Entering the scene at the heels of Metallica in the early 1980s, Testament didn’t end up in the ‘Big Four’ of thrash metal, unlike their predecessor. Although some polls, including a Revolver one in 2021, revealed that fans considered them one of the best non-Big Four acts, some facts about them showed that the band deserved a higher place in the industry than they got.
5. They Played With Many Famous Acts
Collaborations with notable figures in the metal scene mark Testament’s concert history. In 1990, the band toured Europe alongside Megadeth, Slayer, and Suicidal Tendencies. In addition, they opened for the likes of Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Anthrax, and Judas Priest throughout the years.
4. They Have The ‘Album Of The Year’ In Their Catalog
In 2008, Testament’s ‘The Formation Of Damnation’ became their highest-charting work by debuting at number 59 on the Billboard Top 200 and maintaining the top spot on CMJ and FMOB charts for multiple weeks. Following that, it brought success to the band, receiving the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Award for ‘Album of the Year’ that June.
3. They Survived The SoundScan Era
The introduction of SoundScan in 1991 brought changes to how music sales were tracked, affecting the chart positions of several genres, such as hip-hop, hard rock, and metal. Testament, during this period and onward, reported sales of over 1.4 million albums in the US, with their global sales going over 14 million copies.
2. They Became An Influence For Many
While being affected by the musicians that came before them, Testament influenced many names in metal, including Pantera, Korn, and White Zombie, throughout the decades. Groups like Sepultura, Machine Head, Cannibal Corpse, and Lamb Of God also cited them as a source of inspiration in the past. In fact, Sepultura guitarist Andreas Kisser even talked about the matter in a past interview by saying Testament’s early records inspired them ‘to try different things.’
1. They Are In The ‘Big Eight’ Of Their Genre
Although some sources named Testament one of the most influential Bay Area thrash metal acts before, the band didn’t get a spot in the Big Four. Still, The commercial and critical success of their ’80s records, ‘The Legacy,’ ‘The New Order,’ and ‘Practice What You Preach,’ earned them a spot among the ‘big eight,’ along with Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, Exodus, Overkill, and Death Angel.
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