The Thrash Shades
One very
important thing needs some words of explanation before writing about this
Testament’s sixth release. Well, I consider their previous work “The Ritual” as
one of the best metal album in my collection. Even if there are some no thrashy
sounds and no furious and rapid tunes such well known from their two first
albums, I put “The Ritual” exactly next to these releases. Thus I had big
expectations as well as some grave apprehensions due to Testament changed the lineup:
no drummer Clemente, and no guitar master Skolnick as well (especially the
absence of Alex was like a shattering blow for me!). Of course the band
prepared some kind of foretaste, but it was the only live Ep. Reading many
interviews with the band, they felt a real strong desire to make a heavier
album. “The Ritual” was just a past woven by the compromises (as they said), so
the main creators Billy and Peterson were looking at the upcoming future with
optimism, although thrash started to die or change its musical face on the
contemporary scene. So, as the musicians stated, “Low” had to be a return to
the glorious roots of Testament’s past…
With entire
trust I went to the local musical shop and bought the tape… The first seconds
with “Low” was a real shock. I was just smashed in to the ground. The perfect
drums and guitar cannonade made my eyes open really, really wide. For sure the
production is more powerful than on “The Ritual”, but one surprise is yet to
come, namely with the chorus and the words “…show some mercy…” Chuck shows a
new way of singing: growl! And this is the beginning of the new road
definitely, however this kind of vocals are not used here too often. The second
newness: James Murphy on lead guitar, well known death metaller (Death,
Disincarnate, Obituary) joins the crew just like John Tempesta on drums as a
session member. Both musicians stamp their mark on the first track (and the whole
album), especially solo lead is a first class. “Low” attacks with heaviness,
aggression and anger, this is absolutely great song on the start. The second
“Legions (In Hiding)” isn’t such a mad track, the mid tempo dominates here with
very interesting dialogue between two guitarists in solo leads. The next “Hail
Mary” (or “Hell Marry” as it was written in Polish Metal Hammer during Testament’s
interview he, he…) is like a electric shock – probably the best one with very
thrilling guitar motives, Testament didn’t used to play in this way, but this
is still crushing thrash metal: powerful riffs, rhythm section, fine solo and
superb vocals. It ends suddenly to give place “Trail of Tears” which is a…
ballad. Yes, it’s true, the band shows lighter sounds, just like on “The
Ritual” with the “Return to Serenity” song. It is some kind of surprise because
musicians were willing to play only hard and heavy stuff. This ballad is
written by Peterson himself and what can I say about it? This is absolutely
ripper in their discography even if I talk about ballad song, “Trail of Tears”
undeniably joins the big two from the glorious past “The Legacy” and aforementioned
“Return to Serenity”. The structure is rather conventional, we have lighter
sounds in stanza and heavier in chorus plus many great memorable and
heart-ripping solos. Another interesting fact: this is the last ballad recorded
so far, of course I do not count acoustic versions on the next live record.
“Low” is
raging in these first four songs, but suddenly the moments of break down arrive,
which dominate in “Shades of War” and “P.C.”. And I do not know why, maybe it
refers to rather average riffs, which simply they don’t convince me… Fortunately
this temporary benumbment passes away, when “Dog Faced Gods” enters the stage.
This is almost death metal killer with paralyzing opening, quite fast riffs,
double bass attack and Chuck growls (clean vocals only in chorus). As the title
says, I can also find there oriental-like guitar lead by James. The structure
of the song is like a presage to the future musical trials of the band. The
next “All I Could Bleed” is interesting too, with some speedups in the middle
and memorable (as always on this album) guitar leads. In turn “Urotsukidōji”
stands here as instrumental remembrance of the glorious days of „Hypnosis” or
“Musical Death (A Dirge)” from the second album. But even there are flashy bass
lines and guitar leads, nothing is going to dethrone these masterpieces from
“The New Order”… The end of “Low” is close, but fortunately one song has a
strong position. Its name “Chasing Fear”, one of the best “Low” tracks with
excellent opening and furious chorus, in the middle there is a bright,
‘climatic’ slow down, I also admire killing guitar show of Erik and James.
Really good work! Before the last very calm outro, “Ride” (simple yet energetic
song) is rather in the vein of two weaker tracks I mentioned somewhere above.
To put all
the things together and say something on the end: Testament wanted to record heavier
album and they did it undeniably. But also they told about “Low” as their best
work so far. And here I can’t agree with them. Maybe this is better than
“Practice What You Preach” and “Souls of Black”, you know, maybe, but that’s
all. When I think about their cult 80s records, “Low” fails utterly. For sure
they had to face many problems in those days, but the lack of Alex Skolnick is
very perceptible and significantly lowers the final mark, even if the guitar
works (riffs and leads) are very good (but only ‘very good’). I would like to
describe “Low” just correct and right stuff with some really excellent moments,
but this album is a kind of disappointment after “The Ritual” and its majesty. Of
course I was full of understanding, because I knew about the problems with the line-up
and I think that this isn’t the most important fact, for sure the main argument
to praise the band is that they didn’t give up. The decisive proof was born in
1995, when “Live at the Fillmore” saw the daylight. With no Skolnick, no
Clemente, no Tempesta, and no Atlantic Records finally, they recorded a genuine
thrash live album, a real masterpiece of superb metal, but this is another
story to tell…
85/100
-Tlacaxipehualiztli
(previously written for Encyclopaedia Metallum, on July, 2012, now modified a bit)
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