Stooge
I like this album as it gives a glimpse of a non-studio album lineup of Testament. Joining familiar faces Chuck Billy, Eric Peterson, and Greg Christian is lead guitarist James Murphy and drummer John Dette (replacing Low drummer John Tempesta). I always liked Murphy’s lead tone and style, so it’s nice to hear it in the context of Testament classics.
Considering this live album was recorded for the Low tour, you get a good amount of those songs, but I like the fact that some of their more obscure songs like “A Dirge” and “Apocalyptic City” make the set list, so this isn’t just a “best-of” concert. The final three tracks are all “unplugged” tracks to cover some of their ballads. Some of the lead guitar is done on electric guitar, and Star Nayea accompanies Chuck Billy on vocals. I really like how those songs turned out, as they are a warm contrast to the otherwise thrash-fest. In fact, I think I like this version of “The Legacy” better than the version on Souls of Black.
It may be a bit rough around the edges in terms of overall sound quality, but I am still often content just to listen to this concert when I get the urge to hear some Testament. Some may prefer to hear their “classic” lineup in concert, but it doesn’t bother me. Live at the Fillmore is an excellent live metal release. It gives an interesting sampling of the band’s material, and should please most thrash metal fans.