Leather never goes out of style — pioneering metal band Testament is still thrashing after all these years

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Testament with Unearth & Lazarus A.D.
MacEwan Ballroom
Wednesday, May 6 - Wednesday, May 6

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Last April, thrash-metal godfathers Testament rose from the tomb to record their first studio album in nine years. That album, The Formation of Damnation, was incredibly well received and marked the return of some of the San Francisco Bay Area band’s key players. Joe Satriani-trained guitarist Alex Skolnick (Trans-Siberian Orchestra), who departed after 1992’s The Ritual, returned to the fray, as did bassist Greg Christian, who hadn’t recorded with the band since 2004’s Low. Once again ready for action, the Californian quintet, including lead vocalist Chuck Billy and drummer Paul Bostaph (Slayer, Exodus), quickly acclimated to the hardcore festival circuit and embarked on a bevy of international tour dates with contemporaries such as Judas Priest, Motorhead and Megadeth.

“We just got back from doing the Priest Feast tour in Europe, and it was great,” says founding member and rhythm guitarist Eric Peterson. “It’s been a long time since we played big arenas night after night — we’re usually playing festivals. The level of organization was really cool, and Megadeth was fun to hang out with again. We’ve had an enormous response to our ‘best of’ set, but we’re also excited about pulling out some new stuff that we’ve never played before. “

Peterson and company are more than happy to capitalize on heavy metal nostalgia. Having laboured in the trenches since their 1983 inception, the band, originally known as The Legacy, continues to thrill audiences with their speed and aggression — not to mention their tight jeans and cascading hairdos. Still, according to “Dragonlord” Peterson, the true secret to Testament’s longevity lies not in their pants but in their minds.

“Eight or nine years is a long time to go between albums,” he says. “I wouldn’t say our new album, The Formation of Damnation, was a return to form, but the songs definitely represent a rejuvenation. I knew we’d eventually come around to making another album. I have so many good ideas in my head and I’m longing to get them done.”

“The reunion went really well,” Peterson continues. “I showed my ideas to people in the band and we went from there. Our songs are still about being young at heart and loving music, except now we’ve evolved and know how to play it so much better. Every now and then we bust out a surprise show where we give the audience the option to hear material from our first two albums, only then we measure the volume of their screams to decide.”

This penchant for pleasing their fanbase has overflowed into other enterprises, thanks to a collaboration with guitar manufacturer DEAN, which is producing a signature Eric Peterson USA Custom MS V guitar for public consumption. Boasting the classic Flying V shape, Peterson’s jet-black model hearkens back to the days when the gods of metal roamed the Earth and boogie vans rolled like thunder. Having witnessed the evolution of the music style they helped to define, Testament has surrendered the struggle to remain “relevant,” opting instead to focus on what they’ve always done best: pummelling eardrums with pure sonic fury.

“As a rhythm guitarist, I’ve been influenced so much by the different styles played by drummers I’ve jammed and toured with over the years,” Peterson explains. “I think very percussively — I always seem to hear the drums more than I hear guitars. Alex and Greggie show the more modern and melodic side of Testament, but I’m always looking for new ways to keep it heavy.”

According to Peterson, the biggest changes to Testament’s sound have come not as a result of their rotating roster of players, but rather the “youthful vigour” with which they deliver the goods. With Peterson and Billy firmly ensconced behind the studio’s production board, it can safely be assumed that they will continue to deliver the “fistful of energy” that made such an impression on their early releases, taking inspiration from anywhere and everywhere they can find it.

“We’re into all kinds of stuff,” says Peterson. “Movies, books, art — we make up our own soundtracks. Believe it or not, I’m actually a big Twilight fan. I’m on the third book already. I like a good vampire story; I think they did a clever job of framing the novel and with the casting. I’m a romantic and a big fan of Anne Rice, as well. I’d seriously love it if they’d use one of our songs on the soundtrack to the next film. Maybe we’ll even write one for them. Actually, I was hoping they’d use our song ‘More Than Meets the Eye’ for the Transformers movie. Not that I’m looking for more projects right now — Testament’s schedule is pretty brutal. You know what they say: life is hard, but Testament is harder.”