Simon RushworthTestament — Para Bellum (Nuclear Blast)
Can it really be more than five years since the bone crunching epic that is Titans Of Creation was revealed as Rushonrock’s undisputed Record Of The Week?
Back then Covid was brand new. The world was upended. The future looked disturbingly bleak.
But Testament dropped a reassuring reminder that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
The band’s bristling 2020 statement of intent served notice that not even a global pandemic could keep The Big Four’s bastard sons down.
Five years on and the pulsating Para Bellum — Prepare For War — is another punishing example of (occasionally blackened) thrash metal at its brutal best.
Chuck Billy and founding guitarist Eric Peterson know their way around a concept-driven classic and Testament’s latest offering provides sobering commentary on the seemingly unstoppable rise of smart technology.
Foreboding messaging is welded to razor-sharp riffs and neck-breaking beats to create a vibe that’s as vivid as it’s ominous.
Oh, and there’s even a ballad.
Billy switches seamlessly from grizzled shouts and growls to sweet melody: his is a masterclass in what’s required to keep thrash relevant.
At one point Para Bellum resurrects a lost bridge from 1987’s legendary debut The Legacy — as a nod to this band’s storied history, it’s perfect.
But don’t believe for one minute that Billy’s boys need to trade on their glorious past to justify the present. Far from it.
It’s a Testament to the Bay Area warriors that Para Bellum packs a thunderous punch in its own riotous right.
Form is temporary but class is permanent. And this is a classy set of thought-provoking modern metal.
Para Bellum is Meant To Be
Did we mention there was a ballad?
They don’t come around too often in the uncompromising world of Testament.
But Meant To Be is magnificent in both its scope and content: clocking in at more than seven-and-a-half minutes it’s a tour de force and a must-repeat.
So what else doe Para Bellum have to offer?
Plenty. Including a brief tribute to Thin Lizzy on The Nature Of The Beast, the best song Megadeth never recorded in the shape of Shadow People and the seriously disturbing Room 117 (check it out if you’re in need of a sleepless night anytime soon).
Peterson and Alex Skolnick prove 12 strings are better than six as two of the most respected riff lords on the planet trade customary blows.
It’s like bagging a front row seat at metal’s equivalent of a perfectly matched, high stakes Vegas bout to determine the genre’s heavyweight champion of the world.
Spoiler alert: it’s a split decision with both men bringing their A game to Para Bellum.
The standout?
How about Havana Syndrome? It’s heavy as fuck, fast-paced and a magical mix of trad and thrash that transcends eras.
Para Bellum’s title track and set closer sees a furious Billy pose the question ‘What are you fighting for?’.
Testament’s legacy? The future of thrash metal? Both and more.
If this is how Billy and co. prepare for war then the battle’s already won.
