The Gathering Review
| Band | |
|---|---|
| Album |  The Gathering |
| Type | Album (Studio full-length) |
| Released | June 28, 1999 |
| Genres | Thrash Metal |
| Labels | Spitfire Records |
| Length | 42:40 |
| Ranked | #12 for 1999 , #305 all-time |
Album rating : 87.7 / 100
Votes : 83 (7 reviews)
Votes : 83 (7 reviews)
July 29, 2024
Considering all the classic 80’s Thrash bands that collapsed into chaos and failure during the 90’s, Testament stood their ground much better than most. Many consider the preceding “Demonic” one of the only missteps in their discography (and not a severe one at that), but I still see it as quite a strong album. Not only that, it was a necessary step towards this album – “The Gathering.”
The Gathering takes the experimentation with Death Metal from Demonic and and avoids the monotonous limit in style. Instead, we have a great variety of Thrash, Groove, and Death Metal, each taking center stage on certain songs while falling back on others. Thanks to the consistency in quality from song to song, the willingness to change up in style makes the album sound fresh and filled with vitality. The drumming in particular here is very strong (wasn’t until after writing this I found out it was Dave Lombardo!), and Chuck’s vocal variety is on point.
Unfortunately, it drags a bit in the second half. I much prefer Testament when they’re playing faster and heavier (such as on the opener or the insane “Legions of the Dead”), but they falter to slower grooves too often for my taste. “Careful What You Wish For” and “Allegiance” are examples of the band on low gear and not sounding particularly dark, either (their version of stadium anthems? No thanks). This is alleviated with the closing track, a fantastic burst of energy, darkness, and aggression that closes the album out perfectly.
I’d say this is probably the band’s best since Souls of Black, though I wouldn’t peg it as a mid-career masterpiece like many seem to.
The Gathering takes the experimentation with Death Metal from Demonic and and avoids the monotonous limit in style. Instead, we have a great variety of Thrash, Groove, and Death Metal, each taking center stage on certain songs while falling back on others. Thanks to the consistency in quality from song to song, the willingness to change up in style makes the album sound fresh and filled with vitality. The drumming in particular here is very strong (wasn’t until after writing this I found out it was Dave Lombardo!), and Chuck’s vocal variety is on point.
Unfortunately, it drags a bit in the second half. I much prefer Testament when they’re playing faster and heavier (such as on the opener or the insane “Legions of the Dead”), but they falter to slower grooves too often for my taste. “Careful What You Wish For” and “Allegiance” are examples of the band on low gear and not sounding particularly dark, either (their version of stadium anthems? No thanks). This is alleviated with the closing track, a fantastic burst of energy, darkness, and aggression that closes the album out perfectly.
I’d say this is probably the band’s best since Souls of Black, though I wouldn’t peg it as a mid-career masterpiece like many seem to.
Track listing (Songs)
| title | rating | votes | video | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | D.N.R. (Do Not Resuscitate) | 3:32 | 94.6 | 16 | Audio |
| 2. | Down for Life | 3:23 | 92.7 | 15 | Audio |
| 3. | Eyes of Wrath | 5:27 | 88 | 12 | Audio |
| 4. | True Believer | 3:37 | 89.5 | 12 | |
| 5. | 3 Days in Darkness | 4:42 | 86.5 | 12 | |
| 6. | Legions of the Dead | 2:37 | 89 | 12 | |
| 7. | Careful What You Wish For | 3:31 | 86.1 | 11 | |
| 8. | Riding the Snake | 4:13 | 86.7 | 11 | |
| 9. | Allegiance | 2:38 | 86.1 | 11 | |
| 10. | Sewn Shut Eyes | 4:15 | 85 | 11 | |
| 11. | Fall of Sipledome | 4:48 | 89.5 | 12 | Audio |
Line-up (members)
- Chuck Billy : Vocals
- Eric Peterson : Guitars
- James Murphy : Guitars
- Steve DiGiorgio : Bass
- Dave Lombardo : Drums
10,412 reviews
| cover art | Artist | Album review | Reviewer | Rating | Date | Likes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | | Ancient Dreams Review (1988) | 90 | Jul 30, 2024 | 1 | ||
 | | Totem Review (2022) | 85 | Jul 30, 2024 | 1 | ||
 | | The Razor's Edge Review (1990) | 85 | Jul 30, 2024 | 0 | ||
 | | 90 | Jul 29, 2024 | 1 | |||
 | | 70 | Jul 29, 2024 | 0 | |||
 | | The Maze Review (1999) | 80 | Jul 29, 2024 | 0 | ||
 | | World Coming Down Review (1999) | 50 | Jul 29, 2024 | 0 | ||
 | | ▶ The Gathering Review (1999) | 80 | Jul 29, 2024 | 0 | ||
 | | Jerusalem Review (1999) | 40 | Jul 29, 2024 | 0 | ||
 | | 45 | Jul 29, 2024 | 0 | |||
 | | The Blackening Review (2007) | 75 | Jul 28, 2024 | 0 | ||
 | | Terra incognita Review (2001) | 85 | Jul 28, 2024 | 1 | ||
 | | Magma Review (2016) | 85 | Jul 28, 2024 | 1 | ||
 | | The Link Review (2003) | 70 | Jul 28, 2024 | 0 | ||
 | | Still Life Review (1999) | 95 | Jul 28, 2024 | 2 | ||
 | | Times of Grace Review (1999) | 75 | Jul 28, 2024 | 0 | ||
 | | Symbolic Review (1995) | 95 | Jul 27, 2024 | 0 | ||
 | | From Mars to Sirius Review (2005) | 80 | Jul 27, 2024 | 0 | ||
 | | Virgo Review (2001) | 85 | Jul 27, 2024 | 0 | ||
 | | Burn My Eyes Review (1994) | 85 | Jul 27, 2024 | 0 |
The Legacy Review (1987)
구르는 돌 90/100Jul 30, 2020 Likes : 12
스래쉬 메탈씬에서 오래 전부터 사용되어 왔던 것은 아니지만, 어느 순간 Big 4라는 고정적인 명칭은 일반 명사가 되어버린 듯하다. Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax 이 네 밴드를 일컫는 데, 이들이 몇 년 전 합동 투어를 돌면서 Big 4라는 호칭을 쓴 결과 스래쉬 메탈 팬들 사이에서 암암리에 입에... Read More
The Ritual Review (1992)
구르는 돌 75/100Jul 31, 2020 Likes : 5
90년대 헤비 메탈씬이 얼터너티브 록의 공습으로 초토화된 것은 주지의 사실이다. 헤비 메탈의 하위 장르인 스래쉬 메탈씬 또한 안전할 수 없었다. 급격하게 변해가는 음악 시장의 변화 메탈 밴드들의 얼터너티브화는 하나의 트렌드가 되었다. Testament 또한 이와같은 트렌드를 좇아가려는 ... Read More
The Legacy Review (1987)
SilentScream213 90/100Jun 16, 2020 Likes : 5
Take run of the mill 80’s Thrash and then take away pretty much any weaknesses you could find in the genre. That’s really Testament’s debut, which added absolutely nothing new to the realm of Thrash, but did everything just about as well as anyone could have. Crunchy riffs, wild solos, and a precise, speedy rhythm section played some of the tightest standard Thrash put to... Read More
TheBerzerker 84/100Feb 29, 2008 Likes : 5
요즘들어 Thrash 밴드들이 예전에 비해 말랑말랑한 음악 을 내놓는데 비해 아직까지 시원시원하고 오히려 더 강해보이는 음악을 내놓고있는, Testament 의 Practice what you Preach 앨범이다.아직은 내가 제일 좋아하는 제임스머피 시절이 아니지만, 기타 알렉스의 기타솔로 뿐만아니라 리프의 헤비... Read More
The Legacy Review (1987)
Vincent 92/100Apr 3, 2010 Likes : 4
샌프란 시스코에서 결성한 테스타먼트는 그들만의 강력한 사운드로 오랜 시간 동안 스래쉬 메탈의 5대천왕 중 하나로 Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax와 함께 살아있는 전설로 불려지고 있다.
그들의 데뷔는 83년도에 Legacy 라는 이름으로 출발하게 되는데 이때 당시의 멤버 구성은 Eric Peterso... Read More
The Legacy Review (1987)
Sathanas 95/100Apr 24, 2015 Likes : 3
Advanced Compositional Technique of America Thrash Metal
Testament 의 本作이 發賣될 무렵은 America Thrash Metal Scene 뿐만 아니라 Thrash Metal Scene 에는 Slayer 를 筆頭로 하는 過激 Thrash Metal 의 影響力이 强해지고 있었고 더군다나 Death Metal 이나 Black Metal 의 作法이 서로 融化되는 등 Metallica 로 代辯되는 America Thr... Read More
The Legacy Review (1987)
불만채로 80/100Oct 1, 2008 Likes : 3
테스터먼트는 다른 스레쉬밴드에 비해 기타리스트 복이 많은 편이라고 생각한다. Alex Skolnix와 James Murphy가 번갈아 들어와주고 있으니까 말이다.
그들의 이름을 세상에 알린 데뷔작이자, 베이에어리어 명반 중 하나라고 불리는 앨범이다. 이때의 척 빌리의 목소리는 후기와는 아주 생판 다... Read More
