PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH
the third release from “Big Six” Bay Area thrashers TESTAMENT, is a bit of a departure from the more eerie, dark, and creepy signature sound represented on The Legacy & The New Order.
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CHECK OUT TESTAMENT ON THE INTERWEBS
Released August 4, 1989
Recorded February–March 1989
Studio Fantasy Studios CA
Label Atlantic Megaforce
Producer Alex Perialas
U.S. tour in 1989 with Annihilator and Wrathchild America
And two shows in California with Nuclear Assault and Voivod
In January 1990 with Mortal Sin and Xentrix
Japan that February of '90
And a two-month U.S. tour with Savatage which featured support from Nuclear Assault, Dead Horse and Dark Angel
There’s an almost upbeat, “good time thrash” vibe to it, with “more singy, less screamy” vocals and “more accessible” songs that radio stations could feel safer playing over the airwaves (especially during the daytime). Some might say it’s their “…And Justice For Black Album” album, others might say it’s their “…And Black Album For All” album. We feel like it falls somewhere in the middle. You be the judge.
Tracks
1 Practice What You Preach
2 Perilous Nation
3 Envy Life
4 Time Is Coming
5 Blessed in Contempt
6 Greenhouse Effect
7 Sins of Omission
8 The Ballad
9 Nightmare (Coming Back to You)
10 Confusion Fusion
Its time to sit back, relax, and enjoy a veritable “orgery” of quality “South American Adult Entertainment” the likes of which you’ve never experienced before.
Prepare to learn some thought provoking Mario Bros trivia, discover why you should use a “gentle grip and a fast technique” when working the knotholes of naughty trees and JOIN US as we dive into the “un-darkness” of PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH.
PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH
Back in the summer of ’89 when this came out, this song was on constant repeat in the tape deck. Keep in mind this period in time was also the heyday of shredders, hence the extended guitar solo. If you compare this with either The Legacy or The New Order, you can tell that the sound doesn’t have the same eerie, creepy darkness factor as those two, but it’s still awesome.
“You’ve got a lot to learn, the bridge you burned
It’s gonna take its toll!!! Pay the burnt bridge toll!!!”
PERILOUS NATION
Never really thought about it until now, but there’s certainly a “happier” vibe on this record than on the prior two. Even the singing was a departure, as Chuck Billy’s prior vocal style was more akin to screaming. The beginning of his more death metal sounding growl is certainly a nice addition and enhancement to their sound (which would become more prominent on their 90’s output).
There’s still remnants of the eerie chords and harmonies that define Testament’s sonic signature (as of this point in their history), but they seem to be used much more sparingly on this album; surely a sign of artistic maturation and expansion of their powers (even if it IS their Black Album…kind of).
“Say now what you will, before they make it illegal
Time to draw the line, between the bad and the evil…”
ENVY LIFE
THAT is the sound of Chuck Billy…it literally sounds like a demon from beneath the Earth growling “YAAAAAAAAAAAAY”.
This track certainly has more darkness, creepiness, and heaviness than the previous two. A classic example of the heavier style that’s become a quintessential component of Testament’s sound today.
“Make sure your reach does not exceed your grasp…”
TIME IS COMING
Okay, this is certainly a vocal departure, with the creepier layered “clean” vocals. Certainly very “hooky”. Funny how 34 years later, there’s a palpable sense that the time is INDEED coming…time for some serious changes that is.
“The land of liberty, for all mankind and all to see
What’s the use, laws a conspiracy…”
BLESSED IN CONTEMPT
Okay, NOW we’re back to thrashy Testament with something that sounds like it easily could have been on The New Order.
The ending outro vocal is eerily creepy and more than a little bit unnerving, but then, so is child abuse.
“Slowly as the years go by, the darkness builds inside
Trying to find a passage out, before I lose my mind…”
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
A song about greed and the devastating impact it can have on our planet and on our lives. Ever notice how people that live in areas not overrun by global corporations are generally happier, more peaceful, and tend to live longer lives? Maybe global climate warming change is real…OR maybe it’s just another scam that the global climate warming change charlatans have “manufactured” in the name of making US feel guilty because THEY destroyed the rainforests and vegetation in the name of their own greedy commerce and corporate avarice.
Stop murdering all of the trees! Why not try LOVING the trees instead? After all, why do you think trees have knotholes? Just sayin’…
“Lies they televise paid by the government…”
SINS OF OMISSION
Okay, the very beginning almost sounds like a suspenseful scene in some 80’s cop flick. Not really a thrash song per se, but it’s certainly one of the more standout songs on the album, in terms of musicality and overall song structure and flow.
The title likely refers to the belief that taking your own life will prevent you from entering the kingdom of Heaven. Whether or not this is true is uncertain. But what IS certain is that “suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem”.
If you need help, please call 988, 911, or visit www.988lifeline.org.
“There’s no reason for suicide.
Use your mind, and hope to find
Find the meaning of existence…”
THE BALLAD
This might have actually been the very first Testament song* with actual acoustic guitars playing a more prominent role (*NOTE: the first was likely the acoustic solo in Musical Death (A Dirge)). Granted, many thrash bands in the 80’s had “soft intros” on some songs, but usually those were just electric guitars with zero distortion and a shitload of chorus. But this had acoustic guitars and ACTUAL singing on it. It’s like Testament’s Nothing Else Matters…they literally Black Albumed before The Black Album was The Black Album. (In short, they “out Black Album’d” The Black Album!) Just imagine a sea of lighters and women flashing their tits at the stage for the first part of this song.
Actually, the fact that they named it “The Ballad” is intriguing…and also a bit of a misnomer, as only the first half seems “balladlike” at all, with the second half far faster and way heavier than the first.
“I’ve been robbed, I’ve been fooled
I intend now to make my own rules
Dagger’s edge cut the line, I’ve been down that road
Too many times…”
NIGHTMARE (COMING BACK TO YOU)
This song seems very punky…and almost rushed. Like they had to throw one together (I believe the industry word is “filler”). Compared to the first 2 albums, this song alone is most definitely different territory for Testament. Not really “thrash”, but certainly very upbeat.
“To kill the enemy we will win the wars
To find the place our life was before, it’s a nightmare…”
CONFUSION FUSION
I wonder what the confusion was fused with exactly? Perhaps it was the deliriously relentless work cycle of recording and touring for 3 years straight without a break that helped to fuse their confusion.
“Whazzahhhp?”
Show Notes:
(00:01): #theuncorking (“There it is…”) and a word regarding our #specialguest from #DrEviler / “Orgery?” / ***WARNING!!!*** #listenerdiscretionisadvised / #thisepisodesclinkyoftheepisode #FireOnTheMountain (“Tastes like Big Red…”) / ***WELCOME BACK TO THE METAL NERDERY PODCAST!!!*** / #RussellsReflectionsASMR and a word about our guest joining us in the #Bunkerpoon / “There were a couple of rooms…” / #thisepisodesbeeroftheepisode #CherryStreetBrewing #OasisImperialStout (Iron DC or AC Maiden?) / #buttonrub (“That looks like motor oil”) / “Its like when you get some good PCP…” / #10percentABV (at least it’s not a #dietWhiteClaw) / #markthetime (“Eleven pounds down…”) / “You should wear a cape…”
Beer of the Episode
Cherry Street Brewing
Oasis Imperial Stout
#10percentABV
(09:25): You still out there #pissingpost? / The ultimate #MetalNerderySuperGroup / “Boners and ASMR…” / ***You can email us at metalnerdery@gmail.com *** / #PastTheFall (WE’LL PLAY YOUR SHIT-TAH!!!) #crickets (“Should we? Or did we?”) / “Mark ALL those times…” / “It’s always awesome when I get to do the jingle…” / “It’s just crude and we’re fucking idiots…” / Scratch #PastTheFall, we’re doing #MindEnemies INTO THE STORM (Doom meets #IronMaiden meets #Opeth) / “That’s the smallest keyboard I’ve ever seen…” / The genre is #ProgressiveDoomMetal (“I’ll bet that dude’s got great relaxers…”) / “What’s the deal with the #MarioBros?” / “I’m gonna Google it…” / #DoomGothicProgressiveMetal / “Matt was right…” / “That will never be replaced…” / Ever heard of #Slower? “Awwww Mannnn…” (Think #Slayer played at #doommetal speed) WAR ENSEMBLE / “A very gentle grip…” / #Grammys / #BestDeathMetalPerformance / #Seriously / “It’s either racism or it’s true…” / #boneyard vs #liquidmetal / “You’re just all about the bone…”
(25:32): “Wait a minute, hold on…” / #bolth / #TheDocket #Testament PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH / “It didn’t seem more mainstream at the time…” / “Especially during the day…” / “It’s almost #TheBlackAlbum …” / The importance of hooks re: #mainstreammetal / “Which one is the Enter Sandman of this album?” / #AndJusticeForBlackAlbum (“Does it have bass? Does it not?”) / #BlackAlbumReflectionsASMR / “This goes down way too easy…” / #markthetime / Released August 4th, 1989 and mall memories / Reflecting on Testament tour memories / “You’ll find it…” / “That’s like cleanup day…” / #SouthAmericanAdultEntertainment
(36:21): “In the Bunkerpoon, it’s all tentacles, all the time…” / #allthecokelines #killeropener PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH (“The solo goes on forever…”) / Thoughts on the bass tone / Flanger and chorus makes #Florous / PERILOUS NATION (#happymetal) / “They were getting blowjobs and free drugs…” / “I’m just saying, there’s 2 different kinds…” / “That was a different Testament…”
(46:01): ENVY LIFE (and early #deathmetalvocals) / #TheBigSix and Testament’s distinctive sound / “I hear it in a completely different way…seriously.” / “That was their Load…” / #TheBreakdown / #LightAndShade / TIME IS COMING (“That went down way too easy…”) / More Justice than Black Album? #AndBlackAlbumForAll / “Seven is average…” / A side discussion regarding proper compensation
(59:55): BLESSED IN CONTEMPT #thisisthrash / “That makes you the bass player, bro…” / GREENHOUSE EFFECT / “That’s what the knotholes are for…” / #lawsagainstnature or #crimesagainstnature? / “Does anybody hear it?” / SINS OF OMISSION / “You can’t say the rest of it…” (But you can have a conversation about it…) / ***GIVE US A CALL AND LEAVE US A VOICEMAIL AT 980-666-8182!!!***
(1:08:42): THE BALLAD (#moneytrack) and the typical “fourth track” #softintro in the 80’s / #Yeahhh / And now, a completely different song… / “That could have been 2 songs…” / A side discussion regarding #TheAccused / NIGHTMARE (COMING BACK TO YOU) / “It was almost like…fun.” / “I don’t think you should ever close an album with an instrumental…” / CONFUSION FUSION (#TestamentCreepy) / Tracking changes / Thanks to Ed for joining us / Old Mountain Dew memories and the impact of soft drinks on guitar strings / ***THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS EPISODE OF METAL NERDERY PODCAST!!!*** #thelastword ***GO PURCH SOME MERCH AT metalnerdery.com/merch / #outroreel