Chuck Billy, vocalist of legendary bay area thrash metal giants TESTAMENT, recently sat down with WeedmapsTV / Marijuana.com for an exclusive interview. In it the two discuss the evolution of the marijuana industry, a subject the band touches on in a new song off their forthcoming record, Brotherhood Of The Snake. Check out the interview and a preview of the track “Canna-Business” here.
TESTAMENT will release their 12th album, Brotherhood Of The Snake on October 28th, 2016 via Nuclear Blast.
Pre-order Brotherhood Of The Snake:
Nuclear Blast UK store: Splatter, Brown & Silver Vinyl + Box Set (Limited Edition Mail Order Box Set inc 5 brown vinyl 7″ , 7″ album booklet,CD, poster flag (100 cm x 150 cm), metal pin) here.
Amazon.co.uk: Limited Digibook CD, CD, Vinyl here.
Alternatively, pre-order the digital album here.
Brotherhood Of The Snake track list:
01. Brotherhood Of The Snake
02. The Pale King
03. Stronghold
04. Seven Seals
05. Born In A Rut
06. Centuries Of Suffering
07. Neptune’s Spear
08. Black Jack
09. Canna Business
10. The Number Game
‘Brotherhood Of The Snake’ was recorded under the watchful eyes of producer Juan Urteaga (EXODUS, HEATHEN, MACHINE HEAD), guitarist Eric Peterson and singer Chuck Billy and was mixed and mastered by well-known metal producer Andy Sneap (ACCEPT, ARCH ENEMY, CRADLE OF FILTH, KREATOR, MACHINE HEAD, MEGADETH). Artwork was created by renowned artist Eliran Kantor (HATEBREED, SOULFLY, KATAKLYSM), whom the band worked with for The Dark Roots Of Earth.
Commented Peterson in an interview with Metal Maniac: “It’s very diverse, but it’s very epic. There’s nothing on there that breeds commercial. And I think for thirty years of recording music and trying different formulas and stuff, I think we’ve found a formula that is very metal. I think for the metal fan that is looking for something for the nook and crannies… not just your normal, ‘Oh, it’s got a thrash beat and a riff.’ There’s a lot going on here.”
The songwriter also told Metal Forces in another interview: “It’s different. This one is more thrash. I mean, this has got some of the fastest stuff that we have ever played. Usually, we have one or two thrash songs, and then we have some mid-tempo, and then we have a slow, heavy one, and then up-tempo kind of stuff. Half of the new record is thrash, which we’ve never done before.”
He continued: “It’s kind of like ‘Demonic’ and ‘The Gathering’, but a little bit wiser, I think. Chuck’s not singing so death. I mean, he does some death stuff but he’s singing more like he did on the last record and then with the craziness of ‘The Gathering’ or even heavy stuff like ‘Demonic’.”
Testament are planning to celebrate the release of Brotherhood Of The Snake on their upcoming UK/Ireland tour with Amon Amarth and Grand Magus this autumn.
Tour dates are as follows:
(w. Amon Amarth & Grand Magus)
31st October @ Manchester, Academy
1st November @ Glasgow, O2 ABC
2nd November – Dublin, Vicar Street
4th November – London, Roundhouse
5th November – Birmingham, O2 Academy
Tickets for Dublin’s Vicar Street show are available now via Ticketmaster / Sound Cellar. Please check with DME Promotions for all the latest.
Oran O’Beirne
© OVERDRIVE 2016
