First Strike Still Deadly

Testament | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 23, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Spitfire
• ASIN: B00005QK1A
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #241,912 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. First Strike Is Deadly

2. Into the Pit

3. Trial by Fire

4. Disciples of the Watch

5. The Preacher

6. Burnt Offerings

7. Over the Wall

8. The New Order

9. The Haunting

10. Alone in the Dark

11. Reign of Terror

Editorial Reviews

While revisiting the band's first two albums, TESTAMENT, rather than remastering or reissuing, the classic pairing of Chuck Billy, Alex Skolnick, Eric Peterson along with metal legends Steve DiGiorgio and John Tempesta re-recorded what the band calls `their own greatest hits' collection from the era. With updated production values, TESTAMENT staples like "Into The Pit," "Over The Wall," the album's pseudo title track, First Strike Still Deadly both offers longtime fans a welcome addition to the catalog and newcomers a fresh introduction to the classic sound of thrash legends...albeit a bit updated with a heavier sound, slicker production and crisper packaging. Also, making an appearance on First Strike Still Deadly are two tracks featuring original vocalist - in the days when TESTAMENT was known as Legacy - Steve Souza (Exodus, Dublin Death Patrol) on "Alone In The Dark" and "Reign of Terror," as well as artwork with increased imagery, as was intended to be used on the initial release of First Strike Still Deadly. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Headbanging Heaven!!, January 10, 2003

By 

LUIS "wise in the ways of metal" (Obregon, Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: First Strike Still Deadly (Audio CD)

Even if you already have Testament's first two albums where these songs first appeared, you should definetly buy this CD because the songs are not just remixed or remastered - they're re-recorded! That means that Testament recorded again these tracks with today's technology and today's heavier sound. The tracks were great to begin with but now they sound AWESOME!! From start to finish, this CD never lets up, ALL the tracks are killer, my fave is Burnt Offerings which just leaves me floored every time I hear it. Eric Peterson is the best rythym player in metal and he has more than a few leads up his sleeve as well. Alex Skolnick returns (though just for this album) to provide his ever tasteful shredding. DiGiorgio on bass and Tempesta on drums keep things rock solid and Chuck Billy's amazing voice delivers like a demon from hell. A must have for Testament fans and metal fans in general.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deadly, indeed!, April 16, 2002

By 

Kevin McDonald "the_wicked_child" (Seattle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: First Strike Still Deadly (Audio CD)

Now this is what makes Testament great. While Metallica's out there recording songs with Ja Rule, and god knows what else, the real metal heroes were working on making their classic material even better. As a huge fan of both the old stuff and the new stuff, I knew this was gonna be beyond great, and it is! All the best tracks from "The New Order" and "The Legacy", rerecorded in the heavier fashion of the newer stuff, and every single one is better than the original. Chuck's vocals are top of the line, and every instrument is note-perfect. I can't believe they actually got Alex Skolnick to come back. I never would have thought he'd agree to it. Actually, it might have been better if they'd just held onto James for this, but oh well. The drums are now much easier to hear, which is a good thing, considering they were nearly nonexistent before. Plus, John Tempesta's just way better than Louie Clemente (but I really wish they'd gotten Dave Lombardo to play on this, would that have been sweet or what?), so he adds more to it. The song with Steve Souza is easily the weak spot. That guy always got on my nerves, which is why I never really got into Exodus much. He's not too bad, but he's nothing compared to Chuck.

Maybe you've heard, but Chuck is currently battling throat cancer. Let's hope he and that mighty voice pull through. Why do all the bad things happen to guys like Chuck Billy and Dave Mustaine, and yet guys like Lars Ulrich and Fred Durst are in good health? The world we live in. Well, buy this, and you'll see that metal is still going strong.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still deadly after all these years, March 26, 2008

By 

Michael (FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: First Strike Still Deadly (Audio CD)

Originally released in 2001, this album was the result after label politics made it unlikely for Testament's early albums The Legacy and The New Order to be remixed. So, select tracks from those two albums were re-recorded by Eric Peterson (guitars), Alex Skolnick (guitars), John Tempesta (drums), Steve DiGiorgio (bass), and Chuck Billy (vocals), to showcase how some of their best classic material sounds with today's recording technology. Recently out of print, the album is back, this time on Prosthetic Records (the label that also reissued Demonic and The Gathering). If you're a fan of Testament, there's no reason not to get this album now.