Testament - The Formation of Damnation

Good solid album but for me there are no stand out tracks yet. Only listened to it once so far but my initial reaction was hat it was a good solid consistant album.

Bit of a let down to be honest as my anticiaption of this album led me to believe it was gonna blow me away which it never did. Still some of my favourite albums have taken time to grow on me so maybe this will be the same.

UltraMagnus007 wrote:

...my anticiaption of this album led me to believe it was gonna blow me away...

That's the problem. You set yourself up for disappointment. Albums rarely live up to expectations.

That's why I always expect an album to suck ass.

Two thumbs up from me! Like the fact there are much less really low end vocals on this one. I do like all vocal styles but it was cool to see Chuck doing more mid era Testament vocals.-TJ

None of the stores, including FYE, or the local record store had it.

Sword Of The Heretic wrote:

None of the stores, including FYE, or the local record store had it.

Join the club. Here in Memphis it SUCKS as far as what stores stock. I usually have to order new releases online...

Dude, you're not too far from me. I'm in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

I figured that Memphis, as big as a city it is, would have decent music stores that catered to metal fans.

There is one independent store near me and they often ask me now what new metal is coming out so they can stock a couple of them. They have Zero Hour and Warbringer specifically because I ordered them.

Definately no stand out tracks. I loved Testament back in the day, and I thought The Gathering was brilliant. Of course, I like The Ritual too, so what do I know?

emptytomb1 wrote:

There is one independent store near me and they often ask me now what new metal is coming out so they can stock a couple of them. They have Zero Hour and Warbringer specifically because I ordered them.

Lets all bow before your greatness :hails:

Todd Jaymz wrote:

Two thumbs up from me! Like the fact there are much less really low end vocals on this one. I do like all vocal styles but it was cool to see Chuck doing more mid era Testament vocals.-TJ

I'ts a shame he can't do any higher vocals like in the earlier albums, but as I read in an interview with him, he lost that range years ago.

Sword Of The Heretic wrote:

Dude, you're not too far from me. I'm in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

I figured that Memphis, as big as a city it is, would have decent music stores that catered to metal fans.

Dang dude, your almost straight down the street!

Nah man, Memphis totally blows in regards to finding metal. I occasionally luck up and find a CD or two here or there. There just aren't many used stores in town, the chain stores don't stock most metal releases (FYE does, but they are just to dang expensive!), and forget about a decent concert here...

I was a little disappointed that there were no ballads on this one. Other then that it's a pretty killer album.

I'm really liking the new one. Testament kinda lost me for a few years (Low thru The Gathering era), but this seems to be a nice combo of their earlier melodic material mixed wih some harsher vocals in places and some really good speed. I think having Alex Skolnik (sp?) back makes a big difference too.

Now for something more superficial. Anyone else notice how big Chuck Billy has gotten? He's always been a tall drink o' water, but I saw a recent interview and he's really packed on some pounds.

He is known as the man mountain.

Big dood.

yeah, the guys pretty huge like. wouldn't like to take a punch in the face from the guy lol

INVADERS wrote:

yeah, the guys pretty huge like. wouldn't like to take a punch in the face from the guy lol

There aren't many people I would like to take a punch in the face from and certainly Chuck isn't one of them.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I'm really liking the new one. Testament kinda lost me for a few years (Low thru The Gathering era), but this seems to be a nice combo of their earlier melodic material mixed wih some harsher vocals in places and some really good speed. I think having Alex Skolnik (sp?) back makes a big difference too.

Now for something more superficial. Anyone else notice how big Chuck Billy has gotten? He's always been a tall drink o' water, but I saw a recent interview and he's really packed on some pounds.

I definatly noticed that. He looks like he could eat me alive.

DallasBlack wrote:

Todd Jaymz wrote:

Two thumbs up from me! Like the fact there are much less really low end vocals on this one. I do like all vocal styles but it was cool to see Chuck doing more mid era Testament vocals.-TJ

I'ts a shame he can't do any higher vocals like in the earlier albums, but as I read in an interview with him, he lost that range years ago.

Didn't Chuck have some throat issues a few years back? Cancer or something? Or am I thinking of Blitz from Overkill?

Chuck had cancer near his heart, Blitz had a stroke.

spectrefate wrote:

Chuck had cancer near his heart, Blitz had a stroke.

Ok, so I was in the right ball park, just in the wrong cheering section. Wow, a stroke for Blitz! And he still performs! Good for him. I thought strokes really mess up speech patterns. I guess they effect everyone differently.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I'm really liking the new one. Testament kinda lost me for a few years (Low thru The Gathering era), but this seems to be a nice combo of their earlier melodic material mixed wih some harsher vocals in places and some really good speed. I think having Alex Skolnik (sp?) back makes a big difference too.

Now for something more superficial. Anyone else notice how big Chuck Billy has gotten? He's always been a tall drink o' water, but I saw a recent interview and he's really packed on some pounds.

He's native Amercian. Or partly anyway. The older a native American gets, the larger they get. Typically at least. I'm sure the cancer he battled didn't help either....

I'm really enjoying the heck outta this one. There is something so familiar-sounding about this, yet it doesn't sound dated or old. It's nice that they kinda went back to their roots on this one instead of trying to re-invent the wheel. They know what they do and they do it well.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Wow, a stroke for Blitz! And he still performs! Good for him. I thought strokes really mess up speech patterns. I guess they effect everyone differently.

I read an interview with Blitz a while back where he talked about his stroke -- he sez he has no major side effects, just "that occasionally I p*ss my pants and forget who I am, but at least now I have an excuse." Haha.

Seriously tho, Blitz is a very lucky man. Not only did he have a stroke (while onstage!) and come out of it OK, but he's also survived a battle with cancer, as did Chuck Billy. If they ever elect a Cal Ripken Jr. style "Ironman" of the heavy metal world, I nominate Blitz.

Got mine at Hot Topic. Go figure?!