Here we go with the second wave of thrash metal and genre leaders Testament with their album The Legacy. Released in 1987 by Nuclear Blast records, Testament quickly grew their fanbase with this album. Testament are one of those bands where I like some of their records but never really gave them the time they deserve.
The album opens up with “Over the Wall” and instantly you know you’re in for a wild ride. Testament had an advantage of a pre made thrash metal scene that the Bay Area bands Like Metallica and Slayer etc… had already established and an audience that wanted the next extreme in metal. Testament and other bands like Exodus were that next extreme. By this point Metallica had aready put out its landmark “Master of Puppets” album and things weren’t getting any faster than Slayer’s “Reign in Blood”, so where does a band like Testament fit in?
I guess Testament were writing some very complex songs, which depending on your musical tastes can be a good or bad thing. The album itself is a riff-fest which guitar addicts will love and not to mention some ripping solos courtesy of Alex Scholnic, I feel like this album provided an avenue for those wanting more “pure thrash” where as bands like Metallica and Megadeth were already gearing their songs towards a more traditional metal feel. After forming in 1983 this gave the band lots of time to develop their chops and release a very musically accomplished record in 1987. I personally found the complexity of the songs a bit distracting and I kind of feel that there’s no ear worms on this record, where as you’d listen to Early Metallica or Slayer records and those songs would stick in your head with big choruses and stand out riffs, I don’t think Testament had the same thing going on.
Overall I don’t mind this record and the guitar solos are standout. Chuck Billy I feel was still finding his feet in regards to his vocals but overall its pretty cool. I don’t think the drums came through as well as they needed to though. If you’re new to metal I’d stay stick with the big 4 four but if you’re doing a deeper dive into metal definitely give Testament a listen as there’s some cool stuff on this record.
OK upon looking back on this review i feel like I need to clarify a few things. I recently heard the re-mastered version of this album and I have to say Chuck Billy’s vocals are actaually fuckin’ unbelievable (they just didn’t come through real well on the original version) and they brought the clarity and volume of the drums up in the mix and the album sounds sooooo much better.
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