In a recent interview on the Full Metal Jackie radio show, Testament frontman Chuck Billy offered an update on two projects that he is planning to release later this year or next year. One is the upcoming Testament album, which will be, not only their first since 2020's Titans Of Creation, but the first to feature the recently-returning drummer Dave Lombardo since 1999's The Gathering. His other project is his debut solo album, which he announced last year and its direction will be slightly different from the traditional thrash metal sound of Testament.

When asked if Lombardo will be present for the making of the next Testament album, Billy said: "It's going to happen. During COVID Eric wrote a lot of riffs, so he's actually been stockpiling the riffs trying to work on writing another record, so the timing is perfect. I think the beauty and the chemistry that Eric and Dave had for The Gathering record was amazing because I really believe it as a turning point for Testament as far as our style and really honing in who we are. Eric has always been a guitar player who always worked out all the songs on the drum machine and presented them to the drummers. For The Gathering, Dave just said, 'Dude, just play. Let's just jam, just play,' and Dave started just playing and Eric really got to just focus on the riffs without looking at the whole picture. The chemistry was just there and Dave pushed Eric, so I'm looking forward to that happening again, I hope. The rehearsals we had with Dave are just like old times again. The sad thing is Dave probably would've still been here if I didn't get cancer back in 2002 when The Gathering stuff went to the side because I got sick. Dave moved on and here we are - the opportunity is here and we're all ready to go and he's excited to get back here and play again. His energy is getting us excited because he's really excited about it."

About his upcoming solo album, Chuck said: "The scary part is gone. I really don't care - I'm writing a solo record for myself and the one thing I don't want it to be is a Testament record. I've done enough of those records and I want to try something a little different - heavy, but maybe also a little more bluesy and sludgy. Just real simplistic stuff to try to create a different side of what I've done already. 've only worked with Eric, so trying to write with other people it definitely pushes me to try other things and push myself to get a little more creative vocally. I'm looking forward to that, but I'm not in a big hurry. When COVID hit, maybe I had that on my mind and I was getting antsy and wanting to do it, but now that the world is opening back up and we're getting back on tour, I'll put it on the back burner. It'll happen, it's just not something I'm rushing to do."

Source:	loudwire.com
Band profile:	Testament