Gathering

If you only ever buy one Testament album, this is it!If you want to get started on Testament, this could either be the best or the worst place to start. You will love it, I'll almost guarantee it, but while their other stuff is great too, you'll likely find that The Gathering is a tough competitor for other Testament albums.For some reason Testament mostly passed me by in the 80's and 90's, not sure why? I started to pay attention three years back, buying a greatest hit and seeing them live (at Copenhell, DK). A friend recommended me The Gathering, told me to buy it before any of their other stuff. I have never regretted it.Fantastic album. You kind of wish Lombardo had stayed with them, it seemed like a perfect match.

Arrived safely, but it took a long time (2 months) to arrive, therefore I've took a couple of stars off.

This is a great album, I have only just discovered Testament and what I have heard so far is fantastic.

I love every Testament album, one of their best even without Skolnick.Great vocals by Chuck, every song is better the other one and nothing else i should add.Just put it in your stereo and prepare for headbang. Buy it!

Perfect! Thanks!

This album sparked my interest in the band Testament, and that was from an unmixed demo-type version of the track 'Sewn Shut Eyes' from a covermounted CD. That led me to buy this ablum, and now I own almost their entire back catalogue... It seriously is that good!!It's not because of the all-star cast of musicians used on the record (along with Testament mainstays Eric Peterson and Chuck Billy, we have guitar by James Murphy, bass by Steve DiGiorgio, and drums by Dave Lombardo!), but because the songs themselves are brilliantly written.Of the 11 tracks, it's hard to pick out the best, but 'DNR', 'Three Days In Darkness', 'Legions Of The Dead', 'Riding The Snake', 'Sewn Shut Eyes', and 'Fall of Sipledome' are the best.Chucks voice rides the line between melodic-thrash style that he had before, and a brutal growly voice that retains a large amount of clarity. This can be used to great effect, especially with Eric Petersons black metal-esque backing vocals.Eric and James played together on the Testament album 'Low', and have also played together live, so they know how play with each other, and this shines through in the intricate lead change-overs, almost as good as the Kerry King/Jeff Hanneman partnership! James solos were always going to be a talking point, and they don't disappoint, even though they're more melodic and less furious. Best solo on 'Fall of Sipldome'. Eric's are as concise and furious as ever, with the best example on 'Sewn Shut Eyes'.Having Steve DiGiorgio on bass means that the bass is not just following the guitars, which add an extra dimension. You can also hear it more in the mix too!Dave Lombardo does a great job of not being tedious when it comes to the drums. His structures follow the patterns laid down by the music, instead of just being the backbeat. He can stillblast like the best, seen in songs like 'Sewn Shut Eyes', and 'Legions of The Dead'So, 5 great musicians, 11 great songs, 1 great album. Get it. Now.

If this album had been released in the 80s, I am convinced it would be recognised now as one of the greatest thrash albums ever. In another 10 years, perhaps it will be.In their glorious back-catalogue, this is bettered only by their thunderous debut.It has speed, aggression, seriously ultra-heavy production, and most importantly, brilliant infectious, lodge-in-your-head tunes. The groove which flows through this album is unstoppable, each track rumbling like a steamroller with the handbrake left off. Chuck sings and shouts as if delivering a threat in every word.Perhaps the best album I have bought since the turn of the millenium. If you don't know it, you really should.

I dug this album out recently, and transferred it to my iPod. What an absolute monster. This is the album that Metallica should put on before they start recording new material. It would send them back to the golf course, let's put it that way.'The Gathering' has everything: Catchy vocals, massive, catchy riffs, and amazing drumming from Slayer's Dave Lombardo. Testament are an exception to the rule, in that I think they are BETTER without their founding member and axe-god Alex Skolnick. His rejoining for the most recent LP, 'Formation of Damnation', is proof that they were better off without him. THAT is a good album, but this is GREAT, and on here the Petersen / Murphy / DiGiorgio axis never fails to astonish at every opportunity. Maybe Alex has been spending too much time with Rodrigo Y Gabriela, and forgotten that Post-Thrash needs a dash of extra brutality from the halcion days of 80's thrash..?But that's a debate for elsewhere. The great thing about Testament, is that you get the intensity and power of modern metal, but you also the old-school songwriting skills, which current trendy bands like Arch Enemy simply do not have.Several tracks off this album could have been chart hits, were we living in an alternate reality with truly democratic radio stations.All killer, no filler. Awesome.