Introduction to Testament

Testament is an American thrash metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. Testament's current lineup includes singer Chuck Billy, guitarists Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick, bassist Steve DiGiorgio, and drummer Gene Hoglan. The band has gone through several lineup changes over the years, with Billy and Peterson being the only constant members. They are often credited as one of the most popular and influential bands in the thrash metal scene.

History

The original lineup of Testament was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Eric Peterson and included his brother-in-law Derrick Ramirez on guitar, Greg Christian on bass and Louie Clemente on drums. The band released their debut album The Legacy in 1987. The album featured a fast-paced style of thrash metal that quickly gained the band a large cult following. The band's follow-up album The New Order (1988) continued their success but was met with some criticism due to its more commercial sound. The band went on to release two more albums in the 1990s: Souls of Black (1990) and Low (1994).

Recent Activity

In 2012, Testament released their ninth studio album Dark Roots of Earth which marked their first album since 2008's The Formation of Damnation. The album was met with critical acclaim and was their highest charting album to date. Since then, the band has released two more albums: Brotherhood of the Snake (2016) and Titans of Creation (2020). Testament has toured extensively throughout their career and have played shows with some of the biggest names in metal such as Kreator, Napalm Death, Anthrax, Slayer and Metallica. They also headlined festivals such as Wacken Open Air in 2018.