Artist: TESTAMENT
Album: THE RITUAL (CD)

Release date: 1992
EAN/UPS: 0075678239229
Media type: CD

The band's fortunes rose with 1989's 'Practice What You Preach'. Employing Perialas yet again, this album, which cracked the Billboard top 100, saw TESTAMENT shifting their lyrical focus onto more reality based concerns such as politics and the environment. During 1990 TESTAMENT, promoting the 'Souls Of Black' album, their first to break tradition with Perialas and pulling in Michael Rosen for desk duties, found themselves grabbing the opening spot on the mammoth 'Clash Of The Titans' European touring package with MEGADETH, ANTHRAX and SLAYER. Despite this increased global exposure TESTAMENT appeared to have plateaued on a commercial footing, the album only gaining slightly in sales on its predecessor.

Following 1992's Tony Platt produced 'The Ritual' album, which gave TESTAMENT their highest US chart position to date, Skolnick opted out to join SAVATAGE. By 1995 he had received a better offer to join OZZY OSBOURNE. However, the guitarist only lasted for one gig, a secret bash at Nottingham's Rock City. Skolnick followed his passion and founded the Jazz-Rock styled ATTENTION DEFICIT with PRIMUS drummer Tim Alexander for a 1998 album.

TESTAMENT meanwhile failed to maintain a stable line up for 1993's 'Return To Apocalyptic City', a six track stop gap mini album. New man on the drum stool was the highly respected ex-FORBIDDEN and SLAYER drummer Paul Bostaph whilst also coming onboard would be ex-FORBIDDEN guitarist Glen Alvelais.

1994's 'Low' featured Death metal journeyman guitarist JAMES MURPHY whose credits include AGENT STEEL, DEATH, OBITUARY, DISINCARNATE and CANCER and EXODUS drummer John Tempesta. The album, recorded at A&M studios in Los Angeles, was issued in the full gale force of a Rock revolution and TESTAMENT, in spite of cannily employing noted Alt-Rock producer Garth Richardson in union with the mixing skills of Metal veteran Michael Wagener, duly struggled to get noticed. Although fans and critics were unanimous in their praise for 'Low' and its return to form the record was swamped by Grunge. Shortly after recording Tempesta teamed up with WHITE ZOMBIE and Atlantic Records, a staunch ally since the debut, let the band go.

TRACKLIST:

1. Signs Of Chaos
2. Electric Crown
3. So Many Lies
4. Let Go Of My World
5. The Ritual
6. Deadline
7. As The Seasons Grey
8. Agony
9. The Sermon
10. Return To Serenity
11. Troubled Dreams

LINE-UP:

Chuck Billy (vocals)
Alex Skolnick (guitar)
Eric Peterson (guitar)
Greg Christian (bass)
Louie Clemente (drums)