Sold out concert space, and the concert is held by a metal band? Certainly (and unfortunately) not something that often happens in our country, but last night it finally happened. Novi Sad SKC or as everyone simply calls him “Factory”this one 25th of Christmas seemed like a place where a portal to the distant past opened, where we all traveled for a few hours and completely forgot what year it was, actually. But it didn’t even matter, because we all loved being in that 1987 and everything it brought – and it brought us Testament.
After exactly five years, the legends of American thrash metal came to visit us again and did it, and how else, than in the style that befits them. The ignorant like to associate thrash metal with mere noise, and Testament breaks that unloved template on all fronts – both literally and figuratively. Without a minute’s delay, they took the stage and opened the performance explosively, and to the joy of many, the setlist consisted mainly of songs from the first two albums, „The Legacy“ i „New Order“.
The crowded and highly stratified generational Factory turned into a Bay Area paradise in a second, and everyone present enjoyed it as if there was no tomorrow. In a good mood Chuck Billy repeatedly addressed the audience, maintained a pleasant interaction – which contributed to the overall tone of the evening, and the machinery of perfectly coordinated musicians around him seemed unreal at times. An impeccable rhythm section made up of a former member of the legendary DeathSteve DiGiorgioand young people Chris Dovasshe growled from the stage like a beast, with the guitar duo in sight Eric Petersona i Alex Skolnicka he sprinkled us with lavish solos in turn and caressed our ears with those melodies, which decades ago they so skilfully incorporated into a genre like this and gave it a touch of refinement – which he didn’t even know he needed.
They were flaming in a row „Over the Wall“, „Raging Waters“, „Do or Die“, and they were followed by inevitable silences and crowd surfing which added spice to the atmosphere, and made us outside of them feel as if, at that moment, we were all one big whole. The whole gathered around our favorite “object” of worship called Music, which was represented and represented by these great men last night. Although Testament is not officially classified as one of the famous big four, they never needed to be, because with their quality, perseverance, dedication, and above all, their love for what they do, they have placed themselves in a separate rank – you can’t fool the fans, and they do that very well. they know very well, and that’s exactly why they are where they are.
We continued to travel through this hot eighties night with „The Preacher“, „Alone in the Dark“, „First Strike is Deadly“, „Apocalyptic City“, and we were also treated to a short but significant drum solo section. However, when the setlist is limited to certain albums, it is always a double-edged sword – as much as we enjoyed those thrash gems from the beginning of their career, in a few moments it was necessary to hear something from the band’s slightly later period, especially those masterful ballads. (The Legacy, Return to Serenity, The Ballad) which were not typical for thrash metal at all, and raised it to a completely new level. But even without them, Testament organized a concert and a memorable evening, which will undoubtedly be engraved in the being and memory of all who were present and thereby participated in the creation of history.
The strict adherence to the hourly schedule is often a little disappointing, because, naturally, we all always hope that the gig will be extended “just a little longer” and that “only this thing” will be saved for the encore, but last night too, that one had to perform a sad moment when everyone leaves their guitars and drums, says thank you, bows and leaves the stage – and in parallel with their leaving that big stage, that unpleasant bitterness and question immediately comes over us personally – what now? The most difficult return to reality is usually the one after the last tone is played and a look at the backs of those who come down from it.
The end, however, and fortunately, was delayed a little more, because those armed with patience managed to take a photo with Alex Skolnick at tour bus, and some even welcomed Chuck (the most persistent ones did it during the day, as soon as they arrived in Novi Sad). A rare beautiful and priceless feeling when you come in the immediate vicinity of your musical gods and touch them for a moment, and you see that they too are just people – but not ordinary people, because ordinary people can never move (and create) your little world. in the same way as these.
Uncompromising, strong, explosive and straight to your face would probably be the most vivid description of last night’s metal pilgrimage. Testament knows what he’s doing, he knows he’s doing it superbly and, most importantly, he has no plans to stop. The band is in excellent, enviable shape, each member is the master of their weapon in the form of an instrument, and for Chuck’s vocals, time seemed to stand still, which further reinforced the impression that we were teleported to the eighties. Although we often overlook it, it is a great luck and honor of our kind that we can still touch a part of that golden and unrepeatable era, when music was created that changed trends, reshaped the scene and made the world the way it is now – colored and decorated with so many metallic nuances, which we, as part of that musical fairy tale, additionally paint. A big thank you to Testament – and our trip for that heavy notes and the fight for more sold-out concerts continues – The legacy continues.
PHOTO GALLERY
Source: balkanrock.com
