Unlike other '80s metal bands, Testament’s fan base hasn't diminished with the accumulation of years. In fact, when Testament dropped "Dark Roots of Earth" in 2012, the disc entered the Billboard 200 at No. 12, the highest chart position the band has seen in its career. As every ticket holder in the metal underground knows, Testament concerts are built on furious riffs and aggressive harmonies. In fact, Testament became known for their virtuosic control and melodic crunch, an approach to thrash metal that set them apart from their contemporaries, many of whom just wanted to play as fast and as loud as possible on tour. Whether Testament is playing new material in concert or classics from the '80s, be prepared for pyrotechnics, headbanging, moshing and a stage set that looks like the lurid artwork from one of their famous album covers.
The 1980s are considered the heyday of American thrash metal, and the Bay Area was a hotbed for bands that liked their riffs hard and their solos fast. No ardent fan or music critic would dispute that. Many metal bands that exploded onto the scene in the '80s and rode the wave of MTV exposure, being featured on the music network’s legendary "Headbanger’s Ball" program, fell into obscurity when '90s grunge became popular, but Testament continued to battle on. Testament's first three albums, which include "The Legacy" (1987), "The New Order (1988)" and "Practice What You Preach" (1989), are the bands most popular, beloved by metal heads around the globe. In a 30-year career that has featured 10 studio albums, four live albums, six compilations and 1.4 million records sold in the U.S., Testament continue to play fast and hard, touring all over the world with bands like Judas Priest, Anthrax, Megadeth, Exodus and Lamb of God.
