Chuck Billy Says He Would Love to See Testomony Hit the Street with Metallica
In a up to date interview at the Scars And Guitars podcast with Andrew McKaysmith, Chuck Billy, the mythical frontman of Testomony, unfolded about what nonetheless drives him after just about 4 a long time of recording and appearing international with the band. When requested about his final targets and ambitions, Chuck didn’t hang again, hinting at some robust desires that stay his interest alive for each Testomony and heavy steel. He shared some thrilling insights, which most effective underline how, even after years of luck, there’s nonetheless extra he desires to perform with the band and past.
Chuck mentioned: “I feel my primary on my tick list is as a way to pass on excursion with Metallica, a band that grew up in our scene, our house, prepared the ground for this type of track. We’ve by no means had that chance to accomplish a excursion with them. We would possibly have performed a few presentations and gala’s over the time, however by no means were given to excursion.
“There’s numerous historical past there that I in reality don’t know the solution why we by no means have, and perhaps it’s essential pose that query to them sooner or later — why now not? — and perhaps I’ll get my solution in the future what the reason being. However that will be my primary, as a result of I all the time glance as much as James [Hetfield, Metallica frontman] as a vocalist, his taste, each time I write track. Even to these days, my go-to is, ‘What would James do in this track? What would he do for this?’ So that they’re a large inspiration for me. I’m satisfied that they’re forging ahead, setting up the time and now not giving up both after this a few years.”
When McKaysmith mentioned that he feels he “connects” with Testomony‘s track greater than Metallica‘s, Chuck answered: “Smartly, it is dependent how outdated you might be. I attach [with Metallica‘s music] simply because I do know what they began from and what they’ve grown into.
“And, yeah, you’re proper — [Metallica] is a supernova, and you’ll be able to’t sluggish it down and you’ll be able to’t glance again. You’ve gotta roughly stay doing what you do. However I give them props for proceeding on and now not simply going, ‘You realize what? I’m wealthy sufficient. I’m performed.’ And having the balls to play [the] track [they want] to make it doesn’t matter what any one has to mention about it. So long as you’re stepping into that practice session room and it nonetheless will provide you with a chub, hello, extra energy to you.”
Whilst we’re speaking about Testomony, Chuck not too long ago spoke with Nikki Blakk of San Francisco, California radio station 107.7 The Bone, in regards to the standing of Testomony‘s follow-up to 2020’s “Titans Of Advent” album. He mentioned: “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 performed in June. So it’s our objective to complete the entirety this month.
When requested what number of songs will likely be featured at the new Testomony album, Billy mentioned: “There’ll most probably be 11 tracks, after which now we have some covers that we’ve performed. And we in truth did a few re-recordings, a track off [Testament‘s debut album] ‘The Legacy’ and a track off [Testament‘s second album] ‘The New Order’, simply to have a more recent model.
“And we re-recorded them… Only one track off of every album. Our concept is, ‘Ok, we’re pushing the remasters. Why now not pick out a track off every, after which let’s combine them, cause them to sound present, and simply perhaps put that in the market to perhaps push the ones merchandise. I don’t know… Those will simply be general separate only for amusing, advertising.’
Discussing when enthusiasts can be expecting the brand new Testomony album, Chuck mentioned: “We’ve took off from November final yr to write down the file. It took some time. We simply were given within the studio in Would possibly and June. So we’re completing up. And at the moment, after we depart [for tour] in July, we gained’t in reality 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 further overdubs or anything else.
“We’re gonna reside with the file, which is in reality the primary time we get to do that, as a result of in most cases we’ll file it and it’s written in stone the place now we all know… Typically now we have Andy Sneap combine it and he’s now not to be had. So we roughly have a while to make a choice any person 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 now we have 10 days or 11 days there earlier than we commence. After which after that, now we have about 10 days earlier than 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 fascinated with blending and completing, getting it in the market subsequent yr.”
Chuck added: “We are hoping to have a unmarried perhaps, simply in opposition to the top of the yr. Give whoever we make a choice [to mix the album] one track, ‘Let’s see the way you do, see if we’re glad,’ earlier than we do the entire file perhaps. It’s a ache within the butt, nevertheless it’s nonetheless somewhat extra handy for us this time.”
Touching at the sound and route of the brand new Testomony album, Chuck mentioned: “The file could be very competitive. With this one, now we have a brand new drummer, Chris Dovas, who’s in reality hanging a hearth beneath Eric [Peterson, Testament guitarist and main songwriter] and in reality, in reality were given some in reality heavy, rapid — I don’t know if it’s the phrase ‘trendy’, perhaps. 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. “‘Reason they’re all simply person songs, and I am going, ‘Ok, they’re nice.’ However till we combine it and pay attention to it as an album, that’s once we notice, ‘Wow, this got here out higher than I assumed. Wow, that is in reality just right.’ However this one, I’m excited getting into earlier than the combo, as a result of I simply know every track is one step up from the final file, so far as aggression, perhaps.”
At the subject of the songwriting procedure for the brand new Testomony file, Chuck mentioned: “Chris has been popping out since most probably December, perhaps somewhat earlier than that, and going to Eric‘s space; he’s were given an electrical drum set there. So that they’ve been running, writing, hanging all these things in combination.
“And originally of Would possibly, as soon as Eric began monitoring, we made up our minds that, let’s carry Alex [Skolnick, lead guitarist] and everyone in’ aside from for Steve [DiGiorgio, bassist], ’reason he’s on excursion, let’s carry Alex and everyone right here to the studio and let’s simply undergo all of the track, all of the songs and ensure we’re all proud of the preparations. And each track were given modified as smartly.
“As soon as Alex were given right here, all of us began hanging our heads in combination until we have been all proud of the preparations. After which he left and we mentioned, ‘Ok, Chris, now right here’s the brand new stuff. Let’s do it and observe it.’ And he knocked it out final month, and now it’s the remainder of us that [are tracking our parts]. So we’ve been somewhat extra considerate in this file. Now we have the time to do it. So I feel it’s gonna be a killer file.”
Chuck additional detailed Dovas‘s involvement within the album’s advent, pronouncing: “A large number of it’s Eric‘s riffs, however they’re installed the correct puts or lower out if we don’t want it. And it’s just right for me as a result of I didn’t in reality get to take a seat with Eric. I simply allow them to guys jam and simply get a hold of up to you’ll be able to and we’ll kind it out later, which that’s what they did. However as soon as Chris got here out, then we knew, k, it has to switch or we’re gonna simply have the similar file, and perhaps we wouldn’t be at liberty when it used to be all performed.
“And in addition Eric‘s in truth been going to New York — he in truth went to paintings with Alex in the market, which he hasn’t performed that previously. And I feel having Chris be to be had as a result of like Gene [Hoglan, former drummer] or whoever we labored with didn’t have the time to come back up up to Chris has. Chris has spent numerous time right here, which has been just right and in reality pushing Eric to make track. And we’re at some degree now to the place Eric‘s, like, ‘You realize what? This has been amusing.
“I feel I’m simply going to stay bringing Chris out. Let’s simply stay writing songs. Even after this file’s performed, let’s simply stay making songs,’ which I feel is superb as a result of that suggests we will be able to get a soar at the subsequent file. ‘Reason now not spring chickens. It’s, like, let’s get it performed now whilst we will be able to.”
Chuck additionally mentioned one of the crucial lyrical topics for the brand new Testomony album, pronouncing: “[It’s] now not as targeted [on], like, the extraterrestrial beings, growing mankind and that roughly stuff, however there may be a few of that. There’s so much. Each and every track surely has its personal identification 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 all the time an inspiration for songs. I feel it’s somewhat more straightforward. There’s such a lot occurring in our international to write down about now. It’s a loopy international as of late, so there’s numerous stuff to discuss. And I love making a song about what’s actual and what’s occurring as a substitute of a few delusion lyrics, as a result of, for me, I feel once I sing ’em, I’ve extra conviction, I imagine in ’em somewhat extra. And perhaps it’s more straightforward for me to bear in mind the lyrics reside. [Laughs]”
Chuck in truth went onto identify explicit track titles from the file, pronouncing: “There’s a track, ‘Havana Syndrome’, which is in regards to the Havana Syndrome. Other people, glance that up.
“There’s ‘Infanticide A.I.’, which is every other track going A.I. route. And there’s in truth a slower track. We haven’t performed a slower track. I’m now not gonna say ‘ballad’, however I’m gonna say a slower track that has numerous groove and soul, known as ‘Supposed To Be’. And it’s like a vintage TESTAMENT-type ballad, I suppose, in case you wanna use that phrase.
“However we’ve were given somewhat little bit of the entirety, however, once more, I feel it’s in reality sticking to Testomony, having to have some melodic stuff, despite the fact that there’s some in reality brutal lyrics and actual brutal, extra of a demise voice. I nonetheless put the hook in with extra of a melodic hook or one thing. It’s nonetheless vintage Testomony. If you happen to pay attention to it, you’ll pass, ‘That’s Testomony, however somewhat extra octane to it.’”
