The Formation of Damnation by Testament
Reviewed by Chris Akin of www.pitriff.com

Big thanks to Chris for being so cool with letting us use his review! If you want more great reviews and the latest metal news, go bookmark his site, www.pitriff.com.

Here's a bold statement that feels more true than ever before. Of all the bands out there - Exodus, Anthrax, Death Angel, even Metallica or Megadeth, the most consistent, best thrash band of all time is Testament. Throught their history, nothing has been able to truly derail them. Not member changes. Not changes in musical trends. Not even style experiments over the course of their career. As THE FORMATION OF DAMNATION proves, not even extrended time away or even health scares have been able to throw this band for a loop. Testament is a machine, and they are as good or better now than they were when they first broke out.

It's nearly impossible to believe that this album won't be album of the year on most metal journalists polls when 2008 is said and done. Testament pick right up where they left off in 1999 with THE GATHERING, and don't misstep after almost a decade away. THE FORMATION OF DAMNATION is classic Testament - roaring riffs, speed, power and the gruff realization that the world is a bad place when vocalist Chuck Billy tells it's story. Songs like the fast, furious track "The Persecuted Won't Forget" are proof positive that this band is hitting on all cylinders. Chuck Billy is back in classic form after his boughts with cancer. He yells and screams out as he always has in the past, only occasionally venturing into the deeper, death metal growling that surfaced on LOW and dominated DEMONIC. Billy sounds great on THE FORMATION OF DAMNATION, but really is only one part of the equation.

The reality of the situation is that THE FORMATION OF DAMNATION is powered by the musicians on the record. It's clear they have forgotten nothing about what it takes to make a Testament record great. Guitarists Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick are back and as brutal as they ever were. Songs like "Killing Season" find the guitarists in top form; creating the same tone and sound that dominated albums like SOULS OF BLACK and THE NEW ORDER. While it's not surprising that Peterson still has the metal mojo, Skolnick was a bit surprising considering his last few years have been filled with his Jazz trio and playing Christmas music with Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It hasn't taken anything away. They are complimented by bassist Greg Christian and former Slayer drummer Paul Bostaph. Obviously, there's no dropoff in skill, power or prowess when the bottom end is created by these two. From start to finish, THE FORMATION OF DAMNATION is an album that needs to be heard.

PITRIFF RATING - 10/10 - Metallica needs to listen to this album and take their cues from it with their next release. This is how you make a comeback. THE FORMATION OF DAMNATION is a powerful release that showcases a band that has always known their sound and never delivered anything less than it. Classic, as always.

If you haven't already, check out Late Nite Sinner's Testament coverage.

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