Demonic

excellent

I remember back in '88 (that's 1988 for you kiddies) -I was 14 and was just starting to get into real metal; the then maturing thrash scene, speed metal and so forth. I found this album that had a large, evil looking skull on it that covered the Earth, in a view from space. That album, "The New Order", was my introduction to Testament. I realize now that most were more familiar with "The Legacy" -but I didn't know about that album right off. I was intrigued by the album cover, bought it and listened. What I heard was a great thrash band with technical/melodic elements and a fairly heavy sound (for 1988 thrash metal, mind you).Fast forward to 2012... I have known about Testament's sordid history and of the little liked/respected "Demonic" and never paid the album much mind, though I did get the follow up album, "The Gathering" -which is fantastic. I go on YouTube and listen to some of the songs from this album and, yeah I definitely hear some of what others complained about. This is not the same Testament who released "The Legacy" 10 years before this album. I was intrigued though because I always felt they could be heavier than they were. This album is a strange mixture of Testament being... well not as Testament as the past. They brought in elements of death metal (many a fan have complained about this), groovier, heavier riffing and more death growl vox than Chuck Billy's standard snarls.While I'm all for a band changing styles, or more to the point: incorporating different styles to prevent stagnation, I can't understand all the hate/vitriol this album has received. Yes, it's very different from their past albums with Alex Skolnick, it's more akin to its predecessor "Low". The 90's was indeed a dark time for thrash; most bands either went AOR (*cough* Metallica/Megadeth), groove metal (Anthrax/Slayer) or simply ceased to exist. I applaud Testament for at least staying METAL {*hack* Metallica}. Yeah, this album is a huge departure so let's look at it for a sec...For the most part, Peterson and Billy stick with a thrash/death approach -there are sections that some grunge-ish influence comes in. The guitars are heavy, maybe not overly technical but effective and heavy nonetheless. The bass is not overt but you can feel its presence for sure... Obviously Gene "The Atomic Clock" Hoglan's drumming is superb and fitting. Chuck's vox are fitting for this album; very much in the death/thrash vein. Eric Peterson may not have been the virtuoso Alex Skolnick is BUT he does a great job with all the guitar work on this album (The Burning Times is a great example) -he shows a side to his playing that only starting coming out on "Low", handling all the guitar work. Being an older Testament fan, I don't find the same fault in this album others may. You know what -have your opinion, that's cool.The bottom line is: IF you have an open mind, this album is not that bad -it IS different (remember this was the 90's) and you'll feel that influence in the music but if you want to hear Testament trying something a bit out of their comfort zone, this is it. Like I said above, maybe this isn't their most popular album but at least it's metal, which is more than I can say for a lot of bands who went thru the 90's. Get it, you might just like it *GASP*!

Although it would eventually lead to the exit of one of the best guitarists in the business, Alex Skolnick (who was not on board with the new sound), Testament did make a wise move by exploring a more extreme sound in the mid-to-late Nineties. Starting with 1994's "Low" and concluding with "The Gathering" in 1999, the band ventured into a death metal-inflected thrash sound. So while 1997 `s "Demonic" might be first and foremost rooted in their patented brand of thrash/speed metal, it does have some irrefutable death influences, and even some debatable grindcore tinges."Demonic" sounds positively...uh...demonic! Chuck Billy's vocals sound positively killer, and are backed up by ample musical propulsion which comes in the form of inexorable riffing, Gene Hoglan's blistering trapkit annihilation, and decent, steady bass lines. Therefore, while the album might lack some of the same kind of eargasmic guitar solos that you are used to hearing from Testament, there is more than enough of the good stuff to take up that slack.Opener "Demonic Refusal" kicks off with a creepy little intro that soon gives way to a thrashing groove complete with brutal, booming groove metal riffs, chug and churn rhythms, and solid bass lines. Some double bass drumming peppers the arrangements, here, as does a bout of grindcore-influenced vocals. This is then followed-up by "The Burnign Times," which settles into a crunchy thrash groove early on, and a brief but nice and colorful acoustic breakdown not withstanding, remains there for the duration of the song. Said breakdown aside, the first real, fleshed-out spot of melody comes in the next track, "Together As One," which sandwiched a nicely melodic guitar solo in between its round of chunky chainsaw riffing.Another standout, "Jun Jun," is the next tune, and a very appropriately entitled one at that, as it is filled with tons of "jun jun"-sounding guitar hooks. It also comes with pounding drums, anthemic vocals, a catchy main groove, and wah-wah-inflected leads. Then, following two ferociously riffed and air-guitar-able numbers in "John Doe" and the walloping blast beat-esque-backed "Murky Waters," we are treated to some of the album's best and lengthiest guitar soloing in "Hatreds Rise." But it's right back to the grind when "Distorted Lives" rolls around, as it is a beast of a song that adheres to blistering death-thrash riffage."New Eyes Of Old" is a keeper on account of it having anthemic, melodically sing-songy vocals in its choruses, but its ripping guitar solo makes sure that it is much more than just merely decent. "Nostrovia" is a darkly pounding, lurching closing blast, but it is almost overshadowed by what comes immediately before it: "Ten Thousand Thrones," which is driven by furious, precise, and uber-tight double bass slamming/thrashing.If you are new to Testament, do not start this album. But everybody else should line-up even if they have the slightest chance to purchase "Demonic." After all, it is one record that will leave you limp, oddly satisfied, and yet simultaneously somehow wanting more. It is Testament's "Reign In Blood."

best remaster of testament ever. full stop, in my opinion which i have owned after 28 years serving in rock n metal is that this is the best remaster for an album of testament i have purchased this album back when it came out i think at that time it came out of spitfire i have to refer back to my collection to check and at the time my favorite track were and still john doe. to think about it i am sure it came out of spitfire as i had the pleasure of enjoying the track through the download option which they provided the fans of a track or two of any new release through their wedsite and we are talking about being in the late 90s which is something new and spitfire were one of the 1st to have this, back to this album this is the best sounding of the that i really enjoyed and i love the re-imaging of the cover and the inlay. if you love the early testament album or the latest album buy this album even that this is way differ then everything they ever made as this is death metal but still at the end of the day this was an album which been made by metal fans for their metal fans.

Best album ever

It's kind of ironic this is brown vinyl because many consider this Testament's poopiest album. They picked up some groove on Low and Chuck let his "Death Metal" vocals out to play on "Dog Faced Gods". I remember hearing a lot about that song. Next thing I know, here's Demonic and a whole album mostly like that song. It wasn't Thrash therefore old fans rejected it. The younger crowd dismissed them as some old Thrash band.I actually went to a stop on that tour and it was pretty bad. 12 people in the venue. 6 were old dudes in leather jackets glaring at anyone who dared move for Stuck Mojo or Strapping Young Lad.I do like Demonic but mostly for sentimental reasons.

Happy with price and sound

What else can I say? The temperature in the warehouse that stored this must change every 5 minutes. Warped to hell and back! Don't buy!

It's an album I've been looking for

Brutal trabajo de los de San Francisco, pero ojo para sus seguidores como banda de Thrash porque Demonic es un trabajo de puro y duro Death Metal, o al menos en su 95%, gravedad en las guitarras, voces guturales de ultra tumba de Chuck Billy, y en lo que es guitarreo, tal vez el trabajo más pobre de la carrera de Testament, ya que no contaban en sus filas ni con Alex Skolnick ni con James Murphy, dejándo todo el trabajo compositivo en Eric Peterson (Sin desmerecer).Como punto positivo en la formación, el brutal-tremendo-monstruo-abominable-leyenda-etc.... Gene Hoglan (Dark Angel, Death, Old Man's Child, Strapping Young Lad, Fear Factory, Tenet......... en la batería

Buenas tardes pienso que me quedaria corto de palabras y adjetivos calificativos para esta Album de TESTAMENT la combinación de voces de Chuck Billy esta brutal, cambios de ritmos y riffs mortales