### Testament: Souls of black

#### 11/08/11 || InquisitorGeneralis

Why does everyone, including Testament, seem to forgot about “Souls of Black”? It’s like staffer The Duff in middle and/or high school; alone, ignored, and pussy-free…

Cheap shots are half-price today by the way.

Anyway, I’ll be the first to admit that “Souls of Black Penises” is far from being Testament’s best record, but it’s not that bad. Back in the college, staffer Daemonomania detested this so much he gave it to me without even requesting a hand-job in return. It was too cheesy for him. Now, he strokes his wedding-clipped dick to Yngwie nightly. Isn’t it ironic, don’t you think?

Anyway, enough about Daemo’s privates. “Souls of Black” is essentially “Practice What You Preach” volume two. This is a good and bad thing because the mid-paced, riff heavy formula of “Practice What You Preach” is a good one, but things get stale quickly on “Souls of Black”. The beginning is strong though, that I admit. The instrumental intro “Beginning of the End” is a nice lead in to the hard-hitting “Face in the sky”. Chuck’s voice still has high-pitched sound that carries over from the 80’s material/ Death metal Chuck Billy wouldn’t show up until later in the 90’s. The production, again like its predecessor, is a it muffled and low but not terrible by any means.

After “Face in the sky”, which is 100% thrash, you do start to see some of the more mainstream, traditional heavy metal elements that would dominate the band’s sound on their next record, “The Ritual”. I kind of like that album, so those elements don’t completely make my dick go limp. What does cause shrinkage is the overall feeling of filler that becomes pretty strong one you get beyond the title track, which is pretty solid as well. “The legacy” and “Seven days of may” help “Souls of Black” finish in the decent lane. I would not say this is an essential item in Testament’s long discography, but it does feature the band’s classic line-up and when you have Skolnick and Peterson both on guitars things can’t be that bad. Louie Clemente delivers his usual proficient, but not exemplary, performance on the drums so no problems there.

“Souls of Black” doesn’t suck, but it doesn’t really stand out either compared to the great things Testament had done before (“The New Order”) and would do (“The Gathering”) after it. The cover is pretty sweet, though. If you have already tasted the highlights in Testament’s meaty catalogue, you should give “Souls…” a listen. If not, go for the prime rib before you have a hamburger, ok?

- Information
- Released: 1990
- Label: Atlantic
- Website: www.testamentlegions.com
- Band
- Chuck Billy: vocals
- Alex Skolnick: lead guitar
- Eric Peterson: rhythm guitar
- Greg Christian: bass
- Louie Clemente: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Beginning of the End
- 02. Face in the Sky
- 03. Falling Fast
- 04. Souls of Black
- 05. Absence of Light
- 06. Love to Hate
- 07. Malpractice
- 08. One Man’s Fate
- 09. The Legacy
- 10. Seven Days of May