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Mosh: The album ' s title track is one of the most aggressive opening tunes on any previous Testament releases. Was this the clear cut choice for the opener? Chuck Billy: That was one of the first ones we had written complete, and it kind of set the pace. We had it done a while ago and we did a lyric video for it. That one has a little bit of everything of what we’ re doing on the new record. It’ s thrashing hard, it has some grooves, melody. It has a little bit of everything.
Mosh:“ Seven Seals” absolutely slays and shows your diversity by possessing many different elements. What’ s the track about and what were you going for? Chuck Billy: That was one of the last songs that was written. I only actually heard that song after a couple of weeks in the studio. Eric had an extra song and I hadn’ t heard it yet. That was at the last minute that we would write it, and I had the story of the book of Revelation and the Seven Seals and I thought that would be a good topic to cover. In the studio after they tracked it, I went home and sat down on the couch and wrote it out one night and came back the next day and recorded it. And it came out killer. The pressure was on and it had to get done. It’ s just one of those songs that just happened.
Mosh: If you had to pick one track that best exemplifies what the whole album signifies, which one would it be? Chuck Billy: The one that pops out is“ Pale King.” That’ s probably the one that’ s a band favorite and it’ ll definitely be one of the live songs chosen.
Mosh: Reflecting back on your career, what were the early days like for Testament? Chuck Billy: It was exciting. But we didn’ t know that it [ would be a big scene ], we just assumed that it was like that everywhere. And you’ re living in your scene, where the Bay Area was, and we were fortunate to have enough venues around where you could see music all the time, every night of the week. Looking back on it, it was great seeing how tight the community was and how supportive the fan base was there for that style of music.
MOSH-WORTHY: Devil Gone Public Smokehound( Independent), Kyng Breathe In The Water( Razor & Tie), Running Wild Rapid Foray( Steamhammer / SPV).
MOSH-WORTHY … LIVE: Megadeth, Amon Amarth, Suicidal Tendencies, Metal Church( Sears Center 10 / 05), Opeth, The Sword( Riviera Theater, 10 / 09), Skeletonwitch, Iron Reagan, Oathbreaker, Homewrecker( Subterranean, 10 / 22).
MENTION-WORTHY: Dutch progressive metal band Cirrha Niva have released its fourth full-length album, Out Of The Freakshow. On eight pulsating tracks the band combines’ 70s rock with modern prog influences and takes it to new levels. Denmark melodic / groove / death metalers Prevail will release their debut full-length album, War Will Reign on Oct. 17. The tracks are done in an old school,’ 90s death metal way with a fresh, melodic approach.
PERFORMING THE MUSIC OF: JOURNEY, BOSTON, STYX, VAN HALEN, BON JOVI, DEF LEPPARD, AEROSMITH AND MORE...
" Voted Best Classic Rock Band In A Local Reader ' s Poll- 4 years in row "
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46 illinoisentertainer. com october 2016