The Formation of Damnation (CD - 2008)

Personnel: Chuck Billy (vocals); Eric Peterson (guitar); Greg Christian (bass guitar); Paul Bostaph (drums, cymbals).

Nine long years since their last studio album of new material (1999's THE GATHERING), Testament returned with a brutally melodic set fittingly titled THE FORMATION OF DAMNATION. Vocalist Chuck Billy's winning battle with cancer inspired most of the group's original lineup to reconvene, with the exception of the ever-changing drum throne occupied here by former Forbidden/Slayer member Paul Bostaph. Lyrically, the Bay Area thrash legends are well-known for tackling social and political fare. For DAMNATION, principal co-writers Billy and guitarist Eric Peterson deliver commentaries on 9/11 ("The Evil Has Landed"), government corruption ("The Formation Of Damnation"), and spirituality ("Afterlife"). Polished by metal's go-to engineer Andy Sneap, DAMNATION is arguably the best sounding Testament release since 1994's LOW.

Testament has endured just about every single calamity a rock band can during their lengthy history: bandmembers coming and going, label switches, and most seriously, a bandmember's successful battle against cancer (singer Chuck Billy). But after all these years, Testament is still going strong, and to celebrate their 25th year anniversary since their initial formation, four-fifths of the group's definitive, best-known lineup have reunited for their first appearance on a studio album in 16 years, for 2008's Formation of Damnation. With drummer Louie Clemente being the only no-show (former Slayer drummer Paul Bostaph, who had briefly played in Testament, takes his spot here), the classic Testament thrash sound lives on in such tracks as the title track and "The Persecuted Won't Forget" (the latter of which puts the speedy drum skills Bostaph perfected in Slayer to good use). The group also offers a song that focuses on the horrors that unfolded in New York City on 9/11 ("The Evil Has Landed"), albeit nearly seven years after the fact. As one of the '80s-era thrash bands who never strayed far from their original path (if anything, they only got heavier as the years progressed), Testament's trademark thrash is, expectedly, all over Formation of Damnation. ~ Greg Prato minimize