TESTAMENT’s New Album Gets Official Release Date

TESTAMENT will release the long-awaited follow-up to their 2016 album “Brotherhood Of The Snake” on April 3. Singer Chuck Billy revealed the new record’s release date during an interview with Alex Haber of Heavy New York at this past Thursday’s (January 16) METAL ALLEGIANCE concert in Anaheim, California.

Asked if the new TESTAMENT disc is a musical continuation of “Brotherhood Of The Snake”, Chuck said (see video here):
“You’re always trying to top your last record, and I thought ‘Brotherhood’, up to that point, was a pretty strong record. This one, it definitely stands on its own — all the songs have their own identity. Eric (Peterson, guitar) somehow came up with a way to make it be TESTAMENT but feel fresh and new still TESTAMENT, so that’s pretty awesome.”

He continued: “It was a quicker process than the last time, but I think at the end, the mix is awesome, the songs came out awesome, and the process wasn’t as painful as it was the last time. So, it’s a good record. I can’t wait for everybody to hear it.”

Asked if he waits for music for new TESTAMENT songs to be completed first before he starts working on lyrical ideas or if he has lyrics in mind before even hearing a note of music, Chuck said:

“I have some concepts before I hear music and apply ’em to what I feel when I feel the song. So usually, a lot of it, the riff is first — it’s a riff; it’s not even a song yet, so it’s usually just a riff. And then, from there, I just kind of feel it out and just kind of find my way through it.

“On this record, we didn’t get to work and do any demos, so a lot of it was a lot of riffs going into the studio with ideas and then fine-tuning it, which I think put the pressure on ourselves,” he explained. “Sometimes when you’re under pressure, I think you work a little harder and you give it a little more. So I think, again, us forcing ourselves in the studio — ‘Let’s go. We’re gonna record this record now’ — it paid off, ’cause the record came out great. Everybody’s performance — Steve (DiGiorgio, bas)] and Gene (Hoglan, drums) just killed it on this record. It’s an awesome record. TESTAMENT fans, I think, are gonna dig it.”

TESTAMENT’s new album was once again recorded with Juan Urteaga and mixed by veteran British producer — and current JUDAS PRIEST touring guitarist — Andy Sneap.