Resuscitating the Fossilized
I take a
look at the members of this gathering: Billy, Peterson, Murphy, DiGiorgio and
Lombardo. Yep, definitely good line-up, don’t you think? Or maybe it is better
to write thrash dream-team? The five veterans ready to create something
uncommon. The musicians known from such bands as Slayer, Sadus, Obituary, Death
and Disincarnate. And of course Testament. The first impression is obvious, but
at once the main question appears: what is the final result of this gathering? And
the next one, did they overcome the mighty debut album “The Legacy”? Two
fundamental questions I am going to answer in this review…
Reading
some interviews after releasing the album, Peterson said about one thing,
namely Dave Lombardo had been this person which I describe as a flashing point.
He had a great contribution in making “The Gathering” living proof of thrash
existence. Now it is hard to write if their previous album was a commercial
triumph, for sure “Demonic” was quite successful mix of death and thrash from
my point of view, however after joining DiGiorgio and Murphy (again on the
board), I was expecting really killing metal offering, much better than the
previous full-lengths without Alex Skolnick. The album, released by Burnt Offerings,
saw the light of day in the middle of 1999. And my first feelings were
enthusiastic, except for better front cover as compared to “Demonic” and very
modern (but what is important: not sterile!) production, the music was amazing,
from the very beginning the first three songs are just destroyers of the
silence, like a battering ram that crushes the wall. After several seconds of
bodeful intro, the massacre begins. Forget about slow and monumental tunes of
“Demonic”. “D. N. R.” is very fast, with straight forward riffs and fine double
bass attack, for sure this is thrash, but taken from another unknown dimension.
It makes the song is… really fresh even nowadays, and what is more, this
‘freshness’ is met very often through the whole album. Vocals – again there is
no surprise, with every record Billy proves he is the number one in thrash vocal
family! He shows incredible mix of clean vocals and deep yet very
understandable growls. Even the whole structure of this track is maintained in
rather simple way, everything effectively smothers the listener senses. “The
Gathering” is entering its gate…
… and the
next “Down for Life” isn’t worse! Faster a bit, again very interesting guitar
riffs (man, Peterson/Murphy duo!), and changes of the tempo. But the best is
yet to come, its name “Eyes of Wrath”: simply it is the essence of Testament’s
style, from perfect vocals to perfect music. During this song, finally the bass
lines are shown but only in moments of guitar calming down. And I think this is
serious fault, why the hell the bass lines are hidden so deeply under the
guitar traces? In spite of this, I can write about this killing thrashing song
as one of the best in the era of no Skolnick. Writing more about this, one
thing must be blazoned out, I mean the first solo lead appears after 4:30, it
is different, less classic, more climatic show and these tunes end this highly
interesting song.
Yes, three
thrash cannon-shots were already heard, but the rest isn’t such super as this
holy trinity. For sure I can point out “Legions of the Dead”, it is the fastest
one, maybe there is the best solo, but I have an impression that this is only
similar track to “Murky Waters” from “Demonic”. And for sure “Riding the Snake”
with mysterious opening, broken structures and excellent second part, as well
as glorious “Sewn Shut Eyes” with absolutely devastating Billy vo-kills,
overall guitar work and drums cannonade. I wrote about good points, so there is
a place to indicate the weak points. I think the feeling of disappointment gets
out of the mediocrity. It’s hard to believe it, once again I think about the line-up,
and… “True Believer” or “3 Days of Darkness” (with awful chants “ooooo….”)
don’t maintain these superb feelings from the beginning. The same is in the
last “Fall of Sipledome”. Simply these three tracks didn’t convince me. For the
first listenings everything seems to have its place, each element isn’t
accidental. Unfortunately the deep insight into the entirety (especially into
three aforementioned tracks) shows that seesawing emotions aren’t anything
uncommon…
Ok, I hope
you remember the question I asked some words ago. In my case it is obvious that
I compare any new offering from the band to the mighty debut album. And for
certain I can declare that “The Gathering” didn’t beat the debut, as well as
“The New Order” and “The Ritual”, my most beloved Testament masterpieces. I
think my overall mark is rather high in spite of some weaker tracks, but when I
read the line-up I can even say about disappointment or frustration. I expected
really great album with the highest mark on the end, but as the speedway
proverb goes “names don’t ride”. From the other hand I would be a liar in root
and grain writing that “The Gathering” is a weak album. No, it is not, the
music is still fresh and kicking ass even today, I still listen to this very
often, but I’d like to sum some things up: the potential and talent of James
Murphy is wrecked here, just like unfortunate hiding of DiGiorgio bass lines
during the process of sound realization. Seemingly there is a bootleg coming
from Dynamo live show (2002), where bass is simply audible and it sounds
perfectly. Unfortunately I haven’t heard it yet. Compositionally the band shows
the inequalities: the great and the weak songs, with absolutely excellent
beginning of the album. I think it proves this line-up is only ship with Bill,
Peterson (both as firm as a rock) and three mercenaries, though I am convinced
that Lombardo showed the best drum work in his career (yes, forget about Slayer!).
Also it proves that the only line-up of Testament is following: Billy,
Peterson, Skolnick, Christian and Clemente (or Dette on drums, I will never
forget his show on “Live at the Fillmore”…). Anyway “The Gathering” is the last
studio album of the band that I praise to date. Both “First Strike Still
Deadly” and released after nine (!) years “The Formation of Damnation” are
disappointments for me, and I hope their newest “Dark Roots of Earth” will show
the thrashing furious power and energy. The line-up is almost complete, only Clemente
is replaced by Hoglan…
90/100
-Tlacaxipehualiztli
(previously written for Encyclopaedia Metallum, on August, 2012, now modified a bit)
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