TESTAMENT guitarist Eric Peterson stated about “Infanticide A.I.”: “When we wrote the song. I think it was like 12 at night and we were done for the day for jamming, and Chris [Dovas, TESTAMENT drummer] was at the house and we were watching [the 2023 horror film] ‘Evil Dead Rise’. And just within a half hour, I’m, like, ‘Come on. We’re going downstairs.’ And just the imagery of that.”

Added Dovas: “It just inspired us. We’re, like, ‘We’re gonna go down and write some evil music. Come on, let’s go.’ I think we were drinking some Jäger[meister] or something like that. And, yeah, I don’t know. We were just up really late. It was one of those nights where we were up till two, three in the morning just jamming, and it was kind of how that song was born.”

Eric continued: “I think a lot of movies, for me, visually, horror movies, I think that inspires me to write music.”

TESTAMENT bassist Steve DiGiorgio chimed in: “I always knew that was a strong one right out of the gate. I had a feeling it would be considered probably a single or a title track.”

TESTAMENT singer Chuck Billy comments: “The new album ‘Para Bellum’ consists of some fast, heavy and melodic tunes. Once again (TESTAMENT guitarist Eric) Peterson has found a way to keep the song writing fresh and modern sounding. It’s gonna be hard to choose what songs to play live cause to many to choose from.”

Peterson states: “It’s been five years since our last record ‘Titans Of Creation’ was released. Since then, we all waited to get back to it and we all did in a big way! Now our long over due new record ‘Para Bellum’ is upon us and about to be released in October. We are super stoked and excited to release new blood and fury to you all! With our first single ‘Infanticide A.I.’ we’re coming out swinging! But with new velocities of fury, while maintaining a balance that we all love and know from a TESTAMENT track. Enjoy!”

With every generation comes a great war. It may take years to fully reveal itself, but the seasoned warrior knows preparation is everything. Now in 2025, Bay Area thrash metal icons TESTAMENT return with their fourteenth studio album, “Para Bellum”. Taken from the Latin phrase “Si vis pacem, para bellum” — “If you want peace, prepare for war” — the album stands as both a battle cry and an observation of humanity’s uneasy alliance with its own creations. As technology accelerates and disconnection grows, “Para Bellum” sees TESTAMENT reflecting the modern chaos through music that’s urgent, sharp, and unflinchingly human.

“Para Bellum” track listing:

01. For The Love Of Pain
02. Infanticide A.I.
03. Shadow People
04. Meant To Be
05. High Noon
06. Witch Hunt
07. Nature Of The Beast
08. Room 117
09. Havana Syndrome
10. Para Bellum