Testament. Every thrash enthusiast is already very familiar with the band and their groundbreaking catalog. If you’re unfamiliar with Testament, think of it this way: If there were a Big 5, Testament would be part of it! JOIN US as we dive into their first (not so burnt) offering, “The Legacy” and discuss the artwork, the production and the “eerie inhabitants” on this record that gives it the perfect amount of “spooky”. Plus we get into the tracks and some nerdtastical Nuggets of Nerdery (along with our usual brand of hysterious ludicrosity)
CHUCK BILLY - VOCALS
ERIC PETERSON - GUITARS
ALEX SKOLNICK - GUITARS
GREG CHRISTIAN - BASS
LOUIE CLEMENTE - DRUMS
ALEX PERIALAS - PRODUCER, ENGINEER
JON & MARSHA ZAZULA - EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
TOM COYNE - MASTERING
ERIC PETERSON - LOGO CONCEPT
BILL BENSON - LOGO ART
ALEXIS OLSON - COVER CONCEPT
DAN MURO - COVER PHOTOGRAPHY - SPECIAL EFFECTS
RECORDED AT PYRAMID SOUND STUDIOS, ITHACA, NY IN 1986
RELEASED APRIL 21, 1987 ON ATLANTIC/
Alex Perialas is a record producer, engineer and mixer best known for his extensive work during Thrash’s golden years. He still owns and operates Pyramid Sound Studios also runs the Sound Recording Technology Program at Ithaca College in NY. Artists that he’s worked with include Metallica, Anthrax, Raven, Exciter, Overkill, S.O.D., Nuclear Assault, M.O.D., Carnivore, Agnostic Front, Flotsam & Jetsam, Vio-lence, Wrathchild America, Piece Dogs, Joe Bonamassa & Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad.
Jon Zazula is owner of Rock N Roll Heaven record store in NJ and founder of Megaforce Records which he started to release the works of Metallica. He is a central figure in the East Coast Music scene and organized Metallica’s first tours. His wife Marsha is partner/co-founder of Megaforce Records.
Tom Coyne has done an insane amount of work, mostly in hip hop and R&B, but has dabbled in just about every conceivable music genre there is. A few highlights are The Rolling Stones, Kool & the Gang, Billy Ocean, James Brown, A Flock of Seagulls, Mercyful Fate, GBH, Exciter, Agent Steel, Nuclear Assault, Overkill, Buster Poindexter, Agnostic Front, Sepultura, Deicide, Kid Rock, Sade, House of Pain, The Roots, Mind Funk, Snot, Britney Spears, Galactic, Def Leppard, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars.
Bill Benson also did the album artwork for The New Order, Practice What You Preach, Souls of Black, The Ritual and The Very Best of Testament. Can’t find any more info.
Dan Muro has done album artwork for Overkill, Dream Theater, Whiplash, M.O.D., Morbid Angel, Grip Inc., White Lion, Lillian Axe, Steve Morse Band, Symphony X.
TRACK LISTING :
1 OVER THE WALL 4:07
2 THE HAUNTING 4:17
3 BURNT OFFERINGS 5:07
4 RAGING WATERS 4:32
5 C.O.T.L.O.D. (Curse Of The Legions Of Death) 2:32
6 FIRST STRIKE IS DEADLY 3:43
7 DO OR DIE 4:39
8 ALONE IN THE DARK 4:05
9 APOCALYPTIC CITY 5:51
TOTAL LENGTH: 38:45
#1 ON LOUDWIRE’S TOP TEN LIST OF THRASH ALBUMS NOT RELEASED BY THE BIG 4
Prior to this album they were known as The Legacy and had Steve “Zetro” Souza as their singer before he left to join Exodus. They brought in Chuck Billy of the band Guilt who had performed with The Legacy before. After finding out there was a jazz band named Legacy they changed their name to Testament which was suggested by their Billy Milano.
Check out more info:
https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2018/10/04/hall-of-fame-countdown-testaments-the-legacy/
https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-knowledge-testament
00.00: Intro/MNPSA/Testament: The Legacy (the beginning of the 2nd wave of The Big 4)/The eerie factor
05.55: The album cover and the story of the name change to Testament/Testament classic lineup
11.27: Alex Perialas (aka Alex Paralysis)/The album cover and production create the mystical badassery that is Testament
15.00: 04/21/1987: Atlantic Records (WEA)/ more from Alex Paralysis (solid thrash pedigree) including a band name that’s even more exciting than Exciter (Metal Nerdery Foreshadowing…)
18.37: Johnny and Marsha Zazula (HAIL!!! Kudos and commendments…and more Metal Nerdery foreshadowing…)/Tom Coyne’s masterful mastering mastery and the magic of “a different set of ears” (he also worked with Exciter!)
22.32: Metal Nerdery pop quiz moment that’s tangentionally tangential to Tom Coyne/The album artwork/ If there was a Big 5… #softintro
27.39: Chuck Billy: The Shaman of Metal (can you imagine…?)
30.38: The story of Testament’s label deal and Johnny Z
33.03: The Legacy track listing and Testament show memories
35.36: The technicality of the Testament sound and the progression of the next wave of The Big 4
38.26: The tracks: Over The Wall/a true Chuck Billy Shaman story/This episode brought to you by…
42.47: The Haunting (engage spooky factor)/going off on being tangentionally accentuated
45.55: Burnt Offerings (more evil evility)/glorious thrash perfection!/COTLOD (2.5 minutes of brutal brutality!)/A perfect John Carpenter movie title (Curse of the Legions of Death)
51.37: Moving to side 2 of the cassette and the tracking (tapes vs CD’s)/First Strike is Deadly/ foreshadowing pun and getting shutdown (by buttholes)
55.40: Do or Die (could that riff BE any faster!?)
58.55: Alone in the Dark (continuing with the creepy, mystical vibe)/The Loincloth of “Destiny Unknown” (coming soon at www.metalnerdery.com/merch)
01.01.31: Apocalyptic City/Texodustament/Kudos and Condiments/a Sauce, or a rub?
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