(2008) Damn, my ears are still ringing from the pure raw chord shredding power of one Alex Skolnick. My neck still hurts from the massive head-banging commanded upon me by one of the true titans of metal Mr. Chuck Billy. Another major band can be crossed off my list of metal bands I need to see in person before they retire or pass on.
Testament is one of the veteran 80’s thrash bands who shared esteemed company besides Metallica, Slayer, Exodus, Overkill and the only two remaining thrash pioneers I need to see, Megadeth (saw them years later at Mayhemfest) and Anthrax (I’ve seen Joey Belladonna solo). Since 1988 I’ve been a sworn devotee to whatever Testament delivered in whatever ‘formation’ they were in at the time. I first joined the Testament Legions after seeing the Trial by Fire video on HeadBangers Ball.
I was pretty stoked going in, it’s hard to believe but it was only my second show at Bogart’s. Don’t get out to Vine Street too often. Lazarus A.D. opened, the crowd giving them a polite-positive response. There might’ve been a short, small pit, can’t remember, but I’ve rarely seen a pit for an opening band (that’s definitely changed).
Unearth was next and by the sound of the audience they were popular. Their intro was among the funniest things I’ve heard at a metal show (at the time). A minute before going on we were instructed by guitar to DA DA DA DA DADA… charge! Twice! Then as an intro encore we did a pair of funky chicken dances. For our participation we received a two-note thank you. Someone in the band has a sense of humor and just when you thought the extra entertainment was over, the lights went out, the crowd tenses in anticipation as the PA blasts the single heaviest, brutal song for any band ever to come out to. Yes it was definitely a first to ‘rock out’ to the riffs of… wait for it… Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing. Yes I’m serious. Many in the audience sang along, most out of shocked amusement I think and I gotta give’em credit, how many metal heads would be expected to know any given Journey song? Steve Perry would be proud… I think. Must’ve been an inside joke. Though I wasn’t familiar with them they played one hell of a show and earned a few pits, regular and the old-school circle pit.
Then it was time for one of the true masters of West Coast thrash. I’d always believed Testament never got their just due compared to the thrash four. But I was just happy to finally see them in person and see just how big Chuck Billy really was.
For the next hour and a half Bogart’s turned into a swirling pool of human chaos as only Chuck’s roaring words can conjure. From the opening of The Preacher to the new stuff, the stage exploded with sound and the guitar master wizardry of Skolnick. I really don’t think anyone in metal can truly bellow like Chuck. If God was in a metal band, I witnessed a rafter shaking divine delivery on mic. The man has f’n sic lung power!
I screamed and yelled along to Testament classics Over the Wall, Souls of Black, Disciples of the Watch, Practice What You Preach and Do or Die. Into the Pit brought the desired result from band and fans. I screamed my approval for The Legacy, a personal favorite and weakened several vertebrae on new tune More Than Meets the Eye and Formation of Damnation.
Billy, Skolnick, Christian, Peterson and Bostaph undoubtedly brought the goods smashing eardrums and causing the mosh pit elite to throw themselves into harm’s way with crazed reckless abandonment. After hearing the power of Billy’s voice live I honestly believe that when rapture comes and the earth-shaking thunderous roar of heaven comes from the sky Chuck will be on guest vocals. Plus I’ve never seen anyone look cooler playing mic-stand guitar, incredible show.
Images do not represent actual event and are courtesy of www.traveljapanblog.com, www.popscreen.com and www.metalized.it.com.
