With a brand new TESTAMENT album at the approach, singer Chuck Billy not too long ago printed some music titles and what they’re particularly about
Talking with Nikki Blakk of San Francisco, California radio station 107.7 The Bone, TESTAMENT vocalist Chuck Billy mentioned the standing of the band’s follow-up to 2020’s “Titans Of Advent” album. Chuck stated (as transcribed via BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “We’ve been right here [in the recording studio] for — I don’t know — a pair months now, and we’re on the point of depart for Europe in July. So we’ve gotta get the entirety carried out in June. So it’s our purpose to complete the entirety this month.
When requested what number of songs can be featured at the new TESTAMENT album, Billy stated: “There’ll most likely be 11 tracks, after which we have now some covers that we’ve carried out. And we if truth be told did a few re-recordings, a music off [TESTAMENT‘s debut album] ‘The Legacy’ and a music off [TESTAMENT‘s second album] ‘The New Order’, simply to have a more recent model.
“And we re-recorded them… Only one music off of each and every album. Our idea is, ‘K, we’re pushing the remasters. Why no longer pick out a music off each and every, after which let’s combine them, cause them to sound present, and simply possibly put that available in the market to possibly push the ones merchandise. I don’t know… Those will simply be general separate only for amusing, advertising and marketing.’
Discussing when enthusiasts can be expecting the brand new TESTAMENT album, Chuck stated: “We’ve took off from November ultimate 12 months to put in writing the file. It took some time. We simply were given within the studio in Might and June. So we’re completing up. And at the moment, after we depart [for tour] in July, we gained’t actually have time till December, which is a great factor. We’ll be busy, however we’ll have like per week or two between excursions to do any additional overdubs or the rest.
“We’re gonna reside with the file, which is actually the primary time we get to try this, as a result of normally we’ll file it and it’s written in stone the place now we all know… Most often we have now Andy Sneap combine it and he’s no longer to be had. So we more or less have a while to make a choice anyone else. However in that point, we’re gonna reside with the songs and are available between excursions to make any changes or adjustments, if we need to… We pass to Europe and we come house in August and we commence the U.S. excursion.
“So we have now 10 days or 11 days there prior to we commence. After which after that, we have now about 10 days prior to we commence a Eu excursion with KREATOR and ANTHRAX, and that’ll undergo December sixteenth. After which we’re house for the vacations. After which we’ll get started serious about blending and completing, getting it available in the market subsequent 12 months.”
Chuck added: “We are hoping to have a unmarried possibly, simply in opposition to the tip of the 12 months. Give whoever we choose [to mix the album] one music, ‘Let’s see the way you do, see if we’re glad,’ prior to we do the entire file possibly. It’s a ache within the butt, but it surely’s nonetheless a bit of extra handy for us this time.”
Touching at the sound and route of the brand new TESTAMENT album, Chuck stated: “The file may be very competitive. With this one, we have now a brand new drummer, Chris Dovas, who’s actually striking a hearth underneath Eric [Peterson, TESTAMENT guitarist and main songwriter] and actually, actually were given some actually heavy, rapid — I don’t know if it’s the phrase ‘fashionable’, possibly. I don’t know, however… ‘Present’, how about that? Present-sounding. So, Chris is including to that.
“I by no means know what the file is gonna be till we combine it,” he defined. “‘Motive they’re all simply person songs, and I’m going, ‘K, they’re nice.’ However till we combine it and pay attention to it as an album, that’s after we understand, ‘Wow, this got here out higher than I believed. Wow, that is actually excellent.’ However this one, I’m excited stepping into prior to the combination, as a result of I simply know each and every music is one step up from the ultimate file, so far as aggression, possibly.”
At the matter of the songwriting procedure for the brand new TESTAMENT file, Chuck stated: “Chris has been popping out since most likely December, possibly a bit of prior to that, and going to Eric‘s space; he’s were given an electrical drum set there. In order that they’ve been operating, writing, striking all these items in combination.
“And initially of Might, as soon as Eric began monitoring, we determined that, let’s convey Alex [Skolnick, TESTAMENT lead guitarist] and everyone in’ apart from for Steve [DiGiorgio, TESTAMENT bassist], ’motive he’s on excursion, let’s convey Alex and everyone right here to the studio and let’s simply undergo the entire song, the entire songs and ensure we’re all pleased with the preparations. And each music were given modified as smartly.
“As soon as Alex were given right here, all of us began striking our heads in combination until we have been all pleased with the preparations. After which he left and we stated, ‘K, Chris, now right here’s the brand new stuff. Let’s do it and monitor it.’ And he knocked it out ultimate month, and now it’s the remainder of us that [are tracking our parts]. So we’ve been a bit of extra considerate in this file. We’ve got the time to do it. So I believe it’s gonna be a killer file.”
Chuck additional detailed Dovas‘s involvement within the album’s introduction, pronouncing: “A large number of it’s Eric‘s riffs, however they’re installed the right kind puts or reduce out if we don’t want it. And it’s excellent for me as a result of I didn’t actually get to sit down with Eric. I simply allow them to guys jam and simply get a hold of up to you’ll and we’ll kind it out later, which that’s what they did. However as soon as Chris got here out, then we knew, ok, it has to modify or we’re gonna simply have the similar file, and possibly we wouldn’t feel free when it was once all carried out.
“And in addition Eric‘s if truth be told been going to New York — he if truth be told went to paintings with Alex available in the market, which he hasn’t carried out that previously. And I believe having Chris be to be had as a result of like Gene [Hoglan, former TESTAMENT drummer] or whoever we labored with didn’t have the time to come back up up to Chris has. Chris has spent a large number of time right here, which has been excellent and actually pushing Eric to make song. And we’re at some extent now to the place Eric‘s, like, ‘ what? This has been amusing.
“I believe I’m simply going to stay bringing Chris out. Let’s simply stay writing songs. Even after this file’s carried out, let’s simply stay making songs,’ which I believe is excellent as a result of that suggests we will be able to get a soar at the subsequent file. ‘Motive no longer spring chickens. It’s, like, let’s get it carried out now whilst we will be able to.”
Chuck additionally mentioned one of the crucial lyrical subject matters for the brand new TESTAMENT album, pronouncing: “[It’s] no longer as centered [on], like, the extraterrestrial beings, developing mankind and that more or less stuff, however there’s a few of that. There’s so much. Each and every music without a doubt has its personal id lyrically. And once more, we’re writing stuff this is actual, that occurs with the surroundings; we’re making a song about that once more. A.I., we’re making a song stuff about that. That’s a large factor.
“So, there’s at all times an inspiration for songs. I believe it’s a bit of more uncomplicated. There’s such a lot happening in our global to put in writing about now. It’s a loopy global lately, so there’s a large number of stuff to speak about. And I love making a song about what’s actual and what’s happening as an alternative of a few delusion lyrics, as a result of, for me, I believe after I sing ’em, I’ve extra conviction, I consider in ’em a bit of extra. And possibly it’s more uncomplicated for me to keep in mind the lyrics reside. [Laughs]”
Chuck if truth be told went onto identify particular music titles from the file, pronouncing: “There’s a music, ‘Havana Syndrome’, which is in regards to the Havana Syndrome. Other folks, glance that up.
“There’s ‘Infanticide A.I.’, which is some other music going A.I. route. And there’s if truth be told a slower music. We haven’t carried out a slower music. I’m no longer gonna say ‘ballad’, however I’m gonna say a slower music that has a large number of groove and soul, known as ‘Intended To Be’. And it’s like a vintage TESTAMENT-type ballad, I suppose, should you wanna use that phrase.
“However we’ve were given a bit of little bit of the entirety, however, once more, I believe it’s actually sticking to TESTAMENT, having to have some melodic stuff, even supposing there’s some actually brutal lyrics and actual brutal, extra of a loss of life voice. I nonetheless put the hook in with extra of a melodic hook or one thing. It’s nonetheless vintage TESTAMENT. In case you pay attention to it, you’ll pass, ‘That’s TESTAMENT, however a bit of extra octane to it.’”
Q4, the “Klash Of The Titans” excursion makes its triumphant go back to North The usa. Fanatics will experience an epic evening of steel with thrash royalty TESTAMENT and KREATOR co-headlining the run.
The 33-date trek will kick off on September 12 in Reno making its approach around the U.S. and can come with seven Canadian dates prior to concluding in San Francisco on October 27. Becoming a member of the evening are particular visitors Bay House loss of life steel pioneers and labelmates POSSESSED.
TESTAMENT states: “Get able North The usa. We’re having a look ahead to a co-headline excursion with our thrash grasp buddies KREATOR. That is gonna be a madhouse of a display with our Bay House homies POSSESSED opening the display so get there early. TESTAMENT can be appearing an old-school set celebrating the re-release of ‘The Legacy’ and ‘The New Order’.”
