Testament - Para bellum (2025)^{Release ID: 63428}

Fourteen albums in and still Chuck Billy sounds like an absolute fucking monster. In terms of positives to take from Para bellum, it is a tossup which to take as the standout section, Billy’s vocals or Peterson and Skolnick’s guitar work. The riffs on here are certainly on a par with the quality exhibited on Titans of Creation, an album that I only recently revisited, awarding a four-star rating to it in fact. For the first three tracks on the new record at least, Testament pick up where they left off on their previous album from five years ago. That level of intensity of delivery from a band who are four decades into their existence is no mean feat it should be acknowledged. There is a vitality to Testament that left the likes of Megadeth many records ago. It sounds like Testament are not simply enduring the latter years of their career, more that they are enjoying them.

That is not to say that Para bellum is a flawless record, in fact it is far from that in my experience. When I first played it, I was bitterly disappointed, to the point where I was possibly not going to bother revisiting. My recent exploration of Titans… had left the bar high and the initial run through of this album did not get anywhere near for my money. A more critical listen (in my usual protected place of in bed with headphones on) did pay dividends though and I am now of a much more positive mindset of than I was. I must agree with what Sonny calls out in his review though, Para bellum does suffer with filler and as a result ends up outstaying its welcome. I too can forgive the power ballad, ‘Meant to Be’ even though it is placed far too early in the track listing for my liking and is quite disruptive as a result. The fact that the ‘High Noon’, the first of the filler tracks comes in after it makes this random cowboy track stick out even more.

There is in fact no memorability across the middle section of the album. The track listing appears to disappear into a black hole in fact for three tracks which is a particularly bad place for any album to run out of steam. The fact that it then falters again after ‘Room 117’ ensures that the band end up feeling like they just fall over the finish line as opposed to romp over it with the success that the record promises early on. I am not even convinced by the title track that closes the album. So, in the end, Testament show enough positives to avoid a score that reflects their latest album being a failure, yet they do lack the stamina to go the full length. Right now it sits just behind Sodom’s effort this year and ahead of the poor Destruction album that came out this past March.

It seems like the Old School are mounting a fightback in 2025 with new albums from Coroner, Sodom, Dark Angel, Destruction, Onslaught, Hirax, Sacrifice and Testament all hitting the shelves of metal emporiums the world over. I would be lying if I said I was feverish with anticipation over any of the above, but in the past all have made thrash albums I love to a greater or lesser degree, so at least deserve a hearing. Now, I do like Testament, Chuck Billy is one of my favourite thrash metal vocalists, but somehow, much like fellow Californians Exodus, outside of their debut album they just don't excite me as much as they should, their songwriting not always flipping my switches.

Initial impressions of Para Bellum, however, are good, especially as Chuck's excoriating bellow is still as potent as ever, despite being the same age as me, old bastard (me, not Chuck)! Kicking off in thrashtastically invigorating style, the opening dual salvo of "For the Love of Pain" and "Infanticide A.I." hit pretty hard with some high-energy riffing, scintillating leadwork from Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick and defiant roars from Chuck. They follow this up with the medium-paced chug of "Shadow People", allowing for a change of pacing and lyrical content. Whereas the opening brace are lyrically centre around the modern concern that the power-hungry few are trying to exert control over the wider population's lives, "Shadow People" takes on the old metal staple of demonic forces and black magic.

"Meant To Be" kicks off in 80's power ballad style as Testament attempt their own version of "Fade To Black", with the track building in intensity and heaviness, although the stadium-friendly, Zippo-waving chorus is a bit cheesy-sounding for my taste, the lead work is pretty decent. Whilst it misses the mark a bit, I do applaud the band trying to mix things up and provida a little bit of the epic amongst the machine-gun firestorm around it, which certainly continues apace with the next couple of tracks, "High Noon" and "Witch Hunt", both of which attempt to tear your head from your shoulders with chainsaw riffs and by sheer weight of aggression. I think new drummer, ex-Seven Spires skinsman Chris Dovas is probably worth a mention at this point. Following previous two drumstool occupants Gene Hoglan and Dave Lombardo gives Dovas some pretty big boots to fill, but his drumming is precise and powerful and provides the riffs with added impetus and velocity.

Unfortunately this point now sees the album hit a flat spot as we hit filler territory. "Nature of the Beast" is the blandest and most uninspiring track on the album for my money and I feel its presence also has a negative effect on the next track "Room 117", which isn't strong enough to lift the album, despite a decent chugging riff and a nice mid-track solo, with it feeling like it too is dragged down by the banality of its predecessor. "Havana Syndrome" encounters more of the same, with the vicious main riff being let down by a rather unimpressive chorus. The album concludes with the title track and here we hear the band back at full tilt and sounding so much better as a result as they declare war on your eardrums once more with a war-drenched slab of epic thrash glory.

There is a killer 41 minute album in here. I would have liked them to have stripped out the two filler tracks, "Nature of the Beast" and "Havana Syndrome", which would have left us with a leaner, meaner fighting machine of an album. I also know that "Meant To Be" is a misfire, but like I said, I kind of admire the intent behind it, so am inclined to want it to remain. All-in-all I am glad to have heard Para Bellum and would have no issue picking up a copy if I could get it for under a tenner.