As noted prior when I picked up the first 5 OAS on CD, Testament's debut The Legacy was at the tail end of my metal phase, coinciding with my graduation from college. Their sophomore effort The New Order never really resonated, and it wasn't until a couple of years ago that I reunited with the band's latest works. But I had missed everything between. One of those is The Gathering, an album considered by many to be their grand comeback, coming off a couple of groove and death metal releases (which I've not heard). 1999 was not a great time for traditional thrash bands, and Testament would have been an anomaly to go back to their roots as it were. The opening track 'D.N.R. (Do Not Resuscitate)' packs a wallop and recalls the very best of the early albums. But Testament didn't turn their back on their newly found fans, and there's plenty of very aggressive music here, with occasional death growls. Chuck Billy has the type of voice to pull it off, but my tastes will likely never quite adjust to it. His regular voice would have made these tracks better in my opinion, but OK. The album weaves in and out of inventive thrash and more hardcore punky death metal. One could see this being a revelation in 1999 for fans of thrash metal who never abandoned the cause. For myself, I barely listened to any metal during these years, so it's all revisionist history. I prefer their initial phase along with what they're doing now. All the same, this remains a keeper.
Ownership: LP: 2020 Nuclear Blast. Gatefold. Orange vinyl. More trade credit with my partners at What's Left. Demand for vinyl must be high for this title, as at least 3 distinct pressings have emerged in as many years.
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