Testament - Para Bellum (10/29/2025)
I have mostly written about technology and coding but have dipped into a few sports like basketball. I will now turn to music because, why not?
I have been a Testament fan since I heard The New Order in the summer of 1988. I didn't like it at first but after listening to it a handful of times, they started to grow on me.
I've been with them through the tough times and had Chuck and Eric pissed at me in 1998 when I saw them on their Demonic Tour in Cambridge Massachusetts. Their line up was going through changes since their split after The Ritual. Derrick Ramirez was back on bass, Jon Dette on the kit and Glen Alvelais on the guitar. I got their signatures, but the mood changed when I mentioned I had a Testament fan site. Chuck and Eric's attitudes turned sour as they felt I was making money on their image. I was not. It was a fan site, and the main purpose was to bring attention to the band. I made no money.
Less than a year later, TestamentLegions.com rose from the ashes. I like to think I was the one who got them on the interweb.
I fell away from Testament over the past few releases. I listened to the albums, but my mind wasn't into them. Sometimes, that happens.
I saw Para Bellum was released so I decided to give it a spin. I did read some articles about the album which left me scratching my head a bit.
"Did Testament finally create a death metal album"? – Have you heard Demonic?
"Did you hear they have a song about AI but used AI in their video or promotions?" – I don't care.
There are issues with AI but it's everywhere and I don't want to spend any more time than necessary.
1) For the Love of Pain – Sold. This song is in my Testament top 5. If this were the 90's, I would buy the album for this song alone.
2) Infanticide A.I. – I don't know how killing a child within it first year of birth and AI meet. I have never held Testament to a high lyrical standard; however, this is a decent song.
3) Shadow People – I'm not a fan as this is very basic compared to the first two songs. I'm not a fan of Chuck's softer side of singing.
4) Meant to Be – Left off the record. I don't know why Testament still records ballad like tunes. Please stop this now! Let Chuck's voice out as this song reminds me that he cannot drive 55.
5) High Noon – We are back where we left off after Infanticide A.I. This is another song I would purchase the album just for the song. We have 2 bone crushers.
6) Witch Hunt – Another song on the Infanticide A.I. level. Not a crusher but not like #4 or the next song in the list.
7) Nature of the Beast – I believe this answers my question to Meant to Be. I don't know why Chuck's boring vocals put me to sleep.
8) Room 117 – There seem to be 3 levels to this album. Bone crushers, Great thrashers, and then the rest. This one falls within the last category. I feel I can leave Room 117 whenever I want.
9) Havana Syndrome – It does have the light side of Chuck elements but good enough to not fall into the last category.
10) Para Bellum – The last bone crusher which brings the total to 3.
Are they back, did they ever leave or halfway in between?
Bone Crushers: 3
Great Thrashers: 3
The Rest: 4
6 of the 10 songs are worthy. You might like the slow and boring vocals that Chuck brings but his voice is best when at full throttle. I know full throttle is not sustainable, but these old dudes are still hanging in there unlike some of the other 80's thrash metal bands.
Please purchase the album so they don't think I am stealing from them: Testament - Para Bellum
Seriously, go listen to Demonic.
