Brotherhood of the Snake

Few bands have courage. Even fewer have the integrity to back it up. Testament is one of those bands. All through the 1990s, when heavy metal was on the decline and alternative rock was on the rise, amid commercial pressures and lineup changes, Testament rebelled against the trend and set a fine example with Low, Demonic, and The Gathering. Then with the turn of the century, metal started coming back in a big way. Rather than being complacent and riding downwind, the Oakland outfit soared above, coming up with their strongest and tightest material in the new millennium – 2008's scorching The Formation of Damnation and 2012's diverse Dark Roots of Earth, leading up to 2016's Brotherhood of the Snake.

Lyrically, most of Testament's material has dealt with real-world issues like war, terrorism, and personal tragedies. While not exactly a concept album, the pivotal songs on Brotherhood of the Snake talk about an alien puppet-master race that created humans as their slaves, and how they have been manipulating us since. This premise is ripe for speculation, with musings over behind-the-curtain politics and conspiracy theories. Other songs deal with diverse topics, including biblical prophecy, marijuana legalisation, and serial killings.

This album was written almost entirely by Eric Peterson (rhythm guitar) and Chuck Billy (vocals) in little windows of time on the lengthy and hectic Dark Roots of Thrash tour. This is evident from the crunchier and faster material on offer compared to that on Dark Roots of Earth, which was a collaborative writing effort. The vibe is similar to The Formation of Damnation, which was also written by Peterson before Alex Skolnick (lead guitar) rejoined the band in 2005.

Testament's music has never stuck to a straight-up thrash metal formula, like Slayer's for instance; it has always been of a progressive ilk – more melodic and dynamic. The foreign influences on this album come from black metal: tremolo picking, minor chord voicings, and other defining traits shine at regular intervals before the song settles back into the progressive thrash mould. This could be possibly attributed to Dragonlord's (Peterson's black metal project) cancelled third album.

The sound production has a spacey, loose feel. The rhythm guitars have less tracks (two as opposed to the usual four), and therefore sound leaner and crisper, which is a welcome change. Contrast that with the chunky sound on earlier releases. Steve DiGiorgio's bass guitar can be heard prominently in the mix. Vocals sound less processed. They sometimes slip off the metronomic monorail, which elicits mental cringes on the first few listens. While the intensity partially makes up for the lack of precision, the off-meter delivery feels like a deliberate attempt at sounding 'raw'. The slappy drum sounds are a bit of a disappointment. Overall, this album feels like a sped-up hybrid of 1999's The Gathering and The Formation of Damnation.

The solid instrumental performance of the band is a highlight of this release. 'The Chief' (Billy) has never sounded stronger. Although he struggles to hit high notes in the clean parts, he absolutely nails the growls and barks – no contest there. Peterson's ferocious, relentless riffing deserves an ovation. He has evolved into an adept lead player as well, and one can hear his chaotic expressions on songs like 'Canna-Business'. Skolnick's leads have a sense of urgency and newfound energy. Check out 'The Pale King' for a shining example. DiGiorgio is brilliant with his intricate bass lines. Gene 'The Atomic Clock' Hoglan's enveloping barrage and spontaneous fills are addictive. He plays a lot more notes per second on this record. Given the lack of rehearsal time, he may have written his own lines rather than interpret Peterson's patterns, as was done on most Testament records he has played on.

Brotherhood of the Snake is a highly recommended purchase for fans of the band and a great entry point for newcomers. The sheer energy and commitment to craft in every note after 30-odd years in the business inspires great admiration in me for these guys. Testament have managed to deliver a modern thrash masterpiece, and it deserves a spot in the top five albums of their career.