not quite as "Thrashy" as I was hoping for. Still a really solid release though, and it's nice to hear Skolnick doing something other than Jazz. I agree that the leads aren't as memorable... although they may become more memorable with a few more listens.

I'm digging the new Testament right now. It's about as thrashy as anything new that's come out in the last 5-10 years. The production also played a large role in that "thrash" sound. Better production tends to diminish it. I think it has a great sound, good leads and Chuck sounds great. Definitely one of my highlight discs of the year. Anyone else order it from the official site? Only $15 for an autographed copy. Great deal and they all signed the group photo in the booklet.

Cool! I was thinking about buying this off of Amazon but I just ordered the autographed copy from their site. Thanks for the heads-up KillerC!

Got mine from Amazon.

I think you're right about the production influencing the sound.

None of the early Testament every sounded that great to me. It seemed like their trademark snare sound was that big, hollow echo-y snare.

I thought you were talking about some obscure Testament compilation until I looked it up and saw it was Firewind.

just got back from seeing Death Angel live along with God Forbid, Soilent Green and Light This City

Anyway, about the show. I am now an official death angel fan. hell i hadn't really heard of them until about a year or so ago. They defently delivered. They also mentioned that they haven't been in baltimore in 18 years, which was amazing to me. Line of the night was from a guy who yelled out "fuck man, you guys don't age, you look exactly the same" which got a good laugh. I assume they weren't one of the big druggie bands in the 80's right. They played a few songs from 'The Ultra Violence", and the last song was Thrwn to the Wolves, from "art of dying", which is such a great song, i'm gonna search my local record and tape traders to find the new album, the album from 04, and Ultra violence.

The band that stole the show was Light This City. they were so crisp live, and i bought their cd and they sound exactly like the album. Oh, and the singer is hot as shit too, and can scream like the best of them, and it doesn't sound forced or straigned like some bands. Def check them out live if you can.

this pic doesn't do it justice as how gorgous she is.
I was also first in line, so i got to see alot of the bands outside chilling out, also got my pic w/ Byron of God Forbid. Got the drum stick from the drummer of ltc. Its so worn down, that the bottom part (the little circle/round part) was broken complelty off. supposing i can get my cell to send them to my email, i'll post em here and on my myspace.

And i didn't care too much for Soilent Green. Maybe the crowd was burned out from Light This City, but they didn't really connect too much.

I received the autographed copy of Testament's new album last Friday -- quick order turnaround. The CD was shipped in the plastic wrap so an additional copy of the CD booklet was included with the band autographs. Pretty cool!

got mine, what a great album

Can't STAND Children of Boredom, and I've even seen them in concert.

New In Flames is OK. New Testament and Death Angel are really good.


Don't forget Act III. That is probably their best one.


It still has that long till release? I figured it can't be much longer, since I've already heard the whole thing. It ranks up there with Ghost Reveries and Deliverance I think.

When did Avril Levine start playing metal?

They can release 10 more records and this will always be true IMO.

I should try and track down The Organization CD they did after Act III. I heard it long ago but lost track of it.

Just a few more weeks now. One of the few times I gave in and listened to it in advance of the official release. I've probably heard it like 30 times already.

I think I'd still have to give Deliverance and Ghost Reveries the tie for best record from them, but this one is indeed right up there.

i think thats Alexi, the singer of Bodom
Oh and here's my favorite song of theirs 'needled 24/7' nsfw if you can understand the lyrics
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I know. It was a joke.

I pre-ordered a limited edition vinyl/cd autographed package of the new Opeth album from theendrecords.com I haven't heard anything off it and am waiting for the vinyl. I was a huge fan of Ghost Reveries and have high expectations for this one, after the reviews I've read. Also, I think the package thing may come with a 5.1 dvd of the album, but I'm not sure. I know that Still Life 5.1 just recently came out.

^ That LE vinyl/CD/DVD package is now officially sold-out according to Opeth's website. Glad I got my pre-order in because it sounds like the ultimate way to get all available B-sides and extra goodies for the album. I'm right now going through my Opeth catalog and I'm on Ghost Reveries right now. Man, these guys wrote some fucking phenomenal albums. I still have to go with Still Life as my favorite. It's such a complex and deep record, plus Akerfeldt sounds like a fucking demon on vox. I, too, broke my policy of not listening to records in advance and dl'd Watershed... but that doesn't mean I'm not still anticipating getting it in my hands like crazy!

The new Pyramaze, with Matt Barlow on vocals, sounds pretty good upon initial listen.

Is the bonus track on the vinyl "Derelict Herds"?

If so, I know I can avoid purchasing the vinyl copy too.

If anyone is into DOOM, this just came out the other day, it's a collection of Morgion stuff, a 2 disc set including the Solinari album, Among Majestic Ruins EP, and some unreleased stuff. It's essential for fans of doom/death.

Saw In Flames not too long ago. Had to keep yelling at them to remind them not to suck.

I don't know yet, they haven't announced it. But I do know that LE package comes with a separate CD containing "Mellotron Heart".

Why, do you already have "Derelict Herds"?

Well, shit, guess I should've ordered the limited edition bundle a couple weeks ago then.



Either that or wait 9 months for Roadrunner to re-release the album again with "Mellotron Heart" as a bonus track.

Finally, a post in this thread my dark soul can relate to. Solinari was one of the first albums I really connected to in my teens. My current favorite DOOM would have to be Esoteric, whose new 2CD The Maniacal Vale is coming out in June.

I'd say you're right, except the fact that they're doing a regular and deluxe edition concurrently might mean they're bypassing the idea of a later SE altogether.

Although, being RR I wouldn't put it past them.

the Opeth special edition is back in stock

http://www.theomegaorder.com/s.nl/it...category=90643