Return To Serenity (L)
=)

Ah... Testament's "Black Album". lol

There is many great individual songs on this album. The fact it's more or less the same pace all the way through is probably the only negative thing about it. But a very high quality metal album nonetheless. xD

Brilliant. I like every tune on this album. My favourite Testament LP, a bit before The Gathering.

This is not 'Testament's Black Album'
Testament never made awful sell out shit.Once and for all-METALLICA'S ALBUMS
ARE NOT STANDARD OR MEASURMENT FOR OTHER METAL ALBUMS!! THEY SHOLUD BE JUDGED
FOR THEIR OWN STANDARDS AND QUALITY!!

Written by bblitz on 12.11.2013 at 11:26

This is not 'Testament's Black Album'
Testament never made awful sell out shit.Once and for all-METALLICA'S ALBUMS
ARE NOT STANDARD OR MEASURMENT FOR OTHER METAL ALBUMS!! THEY SHOLUD BE JUDGED
FOR THEIR OWN STANDARDS AND QUALITY!!

People like you are simply oblivious to, or just refuse to admit to the fact, that many thrash bands abandoned thrash just as Metallica did in the 90's. Metallica are not the only thrash band who "sold out", and level of mainstream success should not be used as a measure for that. Bands who attempted to sell out and failed to gain huge success, are no less sell-outs than Metallica just because they succeeded in gaining mainstream success. Besides the fact that Metallica were already a lot bigger than all the other thrash bands before they even made the "Black Album". Kreator, Destruction, Testament, Forbidden, Sepultura, Megadeth, and Overkill, are just some of the bands who at some point in the 90's, gave in to the trends of the time, and stopped playing thrash. Refusal to acknowledge this, whilst bashing Metallica for "selling out", just makes one look like a poser, who only bashes Metallica because they're an easy target.

Overkill sold out,please don't.....

Not a huge Testament fan by any means, but I've always kinda like this album and don't understand the hatred it receives. Who cares if Testament refined their sound (sold out- ha) I enjoy this one more than their post Legacy 80s releases- it's more original to my ears and the melodic stuff is done with class. Pretty good album.

This is definitely my favorite Testament album. Some very interesting themes are dealt with on this album, like the wish to return to the "Golden Age / Age of Innocence" (Return to Serenity), the complete damnation of a soul-destroying, regimented life (The Ritual), a complete detachment of a false / consensus reality (Let go of My World), etc. ...

But not only in terms of lyrics is this a extraordinary good album; also musically. It's a bit calmer than the previous efforts, but I personally don't care much about that. The guitar sound on this album originates from a deep sadness and a legitimate anger. All that's needed to reflect on a severely sick world, basically...

I haven't heard this album in a long time, good

Underrated for sure, and definitely better than the Black Album. Sure, not as heavy or speedy as some of their earlier stuff, but it doesn’t really need to be. I’d always rather a band do something like this later down the line than just trying to crank out endless bangers for an overstimulated fanbase

Written by Auntie Sahar on 01.09.2023 at 18:23

Underrated for sure, and definitely better than the Black Album.

Definitely better than the Black Album, I say it's also better than Megadeth's Countdown to Extinction.

It’s not difficult to make an album better than the Black Album so that’s no compliment. Id still spin Countdown to this but I agree it’s a bit underrated.

Written by JoHn Doe on 01.09.2023 at 18:39

Definitely better than the Black Album, I say it's also better than Megadeth's Countdown to Extinction.

Countdown is good for what it is. What bugs me about it though is it has some bangers and then some tracks you can tell were just Dave itching for radio play and music vid exposure.

I’d probably say…

1. The Ritual
2. Countdown
3. Black Album