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Demonic

Testament - Demonic Audio CD

A fair review of the Testament "Demonic" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Testament reviews here, or go back to the Testament tabs.

Band: Testament
Title: Demonic
Rating:

Release Date: 1999-05-18
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Demonic Refusal 2: Burning Times 3: Together as One 4: Jun-Jun 5: John Doe 6: Murky Waters 7: Hatreds Rise 8: Distorted Lives 9: New Eyes of Old 10: Ten Thousand Thrones 11: Nostrovia

Great Album
who knew this guy could pull the grizzly bear growl off so ferociously. This is what happens when an excellent thrash metal band decides to put out an excellent death metal cd. this is a great testament album, partially because it is so much different from all their other ones, and partially because they make such an exquisite death metal sound. some might see the cd as lacking in solo-age, but songs like jun-jun have some nice little solo riffs in them. get this cd and just kill every fluffy little bunny you see from this point on. just because.

Testament Goes Death/Thrash, and theres nothing wrong with that, it's just...
I also love testament because of Chuck Billy's cruficying voice. They are better off as JUST Thrash Metal, which is why I love them so much. He has one hell of a MEAN organ on him. The thing with this album is that in some ways it sounds like Slipknot with a Death Metal vocalist. In other words - Poor attempt at Death Metal.

I am appreciative of what this is, but its just NOT testament to me. I guess in a way, it's more like groove metal with Death influences because as I said before, it's a poor attempt at Death Metal, and I hate the fact that it is that way. This album would be real kickass if it was done by a different band, and by a band that was meant to be Death Metal. But Testament?? WHYYYYYY??????

If you guys understand what I am saying is that this is a Thrash Metal band becoming something they aren't. In a way, they have a very NU-METAL sound in the vein of Slipknot, but with a mix of a less aggressive version of Cannibal Corpse. SORRY testament. Stick to Thrash Metal PLEASE! This really hurts, but Chuck Billy has a good voice for Death Metal vocals, I will say that. .

A very underrated album...

As for the production, it is good, John could be heard a bit more, but it fits the album well. Yep, I said it, I think this album is very underrated, Chuck Billy proves on this album, how diverse he is, going from the great vocals on the old albums, do Death Metal vocals (mostly) on this one, and he does a great job, you can actually understand what he says, unlike most newer DM bands (Not saying that Testament is new DM, just meaning most DM bands today, aside from Suffocation and Nile), but his DM vocals are kind of like old school DM vocals, he does use his older voice at times on this album, and it blends very well when he does it, great variety, as for the music, while not being the fastest album, the riffs kill, and are catchy, and Gene "The Machine" Hoglan is a great drummer we all know, the album is mostly mid-paced, does pick up speed in some spots though.

And for all you old Testament fans, I can see why you're dissapointed in a way, but I think it adds a variety when a band tries something new, and Testament did, and did it well, as they further proved on The Gathering.

Demonic Refusal 5/6, Very chunky riffage, and heavy, the intro "10. . . 9. . . 8. . . 7. . . 6. . . 6. . . 6. . . " then it blasts you with all out heaviness

The Burning Times 5/5, Another cool song, has a wicked cool chorus and creepy guitar riff

Together As One 5/5, Chuck blends the DM growl with the old style here, fits very well

Jun-Jun 5/5, Weird song name, but it's actually one of Eric Petersons nicknames, not much to say about it, it just kicks A$$

John Doe 5/5, KILLER SONG, killer riffs, again, Chuck blends the vocals here

Murky Waters 5/5, When you hear that water sound, wait till after, REALLY heavy, cool riffs being thrown around, a bit faster too, another one with blended vocal styles

Hatred's Arise 5/5, Starts out with a wicked cool riff, then another cool set of riffs, this one has all old school vocals in it, old Testament fans should love, like me, and YES it has a solo!, that is something that the album lacks a bit of, then moves into a sludgy riff/outro

Distorted Lives 5/5, Opens with yet another cool riff, Chuck starts growling, wait till you hear that riff that comes in with 2:18 in and ends at 2:00. . . HEAVY, then moves into a catchy slower riff, very cool

New Eyes of Old 5/5, The only song on the album that Peterson wrote some lyrics to, Another cool opening riff, gets wicked heavy, and a cool chorus

Ten Thousand Thrones 5/5, A nice melodic intro, works it's away into the song, then Gene starts hammering, very DMish on this one, cool break

Nostrovia 5/4, More like a short instrumental/outro, does have vocals though

Well, there it is, and I think it's very underrated, it's chunky, heavy, and Chuck experiments on it, and does a very good job with the Dm styled vocals, but like I said, he still uses some old styled vocals too, very cool effect, I did mention the lack of solos on this, but still a great album, and no Testament is not a christian band either for those who think that because of the name, if that was the thought, I guess the great Exodus would be christian too, so don't think that, if you're a Metal fan, check this out, if you're a fan of old Testament with an openmind, get it, I'm sure you'll like it.

Chuck Billy Makes Chris Barnes and Glenn Benton look small
Chuck Billy has one of the biggest badest Roars you will ever hear. Even though this isn't my "favorite" Testament album it is definately one of the "HEAVIEST" slabs of metal (Death Metal) i have ever heard. Not only because he's like 6. 4 and a huge MF, but also because he sings straight from the gut, NOT from the throat as with most DM vocalist's. Compared to Cannibal Corpse and Deicide he makes those boys sound like Mr. Rogers and Elmo. This album is not about "speed" although there are a few speedy moments here and there. Its just pure heavy in your face chunky as hell, balls metal. Demonic Refusal the title track stands out as the most memorable(and Gene Hoglans drumming kills),also John Doe, Burning Times, 10,000 Thrones, and Murky Waters. But as a whole this album just pounds. Buy it and prepare to hear Satan himself belching through your speakers with his mighty band from hell.

Their Worst, but still pretty good
If you asked me to pinpoint a reason why this is my least favorite Testament album, I don't have one. Ok, this really only gets three stars due to pesonal preference. The musicianship is solid, the songwriting is pretty decent, and Chuck Billy excellent as usual. The only specific complaint I can come up with is that Eric Peterson is not a good enough lead guitar player to stand on his own. But there is still some decent soloing here and there. Anyway, this is all and all a solid album with some face melting vox from Chuck Billy, some superb (though usually overshadowed by the crushing guitars) drumming from Gene Hoglan (what else would you expect from him?), and like I just implied, Eric Peterson's riffs are crushing. Strangely enough, Testament continue to drift in the opposite direction of most of their peers, getting heavier, less compromising, and less radio frinedly. Even 1994's Low is a lightweight album compared to this. In fact, like a lot of other people have already said, this is really a death metal album. It's almost like they had Trey Azagtoth and Allan West write the songs and then just edited them and played them the the way Testament plays. Which I think is why it took so long for me to get into this album at all. When the bleakest album you've ever heard by another band is Pantera's Live 101 Proof, you are not ready for Demonic. Its a decent album, but unless you enjoy a bands like Morbid Angel you should leave this one on the shelf because this album is straight up Death Metal from start to finish. .

You can see a complete list of all Testament discography, or go back to the Testament tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.