by Dan Skiba
— Staff Writer —
Despite every effort to follow up 2016’s Brotherhood Of The Snake release within a couple years, the legendary band Testament finally comes through with their 13th studio album entitled Titans Of Creation, filled with nearly 60 minutes of quality Thrash Metal.
The best-known Thrash bands (including the more recent releases by the Big 4), have established the trend of blending Traditional Metal elements into their “standard” Thrash Metal soundscape, making for a cleaner and more polished overall listening experience. Testament too has done something similar. The production quality of Titans Of Creation becomes apparent immediately with the first track “Children Of The Next Level” and carries through to the end via the ominous instrumental “Catacombs”. You’ll realize pretty quickly that co-producers Andy Sneap and Juan Urteaga were able to capture Testaments bone-crushing musical power while masterfully weaving in discernable melodies … but, without overdoing it to avoid watering down the band’s preemptive power.
Each track on this release is solid and unique, so the adage “good things come to those who wait” applies to all Testament fans out there who had hoped Titans Of Creation would have come a few years earlier. Alex Skolnick and Eric Peterson show they still have plenty of tricks up their sleeves, and deliver impressive and fresh-sounding performances, while Chuck Billy continues to take no prisoners at the microphone with his uncompromising in-your-face vocal style.
Titans Of Creation may not be the “best” release ever put out by Testament, but it may be the most solid and consistent album they’ve created through and through. Regardless, this is an album all Thrash fans should possess … and will certainly qualify as one of the best “Metal” albums of 2020. Check it out!
Genres: Thrash Metal
Band:
Chuck Billy – Vocals;
Eric Peterson – Guitar
Alex Skolnick – Guitar
Steve DiGiorgio – Bass
Gene Hoglan – Drums
Tracklisting:
1. Children Of The Next Level
2. WW III
3. Dream Deceiver
4. Night Of The Witch
5. City Of Angels
6. Ishtars Gate
7. Symptoms
8. False Prophet
9. The Healers
10. Code Of Hammurabi
11. Curse Of Osiris
12. Catacombs
Label:
Nuclear Blast Records
Website:
https://www.testamentlegions.com
Hardrock Haven rating: 
(8.5 / 10)
