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/:: Artist :: Testament ::\
:: Album :: Para Bellum ::
:: Year :: 2025 ::
:: __ _ _ __ ::
-:--\\-----------------------------------------------------------------//--:-
:: \ / ::
:: . Genre :: Thrash Metal Source :: CD . ::
:: Label :: Shinigami Records R.date :: 2025-10-24 ::
_::__ Cat.nr. :: NBSR499 S.date :: 2025-10-10 __::_
::// \\::
::/---------------------------------------------------------------------\::
:: ::
/: Encoder :: LAME 3.100 -V0 :\
..: Bitrate :: avg. 272kbps :..
. Quality :: 44.1 kHz/Joint Stereo .
. Size :: 103.25MB .
. .
__ __ _ . : _ ____ _ _ ____ _ : . _ __ __
.\\\\------- : | ---\ /---------------------\ /--- | : -------////.
+/ -\------- | | ----\ tracklist /---- | | -------/- \+
/: . : : . :\
/:: ::\
:: 1. For the Love of Pain 5:35 ::
:: 2. Infanticide A.I. 3:27 ::
:: 3. Shadow People 5:45 ::
:: 4. Meant to Be 7:33 ::
:: 5. High Noon 3:52 ::
:: 6. Witch Hunt 4:16 ::
:: 7. Nature of the Beast 4:28 ::
:: 8. Room 117 4:18 ::
:: 9. Havana Syndrome 4:40 ::
:: 10. Para Bellum 6:30 ::
:: ::
:: ::
:: ------- ::
.. >> 50:24 ..
__ __ _ . : _ ____ _ _ ____ _ : . _ __ __
.\\\\------- : | ---\ /---------------------\ /--- | : -------////.
+/ -\------- | | ----\ release notes /---- | | -------/- \+
/: . : : . :\
/:: ::\
:: ::
:: You know those certain bands that just wonÆt quit or give up, ::
:: no matter what? The type of band that just keeps grinding away ::
:: while constantly reminding everyone why they still exist and ::
:: have a specific place within a certain genre of metal? The type ::
:: of band that is determined to not only cultivate their own ::
:: definitive sound, but stand out within the pack of their ::
:: respective peers? A handful of certain bands come to mind when ::
:: I give it a moment of thought, but the only one that has always ::
:: stood out for me over the years, personally speaking, when it ::
:: comes to being an absolute fucking workhorse that never slows ::
:: down within thrash metal, is Testament. Over the 40 years of ::
:: this bandÆs inception, theyÆve given us countless epic memories ::
:: combined with legendary albums and killer performances. The ::
:: overall lineup has changed throughout the years, of course, but ::
:: staying true to the standard ethos of the Testament sound has ::
:: remained fully intact and unwavered over their continued ::
:: multiple decade long evolution. ::
:: ::
:: Enter ôPara Bellumö, the bandÆs newest and most interesting ::
:: sonic effort since ôDark Roots of Earthö and the most musically ::
:: intense since ôThe Gatheringö. When the first single, ::
:: ôInfanticide A.I.ö, was released a few months back, my brain ::
:: exploded. The sheer upfront brutality packed within the short ::
:: three and a half minute run time was not only impressive, but ::
:: legitimately hard hitting and a serious kick in the dick I ::
:: wasnÆt prepared for. IÆm rather sure no one was expected them ::
:: to come swinging out of the gates this intensely and with ::
:: elements of black metal, nonetheless, seamlessly intertwined ::
:: within that sonic bombardment. To say I was excited to hear ::
:: this album after listening to that is the understatement of the ::
:: century. If the band could sound that powerful with a most ::
:: welcomed twist and such ferocity intrigued me to the absolutely ::
:: nth degree. That was just the very appetizing lead up to the ::
:: massively impressive seven course sonic banquet I was about to ::
:: utterly consume myself in. ::
:: ::
:: IÆve listened to ôPara Bellumö three times now from ::
:: front-to-back over the last handful of days, something I ::
:: havenÆt done with any modern thrash album, let alone any metal ::
:: album, in an extremely long time. The immediate intensity that ::
:: flows throughout the rest of this album, especially with how ::
:: varied it is, is nothing short of impressive. Songs like ôHigh ::
:: Noonö and ôShadow Peopleö are excellent representations of ::
:: forceful groove with an unrelenting pace that not only ::
:: complements the bandÆs superior melodic sections, but support ::
:: Alex and EricÆs quintessential soloing perfectly. Those two ::
:: guys have been an unrivaled twin guitar thrash attack within ::
:: the genre for literal decades and ôPara Bellumö completely ::
:: utilizes both of them firing at 1,000% of their respective ::
:: talents. I honestly believe some of their best work thus far is ::
:: represented throughout this album, which is saying quite a lot. ::
:: The riffs in every song on this album have their impactful ::
:: place and moments in time, which are perfectly spread out for ::
:: maximum effect. I expected only the highest quality of face ::
:: melting guitar work from these two masters and I was not let ::
:: down, whatsoever, in the slightest. ::
:: ::
:: As the record continues to progress, itÆs just one gigantic ::
:: sonic stew of lightly sprinkled, black metal infused melodic ::
:: riffs and blast beats filtered through the thrash juggernaut ::
:: that is this band. Aside from 1997Æs ôDemonicö and 1999Æs ôThe ::
:: Gatheringö, this is the most intense the band has sounded ::
:: since. Like I mentioned previously, there is actual variety ::
:: within this stew. ôNature of The Beastö sounds like a forgotten ::
:: early 80Æs Judas Priest or Van Halen tune, so thatÆs definitely ::
:: a varied aspect, but a very welcomed one since itÆs executed ::
:: very well. When Chris Dovas isnÆt ripping heads off with his ::
:: flawless black metal infused blast beats and accentuations, he ::
:: plays perfect groove thrash that blends very well within the ::
:: well known destructive Testament formula that never ceases to ::
:: fail. I give him massive credit for lighting a scorching fire ::
:: under EricÆs ass over the last two years or so that has birthed ::
:: new life into to the writing process, while adding a more than ::
:: welcomed black metal flavor to an already wining formula, thus ::
:: pushing it into a new evolutionary territory for the band. ::
:: ::
:: Concerning the absence of Andy SneapÆs magical touch that the ::
:: band had utilized over the last 15 years or so, the album ::
:: sounds absolutely phenomenal on its own two feet without his ::
:: presence. To be brutally honest, ôPara Bellumö is their best ::
:: sounding album since ôDark Roots of Earthö, without question. ::
:: Not that ôBrotherhoodö or ôTitansö sounded bad at all, quite ::
:: the contrary actually, itÆs just that this album is brutal all ::
:: around, crisp and concise. IÆm sure Andy wouldÆve made this ::
:: record sound great like he normally does, but something just ::
:: hits the spot with every instrument and vocal delivery being so ::
:: impactful and up front. Massive kudos go out to Juan Urteaga ::
:: and Jens Bogren, the amazing mixing and recording duo behind ::
:: this album. Not only did they do an absolutely stellar job ::
:: fully realizing the vision for this well crafted piece of ::
:: intensive thrash, but helped these songs to shine with absolute ::
:: brute force, something unheard of on a Testament album in ::
:: years, in my opinion. ::
:: ::
:: At the end of the day, ôPara Bellumö is a phenomenal audio ::
:: banquet of varied dishes that forces you to come back for ::
:: second, third and fourth helpings, if not more. I havenÆt felt ::
:: this strongly about a Testament record since ôThe Gatheringö, ::
:: which set the bar for intensive thrash at the time. ItÆs now ::
:: 2025 and the band has now set a brand new bar for all too see ::
:: and try to obtain, especially their respective thrash peers ::
:: within the genre. Who wouldÆve thought these old dogs could be ::
:: taught brand new tricks 40 years into their career? I certainly ::
:: didnÆt, whatsoever, but am extremely fucking grateful they ::
:: proved me wrong. IÆm glad theyÆre still around performing, ::
:: executing and demonstrating to the metal world that they are ::
:: now top dogs fully equipped with deadly new sonic tricks up ::
:: their sleeves that will carry them into the foreseeable, newly ::
:: created future. ::
:: ::
:: Bearing witness to the evolution of one of the greatest thrash ::
:: bands of all time right before my very eyes is a definitive ::
:: sight to see and I am personally excited to hear what the band ::
:: has next for us later on down the line. This album is pure, ::
:: unadulterated Testament doing only what they know how to do ::
:: best, destroy souls with no remorse. ItÆs an absolute treat for ::
:: the ears and is, in my opinion, the best thrash album of the ::
:: year and their best since ôThe Gatheringö, which speaks ::
:: volumes. ôPara Bellumö is an easy 95% out of 100%, without ::
:: question. Is it a flawless masterpiece without any blemishes, ::
:: no, but comes extremely fucking close to being so. An amazing ::
:: record that will stand the test of time and will eventually go ::
:: down as one of the bandÆs best efforts, especially for the ::
:: modern era. A killer record, from a killer band for a killer ::
:: era. What a time to be alive! ::
:: ::
:: . _ _ . ::
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