736. Testament / Low. 1994. 3/5

By the mid-1990's music had changed, for some irrevocably. Grunge had been and was practically gone, but its influence on the metal genre had produced a new sound in order to survive and thrive in its environs. Old school metal bands either changed with it, chose to stay true to themselves and fight it out, or died. Sometimes more than one of those things.
On Low, Testament have made a few adjustments from earlier releases. With the departure of Alex Skolnick, new guitarist James Murphy joined the band. While he is good here, and perhaps suits the slight change in direction the band makes on the album, it misses Alex's technique and his song writing. It is not as out-and-out fast thrash as earlier releases were. Chuck Billy's vocals are beginning to morph slightly, as is the music. Whether the rise of Pantera's new sound was an influence I don't know, but there are aspects here that remind you of their direction. "Low" and "Legions (In Hiding)" are perfect examples of this. They aren't thrash metal, they are much closer to the grunge type of metal that was becoming prominent by the mid-1990's. Good songs, but not more recognisable Testament songs. But these are not the only changes.
"Trail of Tears" is a case in point. The slow acoustic beginning and almost unrecognisable soft vocals, merging into the mournful guitar solo before breaking into a heavier conclusion, is the stuff of bands that are not Testament. Is it their own "Fade to Black"? If it is, realistically they are a decade too late to be claiming any authenticity. It's not so bad, but it always catches my attention for the wrong reasons rather than as a highlight. This is followed by "Shades of War", which is much more like the band we know and love.
"Dog Faced Gods", much like "Legions (In Hiding)" before it, initiates Chuck's full on growl. It was released as single, which further suggests that Testament may have harboured Pantera-like dreams, especially given the very Dimebag-like solo. The remainder of the album is enjoyable if not spectacular. However, "Last Call" to me is a strange way to round off the album. They could have just let "Ride" finish it off, halting the battery on a high, rather than the strange little instrumental exit.

Overall it doesn't rank in the first half of Testament releases. Even at the time, it felt a little off centre, just not what I expected from Testament. I knew what was happening around me in the metal landscape (a quick look at Metallica during this period will tell you that) but I guess as a fan I wanted more speed and more thrash, not less. The band had to roll with it in order to sell records I guess. In the final analysis, there is plenty here to enjoy, some here to ponder or question, and accept that for all intents and purposes, this is a slightly better than average album.

Rating:  Too blind to see what's wrong from right, darkness veils their way.  3/5