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I admit that I fully expected Testament's 2012 album, Dark Roots of Earth, to amount to "just another Testament album" and my first listen seemed to confirm my suspicions. Subsequent listens, however, have revealed that I sold the album, and the band, way short.

Make no mistake; this is still Testament through and through with Chuck Billy's powerful shouts, Alex Skolnick's excellent leads, Eric Peterson's crunchy riffs, Greg Christian's pounding bass and the ubiquitous Gene Hoglan destroying the drums. Dark Roots of Earth hearkens back to the band's heyday of the late 80s and classic albums like Practice What You Preach and The New Order, only this time you get the added bonus of a sharp, clean production courtesy of Andy Sneap. Songs like "Rise Up," "Native Blood" and "True American Hate" possess the same fire and aggression that characterized "hits" like "Into the Pit" or "Practice What You Preach." Testament continue to refine the songwriting formula that has served them well for the past 25+ years and manages to create songs that are distinctive but still, unmistakably, Testament. If you've heard the band's output from the 80s, Dark Roots of Earth is going to sound pleasingly familiar but not derivative. That's what good songwriting does for a band.

Long time Testament fans will not be disappointed and all Bay-area Thrash fans should check out Dark Roots of Earth. It's nice to hear one of the pioneers not only get back to their roots but do it well.