Several years have gone by, and Testament have returned to us on a much smaller label, Burnt Offerings. Indeed one might say Testament have been reborn in a new incarnation; the difference between 80's testament and this album is difficult to believe, though in retrospect one can see signs of the transition in Low. The introduction bears some resemblance to the sound of White Zombie, who are in fact one of the bands in the "thank you" credits together with the likes of Slayer and Pantera. However, this introduction is brutally ruptured by an incredibly big, heavy sound that approaches Death Metal in its irresistable brutality.
The new testament is incredibly heavy, incorporating the crunching palm-muted riffs and lashing drums of pantera-style Power Metal with Chuck Billy's vocals tuned down to a raucous quasi Cannibal Corpse quality! This new vocal style is harmoniously blended with Billy's gritty yet melodious vocalization as witnessed on Low. All of these changes are integrated into the unique edgy "Testament" sound with its characteristic sharp "squeaky" guitar leads and captivating rhythms.
Overall this album has a very consistent quality derived no doubt from the relentless driving rhythm section. Nevertheless the variety in the riffs and melodies of each song prevents this regularity from becoming tiresome. Overall, Demonic is an album of unmatched quality and a "must" for anyone who enjoys fast, heavy, uncompromising, intense music.
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