A Lesson in Botany: Necrosis of the Roots
At least!
The tenth Testament studio album saw the light of the day. In this case my
expectations were growing each single day of waiting. As compared with “The
Formation of Damnation” (released four years earlier) which was like a new
beginning with Alex Skolnick, this time the line-up is stabilized (excepting
the drummer as always…), the band played many successful live shows. Even if
their previous album was pretty mediocre with some great moments, I was still
hoping the new thrash adventure with the beast from Oakland will be
unforgettable musical experience. I didn’t look forward to magical whiles of
the eighties, I realized that recording the second “The Legacy” was impossible,
but I wanted to get something in the mix of “Low” and “The Gathering”. The
first thing coming from the album was the front cover: really good work that
absorbed my attention immediately. Quite decent start, I thought. And, as
always, I decided not to listen to tracks the band put in the web. Finally
“Dark Roots of Earth” started to spin in my deck…
And I have
to admit that opening “Rise Up” is a very promising song. Again I can hear
ship-shape production by Andy Sneap, maybe this time it is more convincing to
the previous album, but this sterility with no signs of any ‘madness’ well-known
from the eighties is still perceptible. Ok, in four minutes of “Rise Up” the
band serves quite interesting and memorable work of guitars, still in thrashing
way, Chuck Billy didn’t change his way of singing, and what is more, it still
sounds absolutely superb. He is imperishable! The second element of this band,
Alex Skolnick, confirms his top-notch guitar class. As always he shows
delicious solo, with passion and metal feeling. So, appetite comes with eating,
for sure it’s good description after listening to the first song. And the same
feeling is present on the beginning of the second “Native Blood”. But a real
disaster comes after one minute, because from 1:03 to 1:23 I can hear… blast
beats! In Testament’s music??? Yes, exactly… For me, as a Testament fan since
1991, this fact is simply inacceptable, and what is more, it makes the song…
softer! Unfortunately this kind of very questionable enrichment of music
appears also at 1:57 and 4:05. And this poor pseudo melody in the background!
Is this a newbie Gothenburg melodic crew? I am completely down-hearted even if
it consists of superb guitar works of both guitarist and very interesting Chuck
singing…
It’s hard
to write, but with every second of the album, my anger and impuissance seem to
be leaders of the mind. The blasts are also in “True American Hate”, again in
three moments but this time they are much shorter (about four seconds). And
again the very good song is totally devastated by these needful ideas.
Aggressive vocals, almost two minute guitar lead with never heard before kind
of melody in Testament career (3:50 – 3:58), all for nothing! Fortunately
blasts are gone now, but it doesn’t mean my review will turn into laud. No, it
won’t, because of song with number six and name “Cold Embrace”. To put it
briefly, it is the worse song ever written by the authors of “The Legacy”. The
band decided to record a ballad. And though the idea isn’t bad, not every band
member thought it as a good move. But finally the old sentiments won, probably
during playing old stuff live with the ballads. That’s true Testament recorded
only few such songs and not on every album, but when they did it, I got the
songs absolutely great! Just to name “The Legacy”, “Return to Serenity” and “Trail
of Tears”. These songs are immortal classics, while “Cold Embrace” is the
biggest mistake. What is more, the structure reminds me of “Sentient 6” of
Nevermore, but in Testament case, I deal with very poor imitation. The first
signs of musical calamity are audible during the opening due to completely
banal melody and weak vocals (which is unthinkable!). Nothing is changed when
hard guitars enters the stage with very simple yet completely ineffective
structures. Moreover, this ‘monster’ has almost eight minutes. Gross
exaggeration, guys! The ballad that had to be a splendid variety of the album, came
out like a blunt nail ripping my forehead. A musical hideousness!
Well, now
it’s good moment to forget about these unpleasant whiles however I’m not going
to swallow any antidepressant pills. Namely the track called “Throne of Thorns”
makes my blood run really faster. This is absolutely the best song here which I
can bravely put next to all-time Testament classics, especially when it comes
to the era of “The Ritual”. It starts off with calm yet good-tempered tunes,
then after eighteen seconds hard guitars rip the idyl apart. Maybe everything
isn’t played in fast tempo, but well-thought-out riffs make this song
absolutely massive and burdening the senses. Fine chorus, with discreet
melodics, is an introduction to some kind of Chuck’s spoken words, which is
very interesting idea here. But the best is yet to come, namely at 3:18 tempo
is changed with over one minute Skolnick solo. The track is silenced by the
opening motive and gorgeous Eric lead. And I have a question, why this Erick
work is silenced little by little here? I tell you, I cannot understand such
doing, but when you take a look on the last track of extended version of this
album, you see “Throne of Thorns” in longer version. And yes, exactly, this
Erick solo is unbroken here and sounds superb! For me, a piece of dishonesty…
As the
peruser can notice, I didn’t write anything about the remaining four songs. Unfortunately,
I’m not going to create any praises and applauses, because these tracks are
only good (title “Dark Roots of Earth”), or very, very mediocre. I can hear the
absolutely lack of life in song structures (especially “A Day in the Death”,
and “Last Stand for Independence” in spite of faster tempos), in addition “Man
Killed Mankind” (although I point out on pretty interesting chorus) has awful ending
harmonic outro, it completely doesn’t fit to Testament music. But that’s true,
both guitarists did a really splendid job on the album, but let’s take “A Day
in the Death” once again, when first solo played by Eric lasts only eight (!)
seconds (it seems to be incomplete…), unlike the second by Alex which has
almost eighty seconds.
Of course, while
analyzing the extended album version, there is a need to write something about
bonus tracks. One of them is mentioned just above, the rest three ones are just
covers. And in this case… I am totally helpless. As far as “Dragon Attack” (by
Queen, but I’m not a fan of this band and simply don’t like it) and “Animal
Magnetism” by Scorpions (a real sleeping draught, even better than the Polish
football team playing with ten milligrams of estazolamum) are unsuccessful and
boring adaptations, the real disaster comes with Iron Maiden’s “Powerslave”. It
is a fucking desecration! I simply cannot understand, I mean, when the young
band worships their long-time musical favorite and record well-known classic
tunes, but in this case, when first seen and everything looks just ok, the
overall feeling is a synonyme of failing. Although I consider Chuck Billy one
of the best vocalists on the scene, here he completely felt short of
expectations especially in chorus (really terrible effort!), his interpretation
of Dickinson lines sounds like a vain attempt of the beginner, who has an own
way to show his talent (?) the rest of band guys. This is complete
misunderstanding, what is more, musical side didn’t convince me as well,
especially when I think about the classic version heard many, many years ago…
My severe
criticism of the album proceeds from a huge disappointment, so the truth about
this album is like a one of the worst nightmares in my life. “Dark Roots of
Earth” is the weakest album of the band. After many careful listens, still I
ask myself the same questions. How did they do it? How can I rate it in
positive way? No, it is impossible this time, when there are only two (TWO!)
very good songs. Two long-time guitarists again give me the best breathtaking
performance, however I never praise the album due to its guitar leads. Chuck is
like a tower of strength, but he failed in two tracks definitely. The rhythm
section did the work without any highlights. Unfortunately bad things reign
here with no mercy for me, but the most ‘memorable’ is using of blasts. One can
say that music doesn’t know boundaries, that’s right, I agree, but Billy &
company took a tour through the minefield with the biggest antipersonnel mine
called “Cold Embrace”. Did they find the entrance? I will see on the next
album! The whole is like a sinusoid, from fine opening, through blasts,
emotionless mediocrity and “Cold Embrace”, to crushing “Throne of Thorns” and
inexpressive “Last Stand for Independence”. And do I have to mention these
covers once again??? “Roots” seems to be too long album, when mediocrity
moments turn into dullness, simply it makes me sick (because Testament is my
beloved thrashing act)! And another thing, but I do not consider it as a
drawback, namely this album isn’t in thrash vein on the whole, there many
elements that make the music become even in more heavy metal shade, especially
when it comes to the guitar leads and some riffs. But now I can forget about
any returns to the magical past, simply due to lack of quality, which is the
main blame to the band. After releasing the previous album I was reckoning on
something better, exciting and worthy of note. Unfortunately I got very weak,
average and polite piece of music with several moments to praise. Too much negative
things and feelings from such band as Testament is. Definitely too much…
30/100
-Tlacaxipehualiztli
(previously written for Encyclopaedia Metallum, on April, now modified a bit)
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