TESTAMENT - Para Bellum

(Out now via Nuclear Blast Records) After four decades, Testament have no business sounding this pissed off, but Para Bellum proves they’ve still got plenty of fight left in them. Para Bellum doesn’t sound like a bunch of veterans trying to relive the past, it sounds like a band that still has something to prove, and they’re doing it by blowing ears clean off.

“For The Love of Pain” kicks things off with a wall of riffs and @chuckfcknbilly roaring like he’s got a score to settle. @ericpetersonofficial and @alexskolnick are in killer form here, the solos, the harmonies, the classic thrash drive.. it’s all there, but with a darker edge this time. @chrisdovas on drums adds insane precision and power, while @sdglowend bass lines rumble through absolutely everything.

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There’s plenty of variety here, “Infanticide A.I.” & “Shadow People” bring a bit of blackened venom, while “Meant To Be” slows things down and hits surprisingly hard for a Testament ballad. It’s one of those rare records that actually sounds hungry, not nostalgic.

Para Bellum is pure fucking dominance & we are more than happy to sit tight and mosh with the thrash lords. Testament are actual swinging harder than most bands half their age, and this album is the proof in the heavy metal pudding that true thrash will never fuckin’ die 👊🏽

-FuegoCasa