Testament - Souls Of Black
1990 Atlantic Records
by Horatio

Quick Summary:
When this was released in 1990 it simply paled next to the offerings from 'big four' members Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth that same year. It showed how far Testament had fallen behind in terms of production values and intricate musical detail, sounding instead like a Metal Blade relic from 1986 like Sentinel Beast. Previous offerings had been passable, but this is an often shockingly boring album that proved Testament were never going to make the leap to the elite thrash few.

It isn't consistently awful, opener 'Face In The Sky' contains some addictive riffing without being fast. That is one of the major faults however. Testament had begun to abandon the speed of the first two albums, and only 'Love To Hate' tears it up with any real force. Even then the drum sound is crude and the guitar attack as stated sounds horrifically dated. This album is easily Testament's most forgettable, in a career littered with patchy efforts. Only 'Low' from 1994 captured the depth they were capable of, an album which ranks with the best of the thrash genre. By then it was too late, the thrash scene decimated and beyond repair. 'Souls Of Black' is one to pass on, unless you want to hear a band who were going nowhere fast, perhaps the kings of second division thrash.

Website:  www.testamentlegions.com

Song Summaries:

1. Malpractice - Mind numbingly boring. Moves at pace but the thrash breakdown lacks effort. The constant use of demonic sounding riffs sounds amateurish and cornball. C
2. One Man's Fate - Is this really 1990? I could swear it's 1982 and the crudest origins of thrash. Just listen to the opening minute then listen to Slayer's 'Born of Fire' and tell me who was more advanced. D
3. The Legacy - A terrible ballad which some would say is the 'before it's time' but in reality appears to be a track which a depressed youth might commit suicide to in 1990, ala 'Fade To Black', it has that atmosphere. Imagine some youth pondering his shitty life then blowing his head off with this in the back ground... A+ (for the visions in my head)
4. Face In The Sky - Listen to where Megadeth were at in 1985 and then in 1990. Listen to Testament's debut in 1987 then this. Where's the progression? Heavy yes, but it might as well be a reject from 'The Legacy'. C+
5. Falling Fast - An ironic title? 'Help me lord, I'm falling fast' sings Chuck to a track fast on occasion, but still with the same old sound as before. It might as well be every other track off this offering. C-
6. Souls Of Black - The opening bass riff is as embarrassingly hokum as second rate thrash gets. Otherwise mid-paced plod that never shifts gear into anything meaningful. D
7. Absence Of Light - Why must I put myself through this? Another invisible slab of nothingness. Not even worth discussing. 'If it were my way I'd deliver us from this hell' rants Chuck. Consider the CD smashed then. F
8. Love To Hate - The only thrasher of any significance, but even then too similar to previous cuts like 'Over The Wall' and 'Into The Pit' from the years past. Good on a nostalgic level, I can see the long haired freaks in their high cut trainers performing a three man mosh pit to this. B
9. Seven Days Of May - Testament's poignant tribute to the heroes who died in the Tiannamen Square massacre of 1989. Not surprising considering Chuck Billy's belief that MIA's still exist in Vietnam ala 'Missing In Action'. Anonymous filler otherwise, complete with over the top backing vocals. C-
   

Average Song Rating:  C-
Overall Album Rating:  C-

Also be sure to read:
Testament - Low Review by Uncle Meat