TESTAMENT — The New Order (review)

TESTAMENT — The New Order album cover Album · 1988 · Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"The New Order" is the 2nd full-length studio album by US thrash metal act Testament. The album was released through Atlantic/Megaforce Records in May 1988. "The Legacy (1987)" instantly put Testament on the thrash metal map and riding on that wave of success "The New Order" was recorded and released less than a year after the release of "The Legacy (1987)" (which was released in July 1987). Add to that a lot of touring and the release of the "Live at Eindhoven" EP in October 1987, and you have a very busy band.

It´s not exactly audible on "The New Order" though, which is a well composed, detailed, and generally well played release. Stylistically it´s the natural successor to the debut, featuring more sophisticated compositions, while still maintaining some of the rawness and aggression of it´s predecessor. The 10 track, 39:20 minutes long album is a pretty varied release, showing new sides of Testament that the debut didn´t. It´s especially the very skillfully executed guitar leads and solos by Alex Skolnick, which provide the music with something extra, but quite a few of the basic tracks themselves are also very catchy and feature powerful and memorable thrashy riffs and vocals. Highligths include "Trial by Fire", "Into the Pit", and "Disciples of the Watch", but there´s nothing sub par on the album. Even the Aerosmith cover "Nobody's Fault" is delivered in a convincing manner, that also shows that Chuck Billy is pretty good at performing more melodic oriented vocals.

The sound production is decent, but could definitely have been better sounding. For a 1988 thrash metal production it´s alright though. As mentioned above the musicianship is generally very strong on the album (and in the case of Skolnick it´s absolutely brilliant), but if I have to mention a minor issue it would be the drumming by Louie Clemente. The man has absolutely no groove and his drumming style is often one-dimensional and lacking innovative playing ideas. With a better drummer "The New Order" could have been an absolute beast of an album, but Clemente´s playing style and general lack of groove drag my rating down a bit. I still think "The New Order" is one of Testament´s strongest albums though, and a 4 star (80%) rating is fully deserved.
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