Testament - The Legacy
| Release date: | 7 July 1987 |
| Style: | Bay Area thrash metal |
Owners: |
1292 have it 101 want it 1 trades it |
01. Over The Wall
02. The Haunting
03. Burnt Offerings
04. Raging Waters
05. C.O.T.L.O.D.
06. First Strike Is Deadly
07. Do Or Die
08. Alone In The Dark
09. Apocalyptic City
Top 20 albums of 1987: 5
Top 200 albums of all time: 122
02. The Haunting
03. Burnt Offerings
04. Raging Waters
05. C.O.T.L.O.D.
06. First Strike Is Deadly
07. Do Or Die
08. Alone In The Dark
09. Apocalyptic City
Top 20 albums of 1987: 5
Top 200 albums of all time: 122
Reviews 
Lyrics Re-issued on Atlantic : 1995, February 17th
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Rating:
8.8
8.8
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Rating: 8.8 |
For me Testament are one of those bands which peaked way too early. In my eyes they never ever topped their debut The Legacy and although they released many great subsequent releases, I do not think any of them match this. Musically, Testament were never as direct and ferocious as on The Legacy, delivering harder, darker, and more energetic songs than on their subsequent albums and what the album lacks in variety it makes up for in intensity. Don't let that statement confuse you however: Testament still manage to pack in a surprisingly diverse collection of musically interesting songs on this album. What has been put together here is a collection of songs that rival the intensity of Slayer, the polish of Megadeth, and the sleaze drenched mayhem of Overkill. In each song there is an unmistakeable seal of virtuosity and intelligence, mixed with the permanent insanity and brutality in lyrics and music, which unfortunately never would be so intense in any later Testament releases. Read more ›› |
Rating:
8.0
8.0
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Rating: 8.0 |
The first time I listened to this, I thought this was Metallica and James Hetfield had finally improved his vocals (although they worked pretty well on Kill 'Em All and Ride The Lightning). To this day, while listening to this I still cannot shake off the idea that this is Metallica or some kind of Metallica tribute band. The vocals sound Metallica-ish, the riffing and guitar solos sound like something Kirk Hammett wrote, and the fact that Testament are from the Bay Area does not help their case. They even copied the laugh at the end of "Master Of Puppets" in "C.O.T.L.O.D.", which, in true Testament fashion, still sounds weaker than that in "Master Of Puppets". Metallica is the hunter and Testament the prey, as they loudly proclaim on "Do Or Die." Read more ›› |
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Comments
Comments: 22
Visited by: 1186 users
| Uirapuru Liver Failure Posts: 2955 From: Brazil  |
This album has one of the best collection of solos I've heard in long time.  ''First Strike is Deadly'' one kicked my ass.
----  ---- member of the true crusade against old school heavy metal, early 80s thrash, NWOBHM, traditional doom, first and second wave black metal, old school death metal, US power metal, 70s prog rock and atmospheric doomsludgestoner. o/
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| Viesturs Posts: 21 From: Latvia  |
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| John Shock Posts: 500 From: Portugal |
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| ThisIsEndgame Posts: 35 From: USA  |
A classic and must own for any thrash fan. Amazing solos and riffs that blow your mind
---- \m/ Next thing you know they'll take my thought away! \m/
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| ZOMBIESiTellsYa Posts: 456 From: Ireland  |
Didn't like it the first time I listened to it a few months ago. Listened to it today again and was oh so very pleasantly surprised. So much catchy riffage on one album.
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| Deadmeat Necrobutcher Posts: 2425 From: Greece  |
Thats the first album i listen from this band and although i tend to dislike bay thrash this album is from the good ones.. the solo in "over the wall" is truly awesome...! it's nice that their vocals are not so bay-ish...
---- Υou've sold your human essence to the cold world of dead and empty things... You're SOLD!
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| pkillerjp Posts: 122 From: USA  |
Really great thrash debut, this is the only Testament album that competes with the early Big 4 releases. Raw energy, amazing riffs, nice songwriting, cool vocals-- always loved this one!
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| Jagermeister Posts: 19 From: Georgia  |
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Posts: 40071 From: The Netherlands  |
Written by Guest on 12.10.2017 at 15:37 And tbh Testament's only really good, or even great, album, although half of their follow-up is also still good to great, but everything after... well. mediocre thrash.
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996 
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| Alex F Slick Dick Rick Posts: 3426 From: USA  |
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 12.10.2017 at 17:20 I'd say this and the follow up are roughly equal in quality honestly. Never liked anything other than those two and the odd track here and there.
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Posts: 40071 From: The Netherlands |
Written by Alex F on 12.10.2017 at 19:28 I'd beg to differ due to tracks such as the Nobody's Fault cover, Hypnosis, Musical Death (A Dirge) , The Preacher, A Day Of Reckoning and also Eerie Inhabitants on The New Order. Whereas The Legacy doesn't have one single weak track.
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
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| Alex F Slick Dick Rick Posts: 3426 From: USA |
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 12.10.2017 at 19:35 I'd personally say that C.O.T.L.O.D is pretty weak, and that Nobody's Fault is the only "bad" song on The New Order. I also vastly prefer both the production and vocal performances on tNO, however the slightly less polished edge on The Legacy probably appeals a bit more to you (or so I would guess). Like I said, I like em both, but I also wouldn't call either of them masterpieces at all.
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Posts: 40071 From: The Netherlands |
Quote:Written by Alex F on 12.10.2017 at 19:41
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996
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| Maco Classless Posts: 3247  |
Total classic, superior in all aspects to everything they released after.
---- Never trust a junkie.
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| gavdann Posts: 193 From: UK  |
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| Bad English Tage Westerlund Posts: 51696 From: Norway  |
Pure thrashing opener, 100% energy and thrash, party non stop, some take drugs and dance in trance rthme, here you dont need drugs and shit, pure thrash is energizer and you can party all night long. Amazing period of metal when 80's bands recorded like first 4 albums.
---- Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!! Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''  I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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| Paulh Posts: 457 From: UK  |
01. Over The Wall - 10/10 02. The Haunting - 8.5/10 03. Burnt Offerings - 9.5/10 04. Raging Waters - 8.5/10 05. C.O.T.L.O.D. - 7/10 06. First Strike Is Deadly - 8.5/10 07. Do Or Die - 8.5/10 08. Alone In The Dark - 8/10 09. Apocalyptic City - 8/10 Overall: 8.5/10 leaning towards an 8. Not as strong as The New Order or The Gathering but still a great album.
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| Jope of Steele Posts: 2150 From: Finland  |
It's alright thrashing/speeding with not that many remarkable riffs and not that memorable songwriting. I have listened the album at least a few times and most of the songs just disappear right after listening without leaving anything to remember. Only a couple of songs, mainly "Burnt Offerings", break the pattern of forgettableness and manage also to be really good songs. So, not the best thrash album available. Maybe this is pretty good on Testament's standards, but when compared to classic thrash albums from 80s or just bay are ones, this is not really impressive album. Doesn't highly disappoint after a few listens but sort of falls flat.
---- Freedom is a state of mind-not freedom from something but a sense of freedom, a freedom to doubt and question all and therefore so intense, active and vigorous that it throws away every form of dependence, slavery, conformity and acceptance-J Krishnamurti
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| Metal Rambo Posts: 359 From: Finland  |
One of the most overrated metal albums ever. Most of the songs are barely memorable, just average thrash with great soloing. The production has aged badly and ruins whatever better parts that can be found here and there. This album needs proper remixed or remastered re-release.
---- You've got a lot of guts. Let's see what they look like.
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| Rufus Valentine Posts: 33 From: UK |
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