Gathering

Testament | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 8, 1999)
• Original Release Date: June 8, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Spitfire
• ASIN: B00000J6AD
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (134 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,565 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. D.N.R. [Do Not Resuscitate]

2. Down for Life

3. Eyes of Wrath

4. True Believer

5. 3 Days in Darkness

6. Legions of the Dead

7. Careful What You Wish For

8. Riding the Snake

9. Allegiance

10. Sewn Shut Eyes

11. Fall of Sipledome

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Testament finally surpass all peers...a modern classic, June 27, 2005

By 

all7willdie82 (Louisiana, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gathering (Audio CD)

In my opinion, Testament have always been a step ahead of their thrash metal peers (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Sepultura, Anthrax, etc.) but for some reason, they never got the recognition they deserved. Maybe because Testament's debut "The Legacy" arrived a little late in the thrash movement (1987). Maybe it was because critics hailed Chuck Billy as a B-rate James Hetfield knockoff. Or maybe it was a lack of consistency. Now before you die hards rip me a new one--let me elaborate.

While Testaments first 2 albums: 87's The Legacy and 88's The New Order were milestones in the thrash metal genre (with the latter being the best thrash album of all time in my opinion) the band started to slip on 89's Practice what you Preach. With the exeption of the title track, Envy Life, Sins of Omission, and Greenhouse Effect, the album was sub-par and Testament started to lose their edge. Next came 90's Souls of Black, an even weaker effort which had a "thrown together" kind of feel to it. Face in the Sky and The Legacy were the only 2 traacks in my opinion that saved that album. Then came The Ritual, the low point in their career. Mainstream influences crept in and suffocated the album (even though Return to Serenity was a very good track and a favorite of mine) This was kinda like Testament's Load/ReLoad album...if it were released by someone other than Testament, it would be much more enjoyable.

Now, exit drummer Louie Clemente and lead guitarist Alex Skolnick...enter John Tempesta and James Murphy. Low was a call to arms for the band...it up'd the ante in sheer heaviness and brute force. Low, Legions in Hiding, Hail Mary and Dog Faced Gods were ungodly tracks while Trail of Tears maintained the mainstream influence but filtered it much better through the original Testament sound. However, the last half of the album kinda just faded into the background.

Next came 97's Demonic. The band took their newfound heaviness and death metal influence to a higher level and to be completely honest...over did it. While in my opinion Demonic is all in all a pretty good album...the ok tracks outweighed the good tracks.

Now we come full circle to THE GATHERING. You take the sheer attitude of classic Testament, the heavier groove oriented power of Low, the sheer brute force and intensity of Demonic, and throw in the most well written songs of the bands career, not to mention the best production and you have one f***ing killer metal album. Eric Peterson proves that he is no doubt in the top 5 of Metal Rhythm Guitarists...the riffs on this album are just brilliant in the fact that they are not the most technical riffs that testament have written...nor are they the fastest...they just have this power to them and they fit the songs perfectly. James Murphy doesnt play a huge role on the disk (not many solos but the songs really dont call for them) but when his talents are called upon he delivers with full force. Steve DiGiorgio's bass playing is nothing short of breath taking (check out Riding the Snake) and adds yet another layer of power to the sound. Slayer alumni Dave Lombardo gives a classy yet intensity filled performance throughout the disk...giving us his best work since his glory days with Slayer. And last but not least Chuck Billy gives the performance of a lifetime. His vocals are so well rounded and his performance is so flawless you almost overlook the fact that he is one if not THE greatest metal vocalists on the planet. Heres a track by track analysis:

1 - D.N.R. (do not resuscitate)

Uptempo, grinding and powerful. Testament takes their thrash roots and beef them up with thickness, power, and from the gut vocals. Excellent modern thrash song.

2 - Down for Life

This track goes straight for the gut and doesnt stop. Just 3 and a half minutes of headbanging bliss. The arrangement has a pronounced Pantera feel to it but it is unmistakenly Testament. Incredible vocals from Chuck, not to mention some touching lyrics. Just a straight forward metal onslaught...not "thrash" metal...just pure metal.

3 - Eyes of Wrath

After a hypnotic interlude lures you into a false sense of security this track pounds you into the f***ing ground with an absolute stompin groove. The track goes in many different direction but none seem forced...this is a personal favorite for me cause the song just keeps on evolving.

4 - True Believer

This song stands out on the album because of its traces of melody and pronounced "Ritual" vibe. But if the Ritual would have sounded like this...DAMN! The chorus has a very good hook which leads into a snaking power groove that pushes and pulls the listener. Very good track that could have gotten radio play

5 - 3 Days in Darkness

An absolute monster of a song. The most infectious groove ive ever heard in a metal song. Chucks vocals are a perfect 10 here as he uses the full range of his voice. By far one of the best tracks on the album

6 - Legions of the Dead

Going back to the thrash feel of the opening track this one is unrelentless in speed and fury. The one thing thrash metal lacked wasnt speed, it was power. This track shows you that you dont have to sacrifice speed for power, but that both can coexist...great track

7 - Careful What you Wish for

This track swings. Another power groove that just makes you move. This isnt a pound your ass into the ground groove but more like a driving down the highway while uncontrollably nodding your head in unison with the bass drums.

8 - Riding the Snake

incredible interplay between EVERY instrument. This track just crushes all in its path. Chuck just belts out a steady stream of vocals that just add to the groove of the song...pure metal.

9 - Allegiance

This is the only track on the album that im not too fond of. It's really not a bad song but it just doesnt live up to the standard the other songs have already set.

10 -Sewn Shut Eyes

Undeniable intensity is what this track delivers. Non stop metal through and through...Dave Lombardo just kills on this track especially toward the end...really picks up the slack of the last track

11 -Fall of Sipledome

If you thought D.N.R and Legions of the Dead were thrash influenced...this song is just a mish-mash of blast beats, machine gun riffs and rapid fire vocals...pure thrash...you can see the whole world pitting to this track...great closer to a great album.

So there it is, 10 out of 11 tracks...modern classics. If you are a fan of metal in general...this is for you. Its all here thrash, death, black, aggro, all wrapped up in sheer intensity, attitude, and power. The best thing about it is....they aint done yet. Long Live Testament. Long Live Metal.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite from Testament, September 12, 2005

By 

A. Stutheit "Teyad" (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gathering (Audio CD)

It may be because I've owned it longer than any other Testament album, but "The Gathering" is my personal favorite C.D. by this band. Every band member is at the top of his game, here. Former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo does an excellent job filling in for Louie, Chuck's vocals are snarlier and stronger than usual (sounding a little bit like Machine Head with a hint of black metal), and the guitarists are the key to the attack; James Murphy and Eric Peterson play booming riff after blowtorch riff. The final sound sort of reminds me of old school Sepultura meets Metallica.

Plus, "The Gathering" might be the best produced Testament record. The production is crystal clear and very apparent, but it's not a case of the "everything but the kitchen sink production;" this album isn't overproduced to hide a lack of musical talent.

It's also different from most other Testament releases because "The Gathering" is quite a bit heavier (it's probably their heaviest album.) It's still plenty fast, but some death metal influence is also incorporated into their patented thrash.

Album opener, "D.N.R." begins with a few acoustic strums, but they are quickly eliminated when the pounding electric guitars storm onto the scene. Next, "Down For Life" has fast and heavy churning riffs. Track five, "3 Days in Darkness," has fiery chug and churn riffs and great, machine gun drumming. Elsewhere, "Legions of the Dead" has more blistering, almost careening guitar work, and "Riding the Snake" has explosive guitar riffs, propulsive drumming, and great bass lines by Steve. But this album doesn't get by on just volume, because most of the songs--especially "Eyes of Wrath" and "Careful What You Wish For"--are very catchy. And some songs (i.e. tracks six and eleven) sound downright awesome, with a great give and take between the propulsive guitars and rapid, double bass drumming.

So, what we have here is another great Testament disc. It might be their best yet, and it's a modern classic, if you ask me. This album always makes for a great listen, and it's especially refreshing with all of the wannabe thrash bands out there today. The bottom line is this is a must own for all thrash and death metal fans. And if you like thundering rhythms, great riffs and drumming, and all-around kick ass metal, you will love "The Gathering." I know I do!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Of Their Best, January 9, 2008

By 

Chris "takethekman" (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gathering (Audio CD)

I have followed Testament since the beginning, and I like alot of their material. But this was the first CD(LOW was close...)that just blew me away. While I wished Skolnick was still in the band and on this CD, James Murphy does an excellent job as usual(I just prefer Skolnick's lead style, esp. Practice What You Preach era.....). With the addition of Slayer's Ex drummer Dave Lombardo, & the great, powerful vocals by Chuck Billy(he has never sounded better.....), this awesomely produced collection of 'just-the-right length' metal songs is sure to be something all Testament fans will enjoy. This album starts out with a bang and never lets up.