TESTAMENT The New Order is the second release from these LA thrashers. Released in 1988 it follows closely from their first album in 1987 and basically this is more of the same. Testament had the benefit of the huge success of Metallica’s Master of Puppets from 1986 and again after the release of their first album had already gained play on MTV and toured with the likes of Anthrax and more.
When I say The New Order is more of the same, that’s not a bad things. If you liked Testaments first album you’d have liked this. It’s the same but better playing, better production and Chuck Billy’s vocals come through a lot better than on their debut album.
The album opens up with some spacey guitar work and then straight into opening track “Eerie Inhabitants” and then “The New Order” it becomes clear that this is very reminiscent of Master of Puppets era Metallica mixed with Anthrax song writing sensibilities. The lead guitar work from Alex Scholnic on this is top notch and definitely out to punch on with Megadeth and Metallica. There’s no let up with “Trial By Fire”. “Hypnosis” is a really cool little guitar instrumental to finish things up nicely for side one.
If you were a thrash addict at the time this would have been the deal not too much in the way of ballads or long drawn out epics just straight for the jugular Heavy metal and it continues with “Disciples of the Watch” and “The Preacher”. By this point I’m really satisfied that I’ve had my daily dose of thrash metal but it just keeps coming. This album does not let up! The Album closes of with “Day of Reckoning” and another great guitar bases instrumental. At this point it should be pointed out that lead guitar player Alex had been tutoured by guitar legend Joe Satriani and it shows big time here.
This is a magnificent album. Instrumentally its flawless and while I don’t think this has quite the accessibility as the current Megadeth and Metallica albums of the time had but it was more of a thrash purist thing and for that the band are very good what they do. If you like Thrash, this is a quality release, well not just quality, it’s actually quite a banger!
For more great Heavy Metal album reviews be sure to keep checking back on Metalhed.com as regularly as you can!