Thrashcast Episode 12: Testament's "The Gathering" from 1999
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Thrashcast is the place to find riveting discussions on classic thrash albums, news and reviews. Your hosts are three thrash loving maniacs who grew up during the golden age of the genre. Kenneth, Billy and Jim will get together weekly to bring you a deep dive on some of your favourite thrash records.
Show Notes:
Episode Twelve: Testament The Gathering (1999). This Is the eighth studio release from American thrash act Testament. The band, hailing from Oakland, California is spawned from the Bay area that brought you bands like Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer. Although not originally considered a part of the big 4, Testament should be just based on the group's high energy, powerful riffing, and the unmistakable voice of Chuck Billy.
The Gathering was released June 8, 1999 on Spitfire Records. This album was co-produced by Chuck Billy and Alex Peterson and also featured former Slayer Drummer Dave Lombardo and Steve DiGiorgio on bass guitar. The lead guitar work was handled by James Murphy (Death, Obituary) who also helped produce and mix this release. The great Andy Sneap was also brought in to help produce and mix the album.
Many of the songs leaned heavily into death metal, but it also brought back the group's traditional thrash-oriented sound. Most people feel this is the band's comeback record that would set-up the strong work continuing in the late 2000's and beyond. At the end of the touring cycle for the Gathering, Chuck Billy was diagnosed with cancer, thus causing the band to stall for a handful of years while Chuck fought his illness. Chuck fully recovered and the band returned with another stellar release with The Formation of Damnation in 2008.
Fun Fact: The album cover art work was once again done by the great Dave McKean, who previously contributed covers to Low and Demonic. Dave was also synonymous with DC Comic's The Sandman and Black Orchid.
Kenneth Gallant, HMS
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