TESTAMENT — Brotherhood of the Snake (review)

TESTAMENT — Brotherhood of the Snake album cover

Album · 2016 · Thrash Metal

2.5/5 · 2017-07-31
siLLy puPPy

The Berkeley based TESTAMENT has been a staple in the thrash metal world for more than three decades at this point pumping out an erratic output with their most productive decade having been in the 90s. Deemed as one of the keepers of the old guard of the thrash metal scene that began in the 80s and gently crept into the following decades, the band has had a scant offering in the 21st century. Finally in the year 2017, TESTAMENT finally released a much anticipated 11th album BROTHERHOOD OF THE SNAKE which delves into the world of ancient alien astronauts inspired by the Ancient Aliens TV program that ponders the possibilities of all the possible alternative historical realities withheld from humanity regarding their true origins. Throughout their lengthy metal history guitarist Eric Peterson has been the only constant member since the band’s inception and on this 2017 release the band finds a somewhat stable lineup returning for this new album with only newbie bassist Steve Di Giorgio replacing Greg Christian. It also sees the return of long time (well five albums anyway) mixer and engineer Andy Sneap who has been a behind-the-scenes contributor to the overall production path that TESTAMENT has trod.

BROTHERHOOD OF THE SNAKE has indeed been a commercial success for TESTAMENT which debuted at number 20 on the Billboard charts, however it is in effect another predictable thrash-by-the-numbers release by the band with the obvious Metallica influences that never seem to totally go away. While not quite a member of the big four of the founders of the influential thrash metal of the 80s, TESTAMENT has however made quite the career out of emulating their heroes who pioneered the genre who came before them. In all honesty, i have never been the hugest of TESTAMENT fans due to the fact that they are simply too derivative of early Metallica and despite their heroes having abandoned their pioneering sound in favor of a more commercial alternative one, TESTAMENT have not only run away with keeping that old school thrash metal sound alive but have nurtured it and incubated it in a way that very few other metal bands have.

TESTAMENT has always been a hit-and-miss band for me. I really hate their early albums as they are unapologetically mere clones of “Master Of Puppets” era Metallica with the largest derivative elements finding their way into the guitar riffs and vocals. Being a sensitive musician, i cannot stand these kinds of ripoffs that may not be obvious to the casual listener and i’m perplexed as to how this band has become so popular despite these obvious ripoffs of style. Come 1999 and TESTAMENT redeemed themselves as having the creds of actually releasing interesting and original material with “The Gathering.” It seemed as if the band had finally found their own niche in the burgeoning world of thrash metal even if it retained its old school roots, however BROTHERHOOD OF THE SNAKE is somewhat of a mixed bag of the two different eras of the TESTAMENT experience. While the title track starts off as some of the heaviest and distinct material the band has ever released, the majority of the following tracks reek of James Hatfield vocalizations, classic Metallica riffing accompanied by solos and an eminent sense of been-there-done-that-before-isms that just rub me totally the wrong way in every way.

There are several bands from the same era who are keepers of the old school thrash metal scene including not only TESTAMENT but also Overkill, Kreator, Slayer and Obituary just to name a few but while the majority of these bands were successful in finding their own distinct sound, TESTAMENT simply sounds like an incessant tug-of-war between sounding like Metallica and trying NOT to sound like Metallica which drives me fucking crazy and constantly reminding me that this band is totally overrated for simply parasitically siphoning off other artist’s ideas. Metallica the most obvious influence but they also have no problem borrowing from Pantera (“The Pale King”), Megadeth (“Neptune’s Spear”) and a whole slew of others. I simply don’t understand the popularity of TESTAMENT when they continue to steal eggs from other’s baskets. While i have been quite impressed with TESTAMENT in the past with albums such as “The Gathering” and “The Formation Of Damnation,” i simply find BROTHERHOOD OF THE SNAKE to be a cash cow sort of attempt to back pedal into the TESTAMENT origins and pretend that no one is noticing. Yeah, i love the subject matter and lyrics but the music is just ridiculously second rate despite being exquisitely performed. Careful listeners will note that the track “Canna-Business” is even ripping off riffs from Marilyn Manson. Just check out the song “1996” from the album “Antichrist Superstar” and listen carefully to the vocal phrasing of the chorus. Sorry TESTAMENT, you jumped the shark with this one.

more than 2 years ago
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siLLy puPPy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

BTW i'm correcting this in the review because i fucked up the title

siLLy puPPy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Canna Business is definately in thrash metal territory with a heavy percussive explosive delivery but but the vocal phrasing is suspiciously close to 1996 from Antichrist Superstar. Listen to the lyrics "Anti people now you've gone too far, i'm your Anti-Christ Superstar." My mistake for listing the wrong track. For some reason i remember this as the title track. My bad. I hear it clear as day although it's at a faster tempo and higher tuning. The point is it's the relationship between octaves and note sequences. I'm a nerd i know

aglasshouse wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I didn't get the Canna Business / Antichrist Superstar comparison either. Maybe I'm just not skilled a music listener or something, but I didn't see really any similarities between the riffs.

siLLy puPPy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

It's too blatant for me. The vocal phrasing and tones just reek of hetfield. The guitar riffs and subtle palm muting techniques reek of Hammit. I'm a musician so I'm probably more sensitive to these things than others. I'm constantly hearing influences in everyone's music but Testament just takes it too far on this one for me

Vim Fuego wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I haven't listened to this closely enough to hear the Metallica references. It's an OK album, but hasn't inspired repeat listens.

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Other than early Metallica and Testament both being thrash metal acts and therefore sharing some stylistic elements, I never really thought Testament sounded much like Metallica.

siLLy puPPy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I'm surprised though that anyone is OK with the blatant Metallica references. Those are the most obvious borrowings

siLLy puPPy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Not the song itself but rather snippets of riffs directly borrowed from it. If you don't hear it you won't be bothered by it but for those of us who can sniff out a derivative riff like a bloodhound it's a deal breaker

Unitron wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I'm with Jonas, this is a great album, but I don't get some of the comparisons you make. I listened to Canna-Business and that Marilyn Manson song back to back, and they sounded nothing alike.

siLLy puPPy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

@ UMUR. Yeah, i just have very sensitive ears when it comes to derivitive styles. If the Metallica influences weren't so strong i could forgive the others but Testament just doesn't do it for me on this one. I'm happy that you are diggin' it more than me ;)

MMA_Facebook wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Comment via MMA Facebook review share:

"It's enjoyable, just not great album...the title track, Apocalyptic City re-rec, and Seven Seals are pretty good."

https://www.facebook.com/MetalMusicArchives/posts/10155007536595186?comment_id=10155007654110186¬if_t=share_comment¬if_id=1501578136561907

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I can´t say I agree (I think this one is a great album), but you explain well why you don´t enjoy the album (or Testament in general), and that´s always a nice touch, when writing a critical review.