Music Journalist & Editor of Rockum
Ha llegado el momento de que TESTAMENT desate nuevos truenos a las masas y revele su decimotercer lbum de estudio: TITANS OF CREATION.
As como los elementos de este planeta prosperan dentro de todas las criaturas vivientes, cada msico en TESTAMENT representa un componente necesario de este ltimo esfuerzo musical. An lleno de una energa masiva e imparable desde su ltimo lanzamiento, TESTAMENT ha llevado su estilo al siguiente nivel y presenta un lbum que es fiel a las races del thrash metal tradicional y al mismo tiempo trae ingredientes atractivos, brillantes y progresivos a la mesa. Se exhibe el bajo, se introducen nuevas voces y, como se esperaba, el trabajo de guitarra de Peterson y Skolnick es muy complejo y fascinante.
TITANS OF CREATION tiene muchos estados de nimo y contenido; todo lo cual de alguna manera se vincula con una filosofa comn de creacin y su contraparte necesaria: la destruccin.
"CHILDREN OF THE NEXT LEVEL" se abre paso a travs de las puertas como la cancin de apertura con una avalancha de sonido que prepara al oyente para una gran cantidad de violentos golpes.
Mientras tanto, las letras hablan de las escandalosas filosofas del culto Heavens Gate (fundada en 1974).
Canciones como "DREAM DECEIVER" llevan ms sonido de la vieja escuela que har cosquillas en los sentidos de cualquier fantico comn de TESTAMENT. La letra describe estar atrapada en un sueo por una fuerza femenina de otro mundo que trabaja lentamente para degradar la mente. Los sueos son parte de la existencia, pero cuando estamos dormidos somos completamente vulnerables; Uno de los muchos misterios de ser humano.
"Alguien te persigue y no te deja en paz; la nica vez que te molestan es en la noche cuando pueden controlar la forma en que duermes ", describe el vocalista Chuck Billy.
"NIGHT OF THE WITCH" presenta voces aterradoras y cautivadoras de Eric Peterson. Llevando una vibra mucho ms parecida al Black Metal, Peterson se precipita con un poder que combina perfectamente con los gruidos guturales y temblorosos de Billy. Tomando algo de influencia de la obra maestra de terror de 2015 de Robert Egger "THE VVITCH: A NEW ENGLAND FOLKTALE", la cancin lleva consigo una cualidad mgica que refleja directamente el estado de nimo de la pelcula.
Al final de la pista, un Theremn alla por el aire como brujas elevndose hacia la luna; estableciendo el tono final. "El lbum tiene muchas cosas nuevas para el odo", explica Peterson.
Escrito por el guitarrista Alex Skolnick, "SYMPTOMS" est repleto de detalles en la guitarra que representan el complicado y fascinante viaje que conlleva el manejo de la depresin, los cambios de humor y una innumerable lista de frustraciones para la salud mental.
La letra de esta cancin discute una triste verdad: que la enfermedad mental es ms comn de lo que todos pensamos, y que muchos de nosotros estamos dispuestos a reconocer.
En una nota ms ligera, una cancin vibrante titulada "THE HEALERS" oscila entre las olas de la muerte y el thrash, pesado y meldico, claro y oscuro. Las palabras son espirituales y extremadamente personales. Describen la propia experiencia de Billy al tratar con todos los curanderos naturales; los ancianos de la tierra y cmo lograron ayudarlo a identificar y sanar su enfermedad pasada. "CITY OF ANGELS" viene con un sonido completamente nuevo para TESTAMENT.
El artista Eliran Kantor se intensific una vez ms para crear una nueva obra de arte para la portada de este lanzamiento. Su estilo de pintura clsico, casi renacentista, combina maravillosamente con el tema antiguo, psicolgico e ilustrado de las canciones.
Tres monstruosos titanes se encuentran en el lugar donde se forman los planetas. Uno vierte lquido que los otros martillan en el ADN humano, retorcindose y convirtindose en el anillo de un planeta recin nacido. Cada titn tiene la llama de una estrella moribunda que arde en su pecho; El origen de los tomos que forman los cuerpos que estn burbujeando e hirviendo en las curvas de la hlice en espiral.
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The time has arrived for TESTAMENT to unleash new thunder to the masses and reveal their thirteenth studio album: Titans OF Creation. Just as the elements of this planet thrive within all living creatures, each musician in TESTAMENT represents a necessary component of this latest musical endeavour. Still filled with a massive and unstoppable energy since their last release, TESTAMENT has taken their style to the next level and present an album that is loyal to the roots of traditional thrash metal while still bringing alluring, brilliant, and progressive ingredients to the table. Bass is showcased, new vocals are introduced, and as expected, the guitarwork of Peterson and Skolnick is greatly complex and mesmerizing.
Eliran Kantor stepped up once again to create a new piece of artwork for the cover of this release. His classic, almost Renaissance style of painting melds beautifully with the ancient, psychological, and enlightened subject matter of the songs. Three monstrous titans stand in the place where the planets are formed. One pours molding liquid which the others hammer into human DNA, twisting and turning into the ring of a newborn planet. Each titan has the flame of a dying star burning in their chest; the origin of the atoms making up the bodies that are bubbling and boiling on the curves of the spiraling helix.
Titans OF Creation has many moods and material contained within; all of which somehow tie into a common philosophy of creation and its necessary counterpart: destruction. Children Of The Next Level smashes through the gates as the opening track with a flood of sound that prepares the listener for an abundance of violent thrash. Meanwhile, the lyrics rage about the outrageous philosophies of the Heavens Gate cult (founded in 1974).
Songs like Dream Deceiver carry more old school sound that will tickle the senses of any common TESTAMENT fan. The lyrics describe being trapped in a dream by an otherworldly female force who is slowly working to degrade the mind. Dreams are part of existence, but when we are asleep we are entirely vulnerable; one of the many mysteries of being human. Someones haunting you and wont leave you alone; the only time they pick at you is at night when they can control the way you sleep, describes vocalist Chuck Billy.
Night of the Witch features frightening and captivating vocals from Eric Peterson. Carrying a vibe far more akin to Black Metal, Peterson swoops in with a power that melds perfectly with Billys ground shaking, guttural growls. Taking some influence from Robert Eggers 2015 horror masterpiece The VVitch: A New England Folktale, the song carries with it a magical quality that directly reflects the mood of the film. At the very end of the track, a theremin howls through the air much like witches rising towards the moon; setting the final tone. The album has a lot about it thats fresh to the ear, explains Peterson.
Written by guitarist Alex Skolnick, Symptoms is filled with detailed with intricate guitar work that well represents the complicated and spellbinding journey that comes along with handling depression, mood swings, and a countless list of mental health frustrations. The lyrics in this song discuss a sad truth: that mental illness is more common than we all think, and than many of us are willing to acknowledge. On a lighter note, a vibrant track entitled The Healers swings back and forth between waves of death and thrash, heavy and melodic, light and dark. The words are spiritual, and extremely personal. They describe Billys own experience dealing with all natural medicine men; the elders of the earth, and how they managed to help him pinpoint and heal his past illness. City Of Angels comes bearing an entirely new sound for TESTAMENT. The creeping sludgieness and slow, stalking tempo, walk hand in hand with the almost unbelievably gruesome tale of the Nightstalker Richard Ramierz, all combining to form another stand-out track on the record.
In 2020 the days of writing an album all together in one room are far gone, but to be able to take advantage of technology allows for TESTAMENT to go about a very similar writing process to what they always have. Basic songs are molded, structures are added by everyone in the group, instrumentals are highlighted, and finally the lyrics and vocals are created to finalize the sonic story. Facetime and human on human contact still remain crucial elements to TESTAMENTs song writing process and at some point throughout, every member physically interacts and writes with one another. In between writing this album, the band toured relentlessly which allowed for less stress, more time in between, and greater inspiration for this album cycle. There was also plenty of anxiety-free and level-headed time for pre-production and the initial recording process with Juan Urteaga of Trident Studios. Andy Sneap was then able to tweak, mix, and master this album to his usual perfection.
TESTAMENTs process of creation has evolved and progressed yet theyve remained steadfast over the course of literal decades. While always managing to present the genuine aspects of thrash metal that solidify their existence, they spread into unique horizons through developing crisp and fascinating sounds.
Children Of The Next Level
WW III
Dream Deceiver
Night Of The Witch
City Of Angels
Ishtars Gate
Symptoms
False Prophet
The Healers
Code Of Hammurabi
Curse Of Osiris
Catacombs
Chuck Billy | vocals
Eric Peterson | guitars
Alex Skolnick | guitars
Steve DiGiorgio | bass
Gene Hoglan | drums
Genre: Thrash Metal
Length: 58:34
Format: Digital
Producer: N/A
Barcode ID: N/A
Production: N/A
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Country: USA
Released Date: April 3rd, 2020
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