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Testament was one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1980's. Originally formed as 'Legacy' in 1983 by founding members Eric Peterson (rhythm guitar), Derrick Ramirez (guitar) and Louie Clemente (drums), the line-up included |
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Testament was one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1980's. Originally formed as 'Legacy' in 1983 by founding members Eric Peterson (rhythm guitar), Derrick Ramirez (guitar) and Louie Clemente (drums), the line-up included vocalist Steve Souza and Greg Christian (bass). Ramirez was later replaced by wunderkind Alex Skolnick (lead guitar). Souza soon departed to join Exodus and suggested that the towering Chuck Billy take over as frontman. The band became known as 'Testament' 3 years later, while recording their debut album in Ithaca, New York.
"The Legacy" was a brutal intro in 1987, putting Testament at the forefront of the flourishing thrash metal scene. Following "Live At Eindhoven", an EP recorded at Holland's Dynamo Festival, "The New Order" in 1988 was well received producing one of the band's most memorable classics "Disciples Of The Watch". Next came the highly successful "Practice What You Preach" in 1989, then the release of "Souls Of Black" in 1990, coinciding with the European 'Clash Of The Titans' tour with Slayer, Megadeth and Suicidal Tendencies.
After "The Ritual" in 1992, Skolnick, who was losing interest in pure metal, decided to pursue his interest in jazz and left the band. Clemente also departed. "Return To Apocalyptic City" in 1993 brought Glen Alvelais (guitar, ex- Forbidden) into the fold, and filling in temporarily for Clemente, Paul Bostaph (ex- Forbidden, Slayer). James Murphy (ex- Death, Obituary, Disincarnate, Cancer) soon stepped in for Alvelais on lead duties for "Low" in 1994, as John Tempesta (ex- Exodus) took over on the drums. Tempesta later left to join White Zombie, and was replaced by John Dette (ex- Evil Dead ). "Live At The Fillmore" was released in 1995, then Dette left in 1996 to join Slayer. "The Best Of Testament" was released in 1996.
"Demonic", which was recorded in Testament's Driftwood Studios, was released in 1997. James Murphy and Greg Christian having left the band were replaced by alumni Glen Alvelais and Derrick Ramirez (bass). Gene Hoglan (drums, ex- Death, Dark Angel) lent his percussion talents. "Signs Of Chaos", a 'best of' disc of the band, was released in 1997.
Dave Lombardo (ex- Slayer, Grip, Inc.) was officially introduced into the band. James Murphy was brought back once again, and on bass, the legendary Steve DiGiorgio (ex- Death, Control Denied, Sadus). "The Gathering" was born in 1999. James Murphy abruptly departed, which was determined later for reasons due to a serious illness. Steve Smyth (ex- Vicious Rumors) jumped aboard as 'touring guitarist', later to be invited to stay on as a permanent member. Lombardo soon also left, not being able to commit, having other projects on his plate. In 2000, Jon Allen (drums, ex- Sadus) joined the band.
After the successful "Riding The Snake" world tour to promote "The Gathering", vocalist Billy was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called 'germ cell seminoma' in March 2001. Despite his illness and grueling cancer treatments, Billy offered his ground shaking vocals to the re-recording of Testament classics on "First Strike Still Deadly" with a reunion of sorts, bringing back Alex Skolnick and John Tempesta to record on the disc.
In 2002, Billy has since been recovering well, and with the permanent new Testament line-up of Billy, Peterson, DiGiorgio, Smyth and Allen, the fans look forward to the next release of the band, stronger than ever.
Source: http://www.testamentlegions.com/index2.htm |
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Discussion Topic
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Creator
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Demonic (1997)
1. Demonic Refusal
YOU TAKE MY HAND AND SYMPATHIZE
YOU FELT THE FLESH, YOU REALIZED
YOU TOOK MY WILL, NOW I'M DEPRIVED
SAVE MYSELF, JUST SAVE MYSELF
I...CAN NOT BE TAKEN UNTO
ALL THAT I HAVE CAN NOT BE TAKEN
SHE HAS WAYS MISCHIEVOUS
TAKES YOUR SOUL IN PACT
DEMONIC CHANTS OF MANATU
SAVE YOUR SOUL, JUST SAVE YOUR SOUL
I...CAN NOT BE TAKEN UNTO
ALL THAT I HAVE CAN NOT BE TAKEN
A STRONG WILL IS MY DEFENCE
FOR THE FUTURE AND PAST
I...FEEL WHAT I FEEL
I...SEEN WHAT I'VE SEEN
I...HAVE WHAT I HAVE
ALL I HAVE IS FROM ME...YEAH!!!!
YEAH HE FEEDS ON INNOCENCE
DREAMS THE TASTE OF WAR
SMELLS THE FEAR THAT HE HAS DREAMT
WAKE YOURSELF, JUST WAKE YOURSELF
I...CAN NOT BE TAKEN UNTO
ALL THAT I HAVE CAN NOT BE TAKEN
THE TAROT CARDS ON THE TABLE
SHOWED THE FUTURE AND PAST
[CHORUS]
I...FEEL WHAT I FEEL
I...SEEN WHAT I'VE SEEN
I...HAVE WHAT I HAVE
ALL I HAVE IS FROM ME...
I...AM A PRISONER OF FATE
I'M REFUSING ALL HATE
I...WILL CAST IT AWAY
I...WILL NOT BE A SLAVE
IN THROUGH OUT DEATH I SHALL BE
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Replys
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Listener
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2. The Burning Times
BACK IN TIME THE PUNISHMENT
WAS BORN ALL YOU WITCHES BURN
SOME MOTHERS BURNED, BURNED ALIVE
HEAR THE CHILDREN CRY...
CHILDREN CRYING...MOTHERS DYING...
SOME WOULD DIE THE INNOCENT
SOME WOULD DIE A WHORE
SOME SO SCARED THE CHILDREN FLED
CONFUSED BY THIS WORLD
WHY...THEY DON'T WANT TO
BURN...ALIVE...
CAUGHT IN THE BURNING TIMES
WHEN ALL THE WITCHES DIED
STILL HEAR THE CHILDREN CRYING
THE BURNING TIMES...
SOME SAY WHEN YOU FLOAT A WITCH
YOU SET FREE THEIR SOUL
I'VE ALWAYS SAID...BURN THE BITCH
MY SPOKEN WORDS OF OLD
WHY...THEY DON'T WANT TO
BURN...ALIVE...
CAUGHT IN THE BURNING TIMES
WHEN ALL THE WITCHES DIED
STILL HEAR THE CHILDREN CRYING
THE BURNING TIMES...
BACK IN TIME THE PUNISHMENT
WAS BORN ALL YOU WITCHES BURN
SOME PAID THE PRICE, OF THIER CRIMES
CAUGHT IN THE BURNING TIMES
WHY...THEY DON'T WANT TO
BURN...ALIVE... | riff_master |
3. Together As One
I WAS BORN INTO A WOMB SO INSANE
OVER CROWDED CAUSE WE SHARE THE SAME VEINS
YOU CAN NOT BE...
MORE MAN THAN ME...
I...WILL NOT BE THE OTHER
I AM THE ONE...THE CHOSEN SON...
WHO DEVOURS AND SMOTHERS
VIOLENCE IS NOT THE WAY...
WHAT AM I ANYWAY...
IMPLANTATION AS THEY RIP US APART
JOINED TOGETHER CAUSE WE SHARE THE SAME
HEART
YOU WILL NOT BE...
MORE MAN THAN ME...
I AM THE ONE...THE CHOSEN SON
WHO DEVOURS HIS BROTHER...
HURT...HELP..HELL...
AND NOW YOU WILL SEE...THAT WE WILL BE
ALWAYS...TOGETHER AS ONE
ALWAYS TOGETHER AS...
THE DOMINANT SON, WHO WAS JOINED AS ONE
ALWAYS...TOGETHER AS ONE
ALWAYS TOGETHER AS...
THE DOMINANT SON, WHO WAS JOINED AS ONE
ALWAYS WONDER WHY
THE UNBORN SON, WHO LIVES INSIDE HIS HEAD
CAN NEVER DIE
VIOLENCE IS NOT THE WAY...
DAMAGING VOWS I TAKE...
THE ONE WHO WAS BUILT OF RAGE
BOW DOWN BEFORE I
PRAYED FORGIVENESS
FROM THE FATHER ABOVE
JOINED TOGETHER
BUT NOT BONDED BY LOVE
I WILL NOT BE...
MORE MAN THAT HE...
WE...WILL NOT HAVE EACH OTHER...
I AM THE ONE...THE BURDEN SON...
WHO...DEVOURED HIS BROTHER...
HURT...HELP...HELL...
AND NOW YOU WILL SEE...THAT WE WILL BE
ALWAYS...TOGETHER AS ONE
WILL NOT BE HALF A MAN...
WE'RE JOIN TOGETHER AS...ONE... | riff_master |
4. Jun-Jun
CAST BEFORE MY EYES DECEIVE ME
A VISION OF MY LIFE
CANNOT SEEM TO HELP MYSELF
THE HELPLESS WON'T SURVIVE
FREE US FROM THE BEDS OF HELL
HEAVENS OVERTHROWN
THE RULER OF THE REAALM IS SEEN
IN EVIL AND OF SORROW
BLESSED IS THE STRENGTH OF MAN
INBEDED LIFE ENTOMBED
FEEDING OFF THE SICKEN(E?)D
OF MAN AND HIS ABUSE
HELP YOU, HELP ME
SAVE US, AND EVERYBODY!
I FIRST STARTED THINKING I WAS INSANE
TRYED TO TALK BUT COULD NOT REALLY SAY
I TURNED MY PLEASURE INTO THE PAIN
LET REALITY SLIP AWAY!
I HAVE TO FACE MY PUNISHMENT
MY SINS I WILL REPENT!
AS I LOOK TO THE HEAVENS ABOVE
REACH FOR THE SKY TO BE TOUCHED BY THE LOVE! | riff_master |
5. John Doe
HE DIED ON THORAZINE
LOST LIFE AND ANY HOPES
LAID HIM DOWN ON A BED OF STEEL
DOWNTOWN AT THE CITY MORGUE
[CHORUS:]
JOHN DOE...A MAN HAUNTED BY HIS PAST
JOHN DOE...HIS SOUL WILL NEVER REST
HE WAS RAISED AS AN ORPHAN
ABUSE VICTIM AS A CHILD
DREAMING HAUNTING MEMORIES
MADE JOHN DOE TAKE HIS OWN LIFE
JOHN DOE...A MAN HAUNTED BY HIS PAST
JOHN DOE...REALIZE THAT YOUR DEAD
HE WHO IS VICTIMIZED CAN NEVER GRASP
NEVER EVER KNOWING WHAT IS LOVE
HE WAS A BITTER MAN AN ONLY SON
NEVER EVER KNOWING WHAT IS...LOVE...NO LOVE
TAKE HEED TO MY WARNING
EVEN THOUGH I MIGHT BE WRONG
FULFILL LIFE FULL OF LOVE
OR YOU'LL END UP JUST LIKE JOHN
JOHN DOE...A MAN HAUNTED BY HIS PAST
JOHN DOE...REALIZE THAT YOUR DEAD | riff_master |
6. Murky Waters
HOLD YOUR BREATH AFRAID
GRASP THE ROPE IN FEAR
GRIP JUST SLIPS AWAY
YOU YELL BUT NO ONE HEARS...
YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU WILL DROWN
YOUR FRIENDS SHOWED YOU THE WAY
THEY LEFT YOU TO RUN WILD
THEY JUST TURNED AWAY
YOUR ANGERED WITH A SMILE
YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU WILL DROWN
YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU'LL BE FOUND OR
NOT
DROWING IN THE DARKNESS
LIFE'S...ENDING...SORROW
BODY FEELING LIFELESS
LIFE'S...ENDING...SORROW
THE MINDS AT PEACE AN CONCIOUS
LIFE'S...ENDING...SORROW
WHERE ARE YOUR FRIENDS NOW
HAVE THEY LET YOU DOWN
THEY CAN'T BRING YOU BACK
THEY JUST LET YOU DROWNED
YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU WILL DROWN | riff_master |
7. Hatreds Rise
SLASHING
THROUGH THE FIGHT
BEFORE HIM
DRESSED IN THE ARMOR
OF THE DEAD
CROSSED FISTS
CAN'T DENY
THE SWORD SO SWIFT
GETTING CLOSER TO THEIR LAIR
FOLLOW ME AND I'LL GIVE YOU A KING...
(SIIGING OVERTALKING)
FIGHT WITH ME AND KILL FOR YOUR KING
HATRED WAS A MAN OUT TO SEEK
VENGEANCE FOR THE DEATH OF HIS FATHER.
FOR HE IS THE ONE BARES THE MARK
OF THE GREAT WARRIOR KING AND
NO ONE CAN STOP HIM
WAITING
FOR TONIGHT
THE AX SWINGS
INTO BATTLE ON THE WALL
THE HIGH PRIEST
BLESSED THE BLOODSHED
OF DEFEAT
THE SMELL OF DEATH ROAMS
THROUGH THE AIR
STRIKING
BLOWS FROM LIFE
FOR MY KING
DEATHLY VICTIM OF THE BLADE
RISING
FLAMES OF WAR
SHINE THROUGH THE NIGHT
UNTIL THE DAWN THE TROOPERS STORM
STABBING AND SLASHING -
WHEN NIGHT FALLS
THEY ALL MUST DIE...
BEATING AND BASHING
WITH BLOOD LUST
FROM HATREDS RISE...
STABBING AND SLASHING -
THE NIGHTS GONE
ON ONE ALIVE...
BEATING AND BASHING
WITH BLOOD LUST
FROM HATREDS RISE... | riff_master |
8. Distorted Lives
I'M SO DISTORTED, THAT I'M FADING AWAY
HUMAN DESTRUCTION HAS NOW SEALED OUR FATE
THE TRUTH IS WAR
THERES SUFFERING
I AM A STRONGER MAN
MAN WHO I AM...I'M DISTORTED LIVES...
I'VE SEEN THE WORLD SUFFER HUMAN
DISTINCTION
I'VE SEEN THROUGH EYES OF RAGE
IT'S TIME TO STAND AND RISE
AND FACE THE WAR
AND SUFFERING
THE WORLD WE SCORN IS OUR
WORLD UNCAPTURED...
DARK MACHINES THAT SHADE THE LIGHT
WON'T LET YOU UNDERSTAND
I SIDE WITH INNOCENCE
AND HAIL FOR RESISTANCE...RESISTANCE [2X]
DARK DISEASE THAT TAKES THE LIFE
OF ALL OUR FELLOW MAN
NO TIME FOR IGNORANCE
SALVATION HERE IT COMES AGAIN...
I'VE WATCHED THE EARTH, SLOWLY WITHER
AWAY
HUMAN DESTRUCTION HAS NOW SEALED OUR FATE
THE TRUTH IS WAR
AND SUFFERING
I AM A STRONGER MAN
MAN WHO I AM, I AM MAN
DISTORTED LIVES, YOU SINNERS SIGH
SOCIETY NEEDS...DISTORTED LIVES | riff_master |
9. New Eyes Of Old
PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE
THE FIRST STEP IN CREATING A SITUATION
DREAMS...OF NEW..LIES CONFUSED
LIES TO YOU WILL TRUTH SHINE THROUGH
WHAT THE RAIN WON'T WASH AWAY
THE SUN IS BLACK WITH SHADES OF GRAY
REFLECTIONS OF THESE STRANGER DAYS
SEEN THROUGH NEW EYES
DIE THROUGH OLD...
NEW EYES...EYES...LIES
CONFLICTING WORLDS UPON YOUR BACK
THE WEIGHT WILL FATE UNDO
SEEN THROUGH EYES OF NEW...
CRUCIFY ME SANCTIFY ME...NOW
LIVE THROUGH NEW EYES
DIE THROUGH OLD
NEW...NEW EYES OF OLD
LIVE...DREAM..DIE
DESTINED TO REPEAT
DOOMED TO FORGET [2X]
OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW
NIEVE AND BLIND A CURSE FOR OUR TIME
WE LIVE OUR LIVES DAY BY DAY
OUR HEARTS BLEED WITH FEAR...LIES
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO MAKE A CHANGE
WE WON'T SURVIVE THESE STRANGE DAYS
CRUCIFY ME SANCTIFY ME...NOW
SEEN THROUGH NEW EYES DIE THROUGH OLD
NEW...NEW EYES OF OLD...[2X]
DESTINED TO REPEAT...DOOMED TO FORGET...[X2]
NEW EYES OF OLD [2X] | riff_master |
10. Ten Thousand Thrones
CAST AWAY BY DARKNESS
IT'S TIME TO LET YOU KNOW
VOICES OF MANY SOLDIERS
ARISE TEN THOUSAND THRONES
THEIR JUST TURNED AWAY, THEIR TOLD THAT THEIR
OK
THE SPREAD OF CHEMICAL WARFARE
DESTROYED THE HUMAN RACE
LIFE IS DARKENING, SICKENING
ENDLESS CONSCIOUS SLUMBER, TEN THOUSAND
THRONES
PARALYZED, DEPRESSION
SCHIZOPHRENIC MINDS
NEW BORN RETARDATION
A WAR THEIR BORN TO FIGHT
LIFE IS DARKENING, SICKENING
ENDLESS CONSCIOUS SLUMBER, TEN THOUSAND
THRONES
CANCEROUS TUMOR INVADING THE MIND
LEAVING BEHIND
ASHES ARE BURNING THAT FALL FROM THE SKY
POLITICALLY DEVINE
HONOR THE CODE AND DEFENDING THE LINE
PRETENTIOUS LIES
THE FIGHTING OF WAR IS SHATTERING LIVES
THE DEATH OF MANKIND
WHY HAVE WE FORGOTTEN
A WAR, THE HOLOCAUST
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION
TEN THOUSAND LIVES WERE LOST | riff_master |
11. Nostrovia | riff_master | | | |
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