Legendary bay area thrash metal giants TESTAMENT have launched the countdown for the release of the cover art their upcoming 12th album, »The Brotherhood Of The Snake«, which will be released on October 28, 2016 via Nuclear Blast.
See the first part of the art pictured above. To see more of the record’s cover, make sure to check the band’s social media pages daily from today on: www.facebook.com/
The album was recorded under the watchful eyes of producer Juan Urteaga (EXODUS, HEATHEN, MACHINE HEAD), guitarist Eric Peterson and singer Chuck Billy and was mixed and mastered by well-known metal producer Andy Sneap (ACCEPT, ARCH ENEMY, CRADLE OF FILTH, KREATOR, MACHINE HEAD, MEGADETH).
Commented Peterson in an interview with Metal Maniac: “It’s very diverse, but it’s very epic. There’s nothing on there that breeds commercial. And I think for thirty years of recording music and trying different formulas and stuff, I think we’ve found a formula that is very metal. I think for the metal fan that is looking for something for the nook and crannies… not just your normal, ‘Oh, it’s got a thrash beat and a riff.’ There’s a lot going on here.”
The songwriter also told Metal Forces in another interview: “It’s different. This one is more thrash. I mean, this has got some of the fastest stuff that we have ever played. Usually, we have one or two thrash songs, and then we have some mid-tempo, and then we have a slow, heavy one, and then up-tempo kind of stuff. Half of the new record is thrash, which we’ve never done before.”
He continued: “It’s kind of like »Demonic« and »The Gathering«, but a little bit wiser, I think. Chuck’s not singing so death. I mean, he does some death stuff but he’s singing more like he did on the last record and then with the craziness of »The Gathering« or even heavy stuff like »Demonic«.”
TESTAMENT will support “The Brotherhood Of The Snake“ on theirEuropean run with AMON AMARTH this fall. Dates to be announced soon.
The band will embark on their summer festival run next week including some chosen club shows beginning July 13 in Hungary.
TESTAMENT live
04.08. NL Rijssen – Lucky & Co
05.08. D Wacken – Wacken Open Air
18.08. D Dinkelsbühl – Summer Breeze
19.08. D Hamburg – Elb-Riot
20.08. D Saarbrücken – Garage
21.08. F Saint-Nolff – Motocultor Fest