Brotherhood of the Snake

There's seriously no denying that Testament have been on such an absolute major role especially with their previous two releases, 2008's "The Formation of Damnation" and 2012's "Dark Roots of Earth" both which no question were absolutely amazing albums. Now, fast forward to 2016, the Bay Area thrash legends have unleashed their highly anticipated eleventh studio release, "Brotherhood of the Snake", and believe me, this album sounds just as good as the name itself. I have anticipated this album for a great deal of time, and it has truly exceeded and surpassed my listening expectations. This album is such an incredible piece of blisteringly aggressive, riff-heavy, in-your-face, thrash metal that is just guaranteed to grab you right by the throat, and kick your ass with ten amazing tracks filled with deliciously awesome, heavy thrash induced riffs, blistering, mesmerizing, shredtastic leads and solos, fast and thunderous, heavy-duty drumming, killer, pulsating, ear ringing bass lines, and ferocious, aggressive, and powerful vocals, and of course with flat out incredible, top-notch production to top it all off. Trust me, every bit of this album here is nothing but 100% pure Testament to the bone.One thing I'd like to point out is that you've got Steve DiGiorgio (who first joined Testament on the band's 1999 effort, "The Gathering") returning on the bass, which of course reunites him with drummer Gene Hoglan (both of whom who played together on Death's 1993 release "Individual Thought Patterns"). I really like how these two guys really click with each other so well on each track here. You can clearly tell that these two musicians have got such absolutely tremendous chemistry together, being that they both have plenty of experience with each other. Gene's drums and Steve's bass are both mixed perfectly into such a swift, heavy punch to the guts throughout here. Gene is just absolutely on fire as he just slaughters and annihilates behind the drum kit with his fast and thunderous, monstrous, and pounding thrash beats, and blistering machine gun-like double bass kick patterns, killer fills, and everything else in between, while Steve provides excellent, punchy, pulsating bass lines that will make your ears ring. The bass tone on this album is just absolutely amazing, no question. Meanwhile, the guitars are just extremely amazing on here throughout, as Eric Peterson just absolutely kills it on here with his always blistering, raging, maniacal, thrashing riffs, and you've also got lead shredder Alex Skolnick who does an excellent job as always, backing Eric up with his deliciously incredible, blistering, mesmerizing, yet melodic, shred-worthy soloing throughout. Topping all of that off of course, is vocalist Chuck Billy's incredibly strong, and powerful vocals, ranging perfectly from brutal, low death metal growls, to his trademark mid-range, rhythmic screams that are just like a raging volcano that is ready to erupt. There's absolutely no question that Chuck Billy is one of thrash metal's greatest singers ever. The guy just continues to improve and get better with age as with the rest of the guys in the band.Testament waste absolutely no time at all unleashing an absolute monster in the album's opening title song "Brotherhood of the Snake" in which it's opening moments just immediately grab your attention with some deliciously blistering, fast, and fiery intro riffing, followed by some thunderous blasting percussion, and Chuck's raging, volcanic roar which complete this ferocious, jaw-dropping introduction, and from that moment on, you know that you're in for one serious, hellacious thrashing thrillride. The song from there goes into a crushing, and energetic, mid-paced, groove thrasher with savage, blistering, cranium crushing riffage, plus mean, brutal, pummeling double-kick patterns, and savage, raging vocals throughout, and I also like how the song's fast and blistering intro riff is greatly infused during the frantic and aggressive chorus (which is also great BTW) as well. The album's next track, "The Pale King" is an amazing, driving, mid-tempo thrash goodie that boasts driving, chugging, and galloping thrashy riffing, and ringing, pounding bass lines, along with some stiffened, pounding double bass drum beats, and aggressive, semi-melodic, mid-range, gruffy barks by Chuck, and is also highlighted by some lengthy, mesmerizing, soaring, and melodic soloing by Alex before the song's end as well. Next up, we got track three, "Stronghold" which is another awesomely strong, charging, pounding thrasher, is anchored by heavy, charging, thrashing verses, fast, and hefty, pounding beats, savage, driving, thrashy riffs, and an addicting, headbanging-worthy chorus, as well as an utterly irresistible shout-along refrain of "UP-RISE STRONG-HOLD", and is also highlighted by another amazingly ripping, wailing, soaring, and deliciously melodic solo from Alex with some great ripping double bass kicking from Gene to back it up as well. Track four, "Seven Seals" is an excellent, melodic slow-burner that slows things down a bit, but it is highlighted by plenty of crushingly heavy, and steady, chugging riffs and excellent, mesmerizing solos, punchy, ear ringing bass, and amazing vocals throughout, plus an awesome, melodic chorus, and the song also contains a massively sounding stop-start section that is perfectly matched with Chuck bellowing, "Step by step, the horsemen will ride...", and the song also does shift into a more faster, mid-tempo section around the 3:19 mark afterwards as well before slowing back down once again.Next up, we have track five, "Born in a Rut" which boasts such an awesomely catchy, and steady-paced groove throughout and contains plenty of amazingly heavy-duty yet melodic, juicy riffing, thunderous bass rumblings, soaring, speaker shredding, melodic soloing, and excellent, gruff-like vocals from Chuck including a very catchy shout-along section of "Hey you, don't tell me what to believe...Hey you, I wear my heart on my sleeve...Hey you, I am the way that I seem...Hey you, you never listen to me"..., which leads up to the song's catchy and spectacular melodic driven chorus in which you can't just resist singing along to. However after that, the album's following cut, "Centuries of Suffering" which is another huge standout on here, brings back the raging, thrashing intensity as the song is heavily peppered with a ferocious onslaught complete with raging, barn-burning, rapid-fire, thrash riffing, vicious, pounding, blasting beats, and super heavy, hot tempered roars and howls throughout especially during the chorus as well, and meanwhile, the next cut "Black Jack" is another blistering, fiery thrasher that is bolstered by speedy, pummeling verses, rapid-fast, neck-breaking, thrashy riffs, fiery, frantic, and deadly blasting, and super catchy, groove-based choruses, as well as some more awesomely mesmerizing, wailing, and piercing soloing to boot.Moving forward, we have "Neptune's Spear" which is another awesome mid-tempo thrasher that is peppered by some charging, meaty, chunky riffing, and thundering, pounding bass and drums, along with more of Chuck's raging, and powerful mid-range, melodic gruff-sounding barks, and the song also includes a catchy shout-along refrain of "ONE SHOT KILL", as well as some more spectacularly amazing, soaring, spiralling, and wailing, melodic solo flights to top it off. Following that, track nine, "Canna-Business" starts with an awesome, opening melodic riff before going into a full-throttle, thrashing onslaught that is bombarded by furious, straight-ahead, pounding drums, along with that same intro riff that is greatly infused in the verses, and also contains brutal, and gruffy vocals, along with powerful, raging, howling, thrashy choruses which also contain some killer, thrashing riffs, and the song is also highlighted by yet another fantastic solo section in which Eric first busts out a killer wah-wah-like solo, and then Alex comes in with a wicked, blistering, shredding solo, and then Eric also closes out the song with another awesome wah-wah solo. Then, we have the album's final track, "The Number Game" which is a brutal, and pulverizing, neck-snapper of an album closer, and is also my absolute favorite track off the album. Starting out with a catchy, and brutal, military-like snare drum roll, the song then thrusts into a wickedly vicious barrage of blazing, fast picking, thrash riffs, and violent, slamming, thrashing double bass thuds, and ferocious vocals abound. Also highlighting this monstrous thrasher is an addicting chorus in which Chuck belts out lyrics including: "Fourteen days and fourteen lives...Random victims are my prey"..., as well as a monstrous, and crushing breakdown section around the 2 minute mark with some punishing riffs and double bass patterns, and we also have a pair of winding, wailing, shredding, yet melodic solo flights from Eric and Alex, as well as a final reprisal of the song's chorus that top off this brutal, monster of a closer.All in all, with "Brotherhood of the Snake", there's is certainly no question that Testament are completely 100% right at the top of their game, and showing absolutely no signs of slowing down at all whatsoever. These guys are simply without a doubt, one of the greatest thrash metal bands on the planet, and this album here is truly a true testament to their musical talent and abilities. They really show that it takes a ton of skill, talent, and heart and soul when it comes to making great quality music unlike all the overrated, talentless mainstream pop, rap, radio rock drivel that's constantly being played on the radio all the time. Anyways, with that being said, if you've enjoyed Testament's last two aforementioned albums, then by all means, you will truly enjoy "Brotherhood of the Snake". Believe me, this album is an absolute must have for any fan of Testament, thrash, metal, or just great quality music in general. Congrats Testament, you guys got another winner in the books...HORNS UP!!! \m/ \m/Jeremy

Great album by a fantastic band. CD was in great shape at a fair price!

Testament has always been one of my favorite metal bands and this album does not disappoint. I have been listening to Testament since Souls of Black and they have been one of the most consistent bands as far as producing album after album of interesting riffs and melodies and plenty of that Testament attitude. Chuck Billy is one of the very few metal singers that can actually sing a melody and yet still convey the necessary heaviness and anger to make it work. Eric Peterson is by far one of the most talented metal songwriters ever and his guitar playing gets better with every album probably thanks to his long time band mate Alex Skolnick. If you don't know who Alex Skolnick is then you are truly missing out on a master of the metal melodic guitar solo, I have been playing the guitar myself for over 40 years but Alex is just magical when it comes time for a solo. If you like Testament you should like this album and if you have never heard them you should check it out it like rocking metal with melodies and attitude, great job guys!

Been listening to these guys pretty much since The Legacy. I did skip a couple of years (albums) around the time of Souls of Black, while Testament did some of that commercial ballady experimenting. Still one of THE better metal bands to see live!This disc is simply 'classic' Testament. It is not Legacy classic. It is not Low or The Gathering, or even Dark Roots 'heavy'. This disc has more of the galloping sound that is Testament. Think Practice what You Preach or The New Order.As a drummer, I am always ecstatic to get my hands on a disc that Gene Hoglan is playing on! A fantastic icon in the metal drumming community but sadly, I think is generally underrated. He's never really landed that 'big gig' but from a creativity, timing and brutality standpoint - he is easily top five in HIS generation of drummers AND the generation(s) after him!!Skolnick and Peterson...what more is there to say! Peterson brings in a crunch that few others have been able to emulate. Skolnick comes in with melodic, yet still heavy, notes and parts that only a musician of his caliber seems to be able to accomplish. Together...well, if you know your Testament - you know what the capabilities are.Billy still brings a metal agression as no other frontman can. Hearing the vocals on 'Stronghold' will make you cringe, just as 'Curse of the Legions of Death' and 'Into the Pit' did, and have you thinking about leaving a light on at night.I am generally a 'lyric' guy - the music has always been sufficient enough. But 'Black Jack' leaves a little to be desired. I guess it has a 'cheesy' feel, lyrically. Musically, it's still there.I would say that if you have listened to ANY Testament, throughout their career...buy this CD. I am pretty certain it will not disappoint!

This is quite simply one of THE best CD's of this year by ANY genre of Metal band, sorry, these cats just CRUCIFY just about ANY other act, only OVERKILL and EXODUS as American acts have kept up this level of quality , and with the help of the great ANDY SNEAP, well, it sounds world class, dude, just do whatever you must to have this, I cannot say anything more, take it from a cat who has SEEN everybody over the more than 50 years of Metal, this band just MURDERS, and my respect for CHUCK BILLY for battling back from serious illness, man, he is the epitome of a great front man, long may they rage against the darkness, so please, support these guys by BUYING a physical copy, and kudos to NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS for giving this music a home, man, this is beyond great, it makes you feel good to hear this, it restores your faith, by being LOYAL to the LOUD, you'll be glad you did!!

Quanto a música apresentada, pra mim esse é um dos melhores álbuns do Testament. Tem alguma novidade? Não, mas quem compra um álbum da nada espera mais do mesmo ótimo trabalho. Os músicos estão afiadíssimos, e só a presença do Gene Hoglan na bateria já vale muito, sempre técnico e demolidor, ou seja, perfeito.O único porém, pra variar, é a qualidade gráfica da edição: a capa poderia ser plastificada no lugar do “papelão” que lembra os vinis nacionais dos quais reclamávamos tanto pela baixa qualidade do material.

Buen producto, vendedor genial.

I Testament negli ultimi anni hanno re-iniziato a sfornare un capolavoro dietro l'altro. Se mancate presenza da un pò di tempo, partite da portarvi a casa questo album. Son sicuro che Pino Scotto approverà

Tout simplement le meilleur de TESTAMENT! Je les aime presque tous, surtout les 3premiers et les 3 derniers sont plus qu'excellents en y incluant"Titans of Creation"qui vient aprés celui ci.Dans le TRASH ,le fameux BIG -FOUR n'est que cendres!Et a part EXODUS,TESTAMENT,voir DEATH ANGELS, il y a NADA dans le TRASH moderne. "Deception Totale"pour METALLICA et SLAYER sans inspirations,n'existe plus que pour l'argent.Et que dire de MEGADETH ?Mais la pire Honte,c'est de loin ANTHRAX qui même a l'epoque n'avait déjà pas sa place dans le Big-Four.EXODUS,TESTAMENT existaient déjà,avec un TRASH-METAL solide et de trés bonne facture,et qu'a la diffèrence des autres ont toujours de l'inspiration et nous sortent des pépites d'albums!

No se puede pedir mas de bandas de este calibre simplemente siguen las mismas directrices de siempre ademas de que la presentacion en digipack esta de fabula asi como su booklet y lo mejor a un precio muy accesible recomendado para la gente que no le gusta lo comercial ni lo predecible.