http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.1707&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rssAs is often the case with Metal bands, Testament's best selling album was its worst. 1992's <I>The Ritual</I> can still offer some relief to listeners suffering the wasting effects of Metallica's post-<I>Metallica</I> output, but any fan will tell you the band's first three albums -- recorded in '80s -- simply destroy this sorry piece of studio milquetoast. The odd thing is, in live performances they remained a rippingly good unit of shredders, doling out big, bold, bloody chops like butchers on a bender. Lead guitarist Alex Skolnick was one of an elite few capable of holding his own against Metallica's Kirk Hammett and Slayer's Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman. <I>The Ritual</I> made it apparent, however, that Skolnick valued virtuosity over ferocity, so they replaced him and never looked back. After adding Death Metal legend James Murphy, Testament started making the heaviest records of their career. <I>Demonic</I> and <I>The Gathering</I> are no mere crust-after-pie recordings; they're absolutely ferocious. More than a decade in, Testament will never warm another bench for Metallica, now that they've again taken the field with straight-up sluggers like Slayer and Sepultura. - Chad DriscollThrash/Speed Metalen720Fri, 1 Jan 2010 07:50:20 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.1707&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss As is often the case with Metal bands, Testament's best selling album was its worst. 1992's <I>The Ritual</I> can still offer some relief to listeners suffering the wasting effects of Metallica's post-<I>Metallica</I> output, but any fan will tell you the band's first three albums -- recorded in '80s -- simply destroy this sorry piece of studio milquetoast. The odd thing is, in live performances they remained a rippingly good unit of shredders, doling out big, bold, bloody chops like butchers on a bender. Lead guitarist Alex Skolnick was one of an elite few capable of holding his own against Metallica's Kirk Hammett and Slayer's Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman. <I>The Ritual</I> made it apparent, however, that Skolnick valued virtuosity over ferocity, so they replaced him and never looked back. After adding Death Metal legend James Murphy, Testament started making the heaviest records of their career. <I>Demonic</I> and <I>The Gathering</I> are no mere crust-after-pie recordings; they're absolutely ferocious. More than a decade in, Testament will never warm another bench for Metallica, now that they've again taken the field with straight-up sluggers like Slayer and Sepultura. - Chad Driscoll http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18937217&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 18937217 tra.18937217 Testament art.1707 0.99 First Strike Still Deadly alb.18933096 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/7/4/9/1769472_170x170.jpg 2009-03-18 00:00:00.0 2008-03-18 00:00:00.0 true Alone In The Dark tra.18937217 279000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18937217&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18937217&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1507771&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Tue, 8 Aug 1989 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 1507771 tra.1507771 Testament art.1707 0.99 Practice What You Preach alb.133232 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/7/5/7/1537572_170x170.jpg 2008-12-23 00:00:00.0 1989-08-08 00:00:00.0 true The Ballad tra.1507771 368000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1507771&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1507771&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746488&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Tue, 8 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 17746488 tra.17746488 Testament art.1707 0.99 The Gathering alb.17739080 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/7/3/9/1809371_170x170.jpg 2000-10-10 00:00:00.0 2008-01-08 00:00:00.0 true Down For Life tra.17746488 203000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746488&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746488&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18937210&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 18937210 tra.18937210 Testament art.1707 0.99 First Strike Still Deadly alb.18933096 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/7/4/9/1769472_170x170.jpg 2009-03-18 00:00:00.0 2008-03-18 00:00:00.0 true Trial By Fire tra.18937210 272000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18937210&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18937210&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1507764&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Tue, 8 Aug 1989 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 1507764 tra.1507764 Testament art.1707 0.99 Practice What You Preach alb.133232 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/7/5/7/1537572_170x170.jpg 2008-12-23 00:00:00.0 1989-08-08 00:00:00.0 true Practice What You Preach tra.1507764 297000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1507764&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1507764&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1877790&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Mon, 1 Jan 1990 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 1877790 tra.1877790 Testament art.1707 0.99 Souls Of Black alb.219486 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/7/5/7/1537571_170x170.jpg 2008-12-23 00:00:00.0 1990-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Souls Of Black tra.1877790 202000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1877790&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1877790&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18937208&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 18937208 tra.18937208 Testament art.1707 0.99 First Strike Still Deadly alb.18933096 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/7/4/9/1769472_170x170.jpg 2009-03-18 00:00:00.0 2008-03-18 00:00:00.0 true First Strike Is Deadly tra.18937208 240000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18937208&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18937208&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1376551&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Thu, 1 Jan 1987 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 1376551 tra.1376551 Testament art.1707 0.99 The Legacy alb.225530 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/7/5/7/1537574_170x170.jpg 2008-12-23 00:00:00.0 1987-01-01 00:00:00.0 true First Strike Is Deadly tra.1376551 223000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1376551&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1376551&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746492&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Tue, 8 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 17746492 tra.17746492 Testament art.1707 0.99 The Gathering alb.17739080 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/7/3/9/1809371_170x170.jpg 2000-10-10 00:00:00.0 2008-01-08 00:00:00.0 true Legions Of The Dead tra.17746492 159000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746492&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746492&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746491&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Tue, 8 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 17746491 tra.17746491 Testament art.1707 0.99 The Gathering alb.17739080 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/7/3/9/1809371_170x170.jpg 2000-10-10 00:00:00.0 2008-01-08 00:00:00.0 true 3 Days In Darkness tra.17746491 280000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746491&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746491&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746498&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Tue, 8 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 17746498 tra.17746498 Testament art.1707 0.99 The Gathering alb.17739080 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/7/3/9/1809371_170x170.jpg 2000-10-10 00:00:00.0 2008-01-08 00:00:00.0 true Hammer Of The Gods tra.17746498 192000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746498&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746498&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20212105&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 20212105 tra.20212105 Testament art.1707 0.99 The Formation Of Damnation alb.20204860 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/8/8/8/1218888_170x170.jpg 2008-04-29 00:00:00.0 2008-04-29 00:00:00.0 true More Than Meets The Eye tra.20212105 273000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20212105&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20212105&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.11948157&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Tue, 10 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 11948157 tra.11948157 Testament art.1707 0.0 This Is Metal's Most Covered Moments Of The '80s alb.11944286 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/8/7/0/1320786_170x170.jpg 2006-10-10 00:00:00.0 2006-10-10 00:00:00.0 false Seek And Destroy tra.11948157 402000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.11948157&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.11948157&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746489&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Tue, 8 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 17746489 tra.17746489 Testament art.1707 0.99 The Gathering alb.17739080 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/7/3/9/1809371_170x170.jpg 2000-10-10 00:00:00.0 2008-01-08 00:00:00.0 true Eyes Of Wrath tra.17746489 327000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746489&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746489&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746495&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Tue, 8 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 17746495 tra.17746495 Testament art.1707 0.99 The Gathering alb.17739080 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/7/3/9/1809371_170x170.jpg 2000-10-10 00:00:00.0 2008-01-08 00:00:00.0 true Allegiance tra.17746495 156000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746495&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746495&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1376620&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Tue, 10 May 1988 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 1376620 tra.1376620 Testament art.1707 0.99 The New Order alb.234676 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/7/5/7/1537573_170x170.jpg 2008-12-23 00:00:00.0 1988-05-10 00:00:00.0 true Hypnosis tra.1376620 124000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1376620&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1376620&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20212113&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 20212113 tra.20212113 Testament art.1707 0.99 The Formation Of Damnation alb.20204860 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/8/8/8/1218888_170x170.jpg 2008-04-29 00:00:00.0 2008-04-29 00:00:00.0 true F.E.A.R. tra.20212113 286000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20212113&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.20212113&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18937212&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 18937212 tra.18937212 Testament art.1707 0.99 First Strike Still Deadly alb.18933096 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/7/4/9/1769472_170x170.jpg 2009-03-18 00:00:00.0 2008-03-18 00:00:00.0 true The Preacher tra.18937212 234000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18937212&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18937212&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1376520&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Tue, 5 May 1992 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 1376520 tra.1376520 Testament art.1707 0.99 The Ritual alb.102380 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/8/0/0/1560082_170x170.jpg 2008-05-27 00:00:00.0 1992-05-05 00:00:00.0 true The Ritual tra.1376520 449000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1376520&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1376520&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1507910&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Tue, 8 Aug 1989 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 1507910 tra.1507910 Testament art.1707 0.99 Practice What You Preach alb.133232 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/7/5/7/1537572_170x170.jpg 2008-12-23 00:00:00.0 1989-08-08 00:00:00.0 true Nightmare (Coming Back To You) tra.1507910 140000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1507910&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1507910&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746497&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Tue, 8 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 17746497 tra.17746497 Testament art.1707 0.99 The Gathering alb.17739080 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/7/3/9/1809371_170x170.jpg 2000-10-10 00:00:00.0 2008-01-08 00:00:00.0 true Fall Of Sipledome tra.17746497 291000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746497&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746497&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.8733112&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Sat, 1 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 8733112 tra.8733112 Testament art.1707 0.0 Live In London alb.8732564 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/0/5/9/749508_170x170.jpg 2005-11-01 00:00:00.0 2005-01-01 00:00:00.0 true The Preacher tra.8733112 249000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.8733112&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.8733112&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746494&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Tue, 8 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 17746494 tra.17746494 Testament art.1707 0.99 The Gathering alb.17739080 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/7/3/9/1809371_170x170.jpg 2000-10-10 00:00:00.0 2008-01-08 00:00:00.0 true Riding The Snake tra.17746494 250000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746494&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746494&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746493&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Tue, 8 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 17746493 tra.17746493 Testament art.1707 0.99 The Gathering alb.17739080 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/7/3/9/1809371_170x170.jpg 2000-10-10 00:00:00.0 2008-01-08 00:00:00.0 true Careful What You Wish For tra.17746493 210000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746493&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17746493&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18937213&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss Thrash/Speed Metal Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Testament on Rhapsody Online 18937213 tra.18937213 Testament art.1707 0.99 First Strike Still Deadly alb.18933096 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/7/4/9/1769472_170x170.jpg 2009-03-18 00:00:00.0 2008-03-18 00:00:00.0 true Burnt Offerings tra.18937213 326000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18937213&variant=play&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18937213&variant=data&rws=%2Ftestament%2Ftop-tracks.rss