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Testament first mentioned their follow-up to ''The Gathering'' in May 2002, stating that guitarist [[Eric Peterson]] was "busy writing new material" for the album that would take "little more time since ''The Gathering''" and be "a challenging act to follow".<ref name="firstmention" /> It was also confirmed that the album would be brutal "with a lot of dual lead trade-offs between guitarists Peterson and [[Alex Skolnick|Skolnick]]."
Testament first mentioned their follow-up to ''The Gathering'' in May 2002, stating that guitarist [[Eric Peterson]] was "busy writing new material" for the album that would take "little more time since ''The Gathering''" and be "a challenging act to follow".<ref name="firstmention" /> It was also confirmed that the album would be brutal "with a lot of dual lead trade-offs between guitarists Peterson and [[Alex Skolnick|Skolnick]]."


On February 15, 2004, it was announced that former [[Forbidden (band)|Forbidden]]/[[Slayer]] drummer [[Paul Bostaph]] would join the band to record the album.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=19245 | title = Former Slayer Drummer Paul Bostaph Joins Testament | publisher = [[Blabbermouth.net]] | date = 2004-02-15 | accessdate = 2007-11-18}}</ref> It was also announced that the band was planning on entering the studio in [[April 2004|April]]/[[May 2004|May]], with an intended release date of late 2004.
On February 15, 2004, it was announced that former [[Forbidden (band)|Forbidden]]/[[Slayer]] drummer [[Paul Bostaph]] would join the band to record the album.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=19245 | title = Former Slayer Drummer Paul Bostaph Joins Testament | publisher = [[Blabbermouth.net]] | date = 2004-02-15 | accessdate = 2007-11-18}}</ref> It was also announced that the band was planning on entering the studio in [[April 2004|April]]/[[May 2004|May]], with an intended release date of late 2004. The band posted a long update about progress on the album in October 2004. It was revealed that Peterson recovered from a triple fracture and leg surgery and was able to travel to work with the band again.<ref>{{cite web | date=October 12, 2004 | title=Testament: In Recording Mode | publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] | url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=27914 | accessdate=2007-11-18}}</ref>}}


⚫
In February 2005, Testament manager Phil Arnold of Thrill Entertainment issued an update on the band's then-current and upcoming activities, commenting that the band had reopened their studios, which were shut down while Billy received treatment for cancer, at a new location in Pittsburg, California.<ref>{{cite web | date=February 8, 2005 | title=Testament's New Recording Studio Is Haunted | publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] | url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=32598 | accessdate=2007-11-18}}</ref>}}
On October 12, 2004, Testament posted a long update about the album:


⚫
In September 2006, Skolnick stated that the band would return to the studio in early 2007 to resume work on the new album. He revealed that material was "sketched out" for the new album <ref>{{cite web | date=September 1, 2006 | title=Testament To Work On New Studio Album In Early 2007 | publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] | url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=57581 | accessdate=2007-11-18}}</ref>}}
{{cquote2|Eric Peterson has been given the green light to drive again by his doctor following his long recovery from a triple-fracture leg surgery. On tour in June, he fell down a flight of stairs resulting in the fracture that put him in the hospital in Vienna for 12 days. He spent the rest of the summer and part of the fall recuperating and in physical therapy.


In February 2007, Billy stated that the band planned to get to the studio in April. He revealed that the band had four "really great" songs, and hoped to have the rest of the material ready within a few months.<ref>{{cite web | date=February 12, 2007 | title=Testament Still Deadly - Part 1: An Interview With Chuck Billy | publisher=KNAC.com | url=http://knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=5309 | accessdate=2007-11-18}}</ref>}} In March 2007, Peterson announced that the band was working with drummer [[Nicholas Barker]] on some of the material.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=68378 | title = Testament To Enter Studio In June | publisher = [[Blabbermouth.net]] | date = 2007-03-07 | accessdate = 2007-11-18}}</ref> Billy announced in June 2007 that eight or nine songs were being worked on.<ref>{{cite web | date=June 25, 2007 | title=Testament Frontman New Material Is 'Very Heavy' | publisher=Ultimate-Guitar.com | url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/testament_frontman_new_material_is_very_heavy.html | accessdate=2007-11-18}}</ref>}} The same month, the band moved to a new label,[[Nuclear Blast Records|Nuclear Blast]] and announced a March 2008 release date for the album.<ref name="newlabel">{{cite web | url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=75714 | title = Testament Signs With Nuclear Blast Records | publisher = [[Blabbermouth.net]] | date = 2007-06-28 | accessdate = 2007-11-18}}</ref> The title was revealed in November 2007,<ref name="title">{{cite web | url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=84951 | title = Testament: New Album Title Announced | publisher = [[Blabbermouth.net]] | date = 2007-11-15 | accessdate = 2007-11-18}}</ref> which was followed shortly thereafter by an announcement that the album's release date had been amended to April 29, 2008.<ref name="releasedate">{{cite web | url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=86309 | title = Testament: New Album Release Date Announced | publisher = [[Blabbermouth.net]] | date = 2007-12-07 | accessdate = 2007-12-07}}</ref>
Now that he is mobile, he can drive the hour+ to the Testament recording studio, Driftwood Studios, and get back to working on the recording. He is in the studio two to three days a week with Chuck Billy and Paul Bostaph jamming on the songs as Chuck continues to work up more melody and lyric ideas.

In preparation for their follow-up CD to the #1 Chart topper, ''The Gathering'', Eric and Chuck upgraded their hideaway studio to include a state-of-the-art Digi-Design [[Pro Tools]] HD hard disk recording system. Chuck is quoted as saying, 'We wanted to [and did] get all the bells and whistles plug-ins and hardware necessary to deliver a killer album.' No doubt it will be deafening — as usual.

Currently, longtime friend and acclaimed recording engineer and Pro Tools pro Vinnie Wojno is helping Testament test-drive their newly installed system. Last week they added a newly constructed raised platform for the drum kit to better anchor a biting edge on the drum tones. Wojno set up the drum mic-ing for Lombardo on 'The Gathering' and likes the new upgraded set up.

Recording legend has it that in order to get drum ideas out of Eric Peterson's head and onto the tracks, Dave Lombardo had to duct tape his sticks into his hands for one of the more blistering outings on ''The Gathering''. Paul Bostaph, a metal drum legend in his own right, endorsed by Tama, steps 'into the pit' for this new record and brings his own formidable double-kick talents to the mix.
⚫
|Testament<ref>{{cite web | date=October 12, 2004 | title=Testament: In Recording Mode | publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] | url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=27914 | accessdate=2007-11-18}}</ref>}}

In February 2005, Testament manager Phil Arnold of Thrill Entertainment issued the following update on the band's then-current and upcoming activities:

{{cquote2|In prepping for the next studio album, Testament re-opened its Driftwood Studios at a new location. They had shut down the Oakland industrial-area site when Chuck Billy [vocals] was going through his eventually successful cancer treatments. With state-of-the-art HD Pro Tools upgrades installed, Driftwood continues an aggressive cutting edge approach that Testament embarked upon in Oakland with ''[[Demonic (album)|Demonic]]'', its 1997 #1 Metal Album. The prior Oakland location was also the recording home of their 1999 #1 Metal Album, ''The Gathering''.

The new site, in downtown Pittsburg, CA, is an older cement-brick & mortar building with previous recording-studio history, a fact unknown until recently to Peterson and Billy. The new installation has an eerie-inhabitant vibe, because the deep-in-the-catacombs control-room motion detectors frequently go off at late-night/pre-dawn hours — while no access to the building interior is possible without triggering the perimeter security systems, which remain silent. Oddly, the interior motion detectors never go off in daytime hours; and each time the late-night activity is investigated, no evidence of entry is detected and nothing is disturbed. No mice droppings — no nothing.

Frank, both friendly and curious, had a disarming demeanor and elicited some cordial dialogue about Driftwood being a private recording studio. The location looks like a no-name warehouse and except for the now-obvious security gates, you'd think it was vacant. Perfect for a private studio and the lair for the next spawning from Testament.

⚫
His eyes lit up when Billy mentioned 'recording studio'. He said that previously this location had been occupied by the prestigious, yet underground, Norman Abercrombie Studios, a noted Bay Area jazz and blues recording spot for many years. It closed in the early '80s when Abercrombie retired. Billy laughed, and said it looked and felt like it had been vacant since the '80s, too.|Phil Arnold<ref>{{cite web | date=February 8, 2005 | title=Testament's New Recording Studio Is Haunted | publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] | url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=32598 | accessdate=2007-11-18}}</ref>}}

In a March 2005 interview with Peterson, a question was asked if the band would write and record new material with the then-reunited "classic line-up". Peterson replied;

{{cquote2|I don't know! I know that I've got some good material and I know that at least half of it is killer. I mean, I like all of it, but Chuck's always kind of picky about stuff. One day he'll say it's killer and the next day he says he hates it. I'm just like, 'OK, we'll see what happens!

It would be nice though ... I would definitely love writing with Alex again. Me and Alex, we're kind of basically the birth of the sound of Testament. I have the kind of crunchy riffs and he has the Egyptian scales and the harmonies. Put those together and you have Testament! So, I don't know if that's where he's at now. Probably not, since he's more into jazz and all that stuff. I know I've matured a lot as a writer and I'm sure he'd appreciate it.|Eric Peterson<ref>{{cite web | date=March 16, 2005 | title=Testament Guitarist Peterson: 'I Woud [sic] Love To Write With Alex Skolnick Again' | publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] | url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/testament-guitarist-peterson-i-woud-love-to-write-with-alex-skolnick-again/ | accessdate=2013-09-11}}</ref>}}

In September 2006, Skolnick stated that the band would return to the studio in early 2007 to resume work on the new album. He explains:

{{cquote2|As fall approaches, there is a lot going on, starting with the [[Alex Skolnick Trio|AST]] 'pre-production' tour. We've got our material sketched out for our next album and invite you to join us as we road test and develop the new songs before jumping into the studio in early October. We're especially looking forward to our tour of Florida (assuming the weather gets better) and the Earthdance Cultural Event hosted by our friends in Sarasota, which promotes political and environmental awareness.|Alex Skolnick<ref>{{cite web | date=September 1, 2006 | title=Testament To Work On New Studio Album In Early 2007 | publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]] | url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=57581 | accessdate=2007-11-18}}</ref>}}

In a February 2007 interview with singer [[Chuck Billy (vocalist)|Chuck Billy]], a question was asked when the band would get into the studio to record the album. Billy replied:

{{cquote2|The plan is to, hopefully, get in there in April. Nick's gonna be here up through there working with Eric. We've got probably four really great songs pretty much in the can and with a few months of writing we'll hopefully have it ready to go. Alex [Skolnick] has been out here working with the guys too, so the ball has started rolling. And as soon as they give me the music, I'll be listening to it in my car all the time until the words and melodies appear.|Chuck Billy<ref>{{cite web | date=February 12, 2007 | title=Testament Still Deadly - Part 1: An Interview With Chuck Billy | publisher=KNAC.com | url=http://knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=5309 | accessdate=2007-11-18}}</ref>}}

In March 2007, Peterson announced that the band was "working hard with [[Nicholas Barker|Nick]] on some new ideas and some cool old-school styles and it's coming together really killer! Six songs already in the can so far!" and would "get into the studio to track the drums in June". Billy also described the album as "a good wine, you throw in the grapes and 'CRUSH'".<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=68378 | title = Testament To Enter Studio In June | publisher = [[Blabbermouth.net]] | date = 2007-03-07 | accessdate = 2007-11-18}}</ref>

In a June 2007 interview, a question was asked how many songs Testament was working on. Billy replied:

{{cquote2|We have eight or nine. Alex [Skolnick, guitar] has a few himself. The hardest thing is none of us live near each other. Alex lives in New York, Nick [Barker, drums] lives in England, Eric [Peterson, guitar] lives about two and a half hours from me. Whenever we get together it's like this big, orchestrated plan. It's been working out really good. We've been rehearsing at my house. Everybody's been flying in and staying for the weekend. We live and write and breathe the songs all weekend long.|Chuck Billy<ref>{{cite web | date=June 25, 2007 | title=Testament Frontman New Material Is 'Very Heavy' | publisher=Ultimate-Guitar.com | url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/testament_frontman_new_material_is_very_heavy.html | accessdate=2007-11-18}}</ref>}}

Also in June 2007, it was announced that Testament had parted ways with [[Spitfire Records]] after an eight-year relationship and signed with their current label [[Nuclear Blast Records|Nuclear Blast]]. A March 2008 release date for the album was also announced.<ref name="newlabel">{{cite web | url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=75714 | title = Testament Signs With Nuclear Blast Records | publisher = [[Blabbermouth.net]] | date = 2007-06-28 | accessdate = 2007-11-18}}</ref>

In November 2007, it was announced that the album would be called ''The Formation of Damnation''.<ref name="title">{{cite web | url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=84951 | title = Testament: New Album Title Announced | publisher = [[Blabbermouth.net]] | date = 2007-11-15 | accessdate = 2007-11-18}}</ref> In December 2007, [[Blabbermouth.net]] reported that an April 29, 2008 release date has been set.<ref name="releasedate">{{cite web | url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=86309 | title = Testament: New Album Release Date Announced | publisher = [[Blabbermouth.net]] | date = 2007-12-07 | accessdate = 2007-12-07}}</ref>


==Track listing==
==Track listing==

Revision as of 05:20, 7 September 2014

Untitled
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[1]
Allmusic[2]
Blabbermouth.net9/10[3]
IGN8.4/10[4]
Sputnikmusic4.0/5[5]

The Formation of Damnation is the ninth studio album by American heavy metal band Testament. It was released on April 29, 2008. It was Testament's first album since 2001's First Strike Still Deadly, and their first with all-new material since 1999's The Gathering. It was also Testament's first release with original guitarist Alex Skolnick since 1992's The Ritual and bassist Greg Christian since 1994's Low. This was also the band's only studio album recorded with drummer Paul Bostaph, who once joined Testament in 1993, but became a full-time member in 2007 before leaving the band once again four years later.

The follow-up to The Gathering was first mentioned in 2002[6] and was originally due for release in early 2004,[7] but was not yet completed. Due to the band's touring schedule and many line-up changes, the album was set aside for a number of years before finally being completed in 2007/2008.

The album debuted at No. 59 on the Billboard 200, selling 11,900 copies in its first week. It won the "Best Album" award at Metal Hammer's Golden Gods Awards ceremony on 16 June 2008, beating albums by Atreyu, Avenged Sevenfold, Children of Bodom and Down. They later named it the 4th best album of 2008 in their end-of year top 50 albums list. In addition, Metal-Rules.com voted it the best metal album of 2008.[8]

"More Than Meets the Eye" was released as an official DLC for the Rock Band series, while "Henchmen Ride" was released separately on the Rock Band Network. As of July 2012, The Formation of Damnation has sold over 84,000 copies in the U.S[9] and as of November 2011 it had sold around 300,000 copies worldwide.[10]

Background information

Testament first mentioned their follow-up to The Gathering in May 2002, stating that guitarist Eric Peterson was "busy writing new material" for the album that would take "little more time since The Gathering" and be "a challenging act to follow".[6] It was also confirmed that the album would be brutal "with a lot of dual lead trade-offs between guitarists Peterson and Skolnick."

On February 15, 2004, it was announced that former Forbidden/Slayer drummer Paul Bostaph would join the band to record the album.[11] It was also announced that the band was planning on entering the studio in April/May, with an intended release date of late 2004. The band posted a long update about progress on the album in October 2004. It was revealed that Peterson recovered from a triple fracture and leg surgery and was able to travel to work with the band again.[12]}}

In February 2005, Testament manager Phil Arnold of Thrill Entertainment issued an update on the band's then-current and upcoming activities, commenting that the band had reopened their studios, which were shut down while Billy received treatment for cancer, at a new location in Pittsburg, California.[13]}}

In September 2006, Skolnick stated that the band would return to the studio in early 2007 to resume work on the new album. He revealed that material was "sketched out" for the new album [14]}}

In February 2007, Billy stated that the band planned to get to the studio in April. He revealed that the band had four "really great" songs, and hoped to have the rest of the material ready within a few months.[15]}} In March 2007, Peterson announced that the band was working with drummer Nicholas Barker on some of the material.[16] Billy announced in June 2007 that eight or nine songs were being worked on.[17]}} The same month, the band moved to a new label,Nuclear Blast and announced a March 2008 release date for the album.[18] The title was revealed in November 2007,[19] which was followed shortly thereafter by an announcement that the album's release date had been amended to April 29, 2008.[20]

Track listing

No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."For the Glory of..." (instrumental) Eric Peterson1:12
2."More Than Meets the Eye"Chuck Billy, Del JamesBilly, Peterson4:31
3."The Evil Has Landed"Billy, Steve SouzaBilly, Peterson4:44
4."The Formation of Damnation"Billy, SouzaBilly, Peterson5:10
5."Dangers of the Faithless"Billy, Del JamesBilly, Peterson, Alex Skolnick5:47
6."The Persecuted Won't Forget"Billy, SouzaBilly, Peterson5:49
7."Henchmen Ride"BillyBilly, Peterson4:00
8."Killing Season"Billy, SouzaBilly, Peterson4:52
9."Afterlife"Billy, SouzaBilly, Peterson4:13
10."F.E.A.R" ("False Evidence Appearing Real")Alex SkolnickSkolnick4:46
11."Leave Me Forever"Billy, SouzaBilly, Greg Christian, Peterson4:28

Personnel

Credits adopted from liner notes[21]

Band
Additional personnel
  • Steve "Zetro" Souza, Steve Esquival and Nick Souza - Additional gang vocals
  • Lyle Livingston - Strings and choir keys on "For the Glory of"
Production
  • Recorded and engineered by Andy Sneap and Vincent Wojno
  • Additional recordings by Eric Peterson
  • Produced by Eric Peterson and Chuck Billy
  • Mixed by Andy Sneap
  • Photography by Tyler Clinton
  • Artwork direction and concepts by Eric Peterson
  • Artwork and illustrations by Eliran Kantor

Charts

Album

Year Chart Position
2008 Billboard 200 59
2008 Finnish Albums Chart[22] 12
2008 German Albums Chart[23] 15
2008 Swedish Albums Chart 27
2008 Oricon Albums Chart 42[24]

References

  1. ^ Bowar, Chad. "Testament - The Formation of Damnation Review". About.com. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  2. ^ Prato, Greg. "The Formation of Damnation - Testament". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  3. ^ Bergman, Keith. "Testament - The Formation of Damnation". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  4. ^ Kaz, Jim (2008-05-02). "Testament - The Formation of Damnation Review". IGN. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  5. ^ Spencer, Trey (2008-05-20). "Testament - The Formation of Damnation". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  6. ^ a b "Testament: Next Album Will Be Brutal". Blabbermouth.net. 2002-05-17. Retrieved 2007-11-18.
  7. ^ "Testament: European Festival Appearances Announced". Blabbermouth.net. 2003-12-14. Retrieved 2007-11-18.
  8. ^ [1]
  9. ^ [2]
  10. ^ [3]
  11. ^ "Former Slayer Drummer Paul Bostaph Joins Testament". Blabbermouth.net. 2004-02-15. Retrieved 2007-11-18.
  12. ^ "Testament: In Recording Mode". Blabbermouth.net. October 12, 2004. Retrieved 2007-11-18.
  13. ^ "Testament's New Recording Studio Is Haunted". Blabbermouth.net. February 8, 2005. Retrieved 2007-11-18.
  14. ^ "Testament To Work On New Studio Album In Early 2007". Blabbermouth.net. September 1, 2006. Retrieved 2007-11-18.
  15. ^ "Testament Still Deadly - Part 1: An Interview With Chuck Billy". KNAC.com. February 12, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-18.
  16. ^ "Testament To Enter Studio In June". Blabbermouth.net. 2007-03-07. Retrieved 2007-11-18.
  17. ^ "Testament Frontman New Material Is 'Very Heavy'". Ultimate-Guitar.com. June 25, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-18.
  18. ^ "Testament Signs With Nuclear Blast Records". Blabbermouth.net. 2007-06-28. Retrieved 2007-11-18.
  19. ^ "Testament: New Album Title Announced". Blabbermouth.net. 2007-11-15. Retrieved 2007-11-18.
  20. ^ "Testament: New Album Release Date Announced". Blabbermouth.net. 2007-12-07. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
  21. ^ The Formation of Damnation liner notes. Nuclear Blast Records. 2008. p. 2.
  22. ^ Suomen virallinen lista
  23. ^ [4]
  24. ^ [5]
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