Customer Reviews

Souls of Black

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Souls of Black is not Testament's finest album. That much is true. However, it isn't a bad record. The truth behind this recording is that the band was rushed into recording it, so it would be released at the same time as a European "Clash of the Titans" tour, featuring Megadeth and Slayer. The band has never liked it. But, there are some good songs here. (Good old vinyl years) Side one is strong. So, the first six tunes are pretty good. And side two starts with Malpractice which is okay as well. The Legacy is also a very good song. So, there's enough here to give it at least 3 stars. Where Souls of Black falters is on the production end. The sound is too thin, and not loud enough. The drums are buried way back in the mix too often. The bass is also lost in some songs. It's hard to headbang to this album, because it's just not HARD, even if the songs are heavy. But, it does provide some decent listening for metal fans. It was definately, at the time, fairly progressive thrash metal. Not the worst album you could have in your collection.

This is a very underrated album I think, I think it's even better than The Legacy, don't get me wrong, I love The Legacy, but I think they got better each album, this was released in 1990 after the awesome "Practice What You Preach", pretty much the same formula, but it is effective, the production isn't as good as on Practice What You Preach, because the fans back then wanted it to sound like "The New Order" but it fits the music well, Chuck Billy is a great vocalist, and really shines on this album, the vocals are echoed, but like I said, it's the production, and it fits, the drums are pushed back, but you can still hear them well, Skolnick and Peterson work together great, just listen to Skolnicks solo on "Face in the Sky" you will find yourself air-guitaring, and again, Testament pull off another great ballad "The Legacy" which is nothing short of killer, Billys vocals REALLY shine on this one, and the music is great also, just listen to the intro, great solo too, other standout tracks "Falling Fast" "Seven Days of May" "Souls of Black" they are all good, but I've named the best in my opinion, I'd buy the album, I don't think you'll be dissappointed, THRASH!!!

Souls Of Black is a great album by Testament. I can't understand why there are so many negative reviews. Sure there are a few fillers but some of the songs are amazing. For example the songs Souls Of Black, Seven Days Of May, and The Legacy are some of the best songs Testament have ever done. The highlight of this album is the guitar of Alex Skolnick, he really rips it up on this album, even more then on there previous efforts. The Legacy is an amazing ballad and Skolnicks solos on that song are just amazing. I really don't see what there is on this album that seems to be not likable. Everything is great, there are awesome riffs, cool lyrics and vocals, and some of the best guitar solos I have ever heard. If you like Testament or thrash metal then your collection cant be complete without Souls Of Black. I can't imagine my life if I had never heard the song The Legacy, it is that awesome. BUY THIS ALBUM!

i cannot believe that someone can consider "Seven Days of May" sloppy songwriting. Personally, as I listened to it and read the words, I realized that it was the story of the Chinese students protesting in T-something Square in 1989. That they wanted a more democratic government and the Chinese government put down this demonstration with EXCESSIVE FORCE. Making a comment on that terrible incident is the total opposite of sloppy songwriting. By the way "Face in the Sky" may not make much sense, but what a riff by Skolnick at the end. First time I heard it, I got the chills...

I wrote an earlier review where I gave this CD two stars. I owe an appology to the band and the shoppers for that. What this CD really suffers from is production. I didn't start to appreciate it until I got a new and better stereo. It's too damn quiet for me, as are all of Testament's earlier albums. They don't do the band justice. But the guitar playing kicks ass. Alex Skolnick was the best lead in thrash metal, and this is the last album I know where he'd show it. The bass and drums are origional Testament's usual quality, and Chuck Billy does a great job on vox as always. Buy this album, especially at $12, its worth it almost just for Skolnick's jaw dropping solo on "Face in the Sky". Just try and find a good stereo to play it on.

This is melodic thrash, complete with thick jams, cool lyrics, memorable tunes, without a single lame song. The whole album is gold!! It rocks, yet it jams enough to be melodic. The songs are awesome. There's even an awesome ballad called legacy. Trust me, it's cool. I'll always love this album. Testament's first three albums were just building up to this masterpiece. Funny though 'cuase right after this album in '92 the album The Ritual came out which was definately a fall from glory. This was the band's pinnacle man. This was it. And 1990 was a heck of year for thrash. Don't miss this album. Trust me! It's the best of it's genre. You'll sit down and forget your listening to it it's that good, the music will just become a part of you...If that makes any sense! I really can't figure out what's with the people who gave this less than a 5 star review. They're probably the same people that listen to new Metallica. This album is better than anything metallica ever did including the old stuff. You know why? Not because it's thrashier, but because it has more substance and lyrical quality. It's just awesome. Buy it!!

I bought Souls of Black when it was new back in 1990. I was going through my metal period in high school (which never ended: the metal period, I mean, not high school) and I already had The Legacy and New Order by Testament which I liked but did not consider among my favorite albums. After seeing the video for the beautiful track "The Legacy" (not to be confused with the album by the same name) which incorporated the cool cover imagery, I rushed and bought Souls of Black and it quickly became one of my favorite metal albums. I did not (and still don't) notice anything rushed or under-produced about it. I just hear a solid thrash metal album with tracks so catchy (ie "Absence of Light" and the title track) I can sing along to them (I can't say that about most thrash albums). "Beginning of the End" might be considered a "filler" because it is a short instrumental but it is very cool with a Latin flavor, and it makes for a nice intro to the explosive "Face in the Sky." The only track I might consider semi-weak is "One Man's Fate" because I do not like the overall sound but even on this track there is aa highlight: kicking drums!

"Seven Days of May" deserves special mention. It is about the student-led protests held Tiananmen Square in Beijing, the People's Republic of China, between April 15, 1989 and June 4, 1989. The protest denounced China's economic instability and political corruption and was violently suppressed by the PRC government. This event was still very fresh when this album was released in 1990. On May 4, 1989, 100,000 students and workers peacefully marched in Beijing making demands for adherence to socialist principles of equality, and protesting government corruption. These demonstrations continued even after the government declared martial law on May 20. The Communist party leaders eventually sent troops and tanks to restore order. When these forces were confronted by Chinese workers in the streets of Beijing, a massacre ensued (in the words of Testament: "They tried to show a peaceful path then it turned into a blood bath / In the Square they plan the game That's when the tanks of the army came"). Even today, the Chinese government will not allow any tallies made to count the actual number of dead. So there is lyrical meat to the album. And by the way, the song kicks as do the others save for "The Legacy" which is a charming metal ballad about the discovery of one's mortality. Excellent all the way through, I recommend it without hesitation.

This album was by far the best Testament album ever. In my opinion this album saw Alex at his prime, each solo on Souls of Black is like a work of art. Really truely some very memorable music here. Souls of Black was the soundtrack during my teenage years. I wish such intelligent heavy metal could exist for kids today.

overated????!!!!!...why dont you overate my ass!!.This is one of the greatest testament albums of all time!!. even though i still think the new order is there best album. this is so heavy great drumming,chuck billys best vocal performance so far,guitar sound like a bit like metallica but the riffs are awesome. highlights are:face in the sky,falling fast,souls of black,love to hate,one man's fate,the legacy,and the seven days of may.I never skip a track in this album this is simply put as a thrash metal classic.so if you like testament or any other thrash band you should get this!!!.

This CD clearly shows the musical progression and songwriting maturity of Testament that continues to this day. Testament is not a band to rest on its laurels rather, they seek to grow and experiment with great success on each continuing album. This CD is no exception. The tracks, "Malpractice" & "Seven Days Of May" are 2 of the standouts. Both posess rythmic complexities alongside brutal, straightforward crunching riffs. And the background vocals are superb! Sheesh!! Testament shows its more subtle side with the track "The Legacy", which really showcases Chuck Billy's incredible vocals, as well as the rest of the band's stellar musicianship. This is a must for any "true" Testament fan, as it showcases the many talents of a band that is still one of the top acts of this genre.