Testament Comments On New Album "Brotherhood Of The Snake"

Legendary bay area thrash metal group Testament recently revealed the cover artwork for impending 12th album "Brotherhood Of The Snake," which will be released on October 28th, 2016 via Nuclear Blast.

The expressional cover was created by renowned artist Eliran Kantor, who also created the artwork for Testament's last album, "The Dark Roots Of Earth," and has previously worked with bands such as Hatebreed, Soulfly and Kataklysm.

"Brotherhood Of The Snake" 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 producer Andy Sneap (Accept, Arch Enemy, Cradle Of Filth, Kreator, Machine Head, Megadeth).

Peterson commented: "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, we've found a formula that is very metal. I think for the metal fan that is looking for something, for the nooks and crannies… not just your normal, 'Oh, it's got a thrash beat and a riff.' There's a lot going on here.

"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.

"It's kind of like ‘Demonic’ and ‘The Gathering’, but a little bit wiser. 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 is planning to celebrate the release of "Brotherhood Of The Snake" on an upcoming UK/Ireland tour with Amon Amarth and Grand Magus this autumn.

31st October @ Manchester, Academy
1st November @ Glasgow, O2 ABC
2nd November – Dublin, Vicar Street
4th November – London, Roundhouse
5th November – Birmingham, O2 Academy