"Over the Hill" is just an awesome opening song, a real smash-you-in-the-face welcoming. "We are Testament, now take this!" This is what thrash metal was all about, heavy blazing guitars, great drum work and a driving forceful vocalist. "The Haunting" continues in this trend. Guitarists Alex Skolnick and Eric Peterson, who wrote almost all of the music for this album, are in great form, keeping these songs at maximum tempo. I love "Burnt Offerings", which is the song that follows, but its one flaw is that it does feel sometimes that it is just oe riff being played for five minutes straight. Not necessarily a bad thing, but compared to the rest of the album it is a little unusual. "Raging Waters" has the speed of the other songs, but is... how should I put this... a little 'lighter in substance' than the others. If you had only listened this far into the album, you may well think that Testament were a bit 'samey'. This is relieved by "C.O.T.L.O.D." (Curse of the Legions of Death), which restores the real Testament legacy (no pun intended) to the forefront.
"First Strike is Deadly' is still a brilliant song, one of Testament's best ever. It careers along at headbanging pace, with Chuck Billy's vocals menacing over some brilliant guitar work, especially in the solo break where true Iron Maiden-esque great harmony guitars prove that these guys are not just a one trick pony. "Do or Die" ups the pace even more, complemented by another brilliant solo break. "Alone in the Dark" follows up and does exactly the same, thrashing along with all elements pefectly in alignment. But then comes "Apocalyptic City", the riff-lined, bass-thumping, drum-induced closer to the album, that ramps it all up to eleven. There's no time to rest. You start moshing from the start, and there is no respite. It is a crime to finish the album on this song, as it leaves you so amped up that you just need to start it again from the start. Brilliant stuff.
All the great elements of the thrash genre are here - super duelling and co-operative guitarists going at it hell for leather, with a great bass and drum rhythm section perfectly in sync with their partners, while Billy's vocals at times monster through the speakers at you. Peterson and Skolnick can rightly be compared to Hannerman and King, and Hetfield and Hammett on this album. They are just superb. If you are a confessed headbanger, you already own this album. If you are wondering what the deal is with thrash metal, then beginning with this album wouldn't be such a bad idea.
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