Bay Area thrash legends, Testament recently penned a deal with metal authority Nuclear Blast Records that will not only ensure three new records from the band, but the release of first six albums from the band's iconic catalog.
Prior to the band's set at Hellfest in Clisson, France this last weekend, the band signed a deal that would carry over their their first six albums released from 1987 to 1994 from Atlantic Records to Nuclear Blast Records with the intent to reissue each of the albums. The acquisition includes some of the band's most definitive releases including their debut album, The Legacy and the band's sophomore release The New Order from 1988.
Pioneering frontman Chuck Billy shared of the news, "After a long history of making music and TESTAMENT teaming up with Nuclear Blast in 2008 with 'The Formation of Damnation' to the current release 'Titans of Creation,' we have taken it to the next level and have reclaimed our 6 albums from Atlantic Records and have delivered them to Nuclear Blast to be re-released.
Along with the Atlantic catalog, TESTAMENT will sign a new 3-album deal with NB worldwide. We are so grateful to be with the Best Heavy Metal label in the world that will spread TESTAMENT's Legacy."
Guitarist Eric Peterson comments, "We signed with NB back in 2008 and it’d been a perfect fit for us ever since then. Incidentally, our older catalog with Atlantic Records - 'The Legacy', 'The New Order', 'Practice What You Preach', 'Souls of Black', 'The Ritual', and 'Low' - have returned to us and we feel it’s a great new start to have NB Release these albums again with some new unreleased artwork, photos, ecetera. Also, we will be signing a new three-album deal with them! So the future for Metal is looking very, very bright! Cheers!"
Nuclear Blast U.S. label manager Tommy Jones added, "One of my favorite guitars as a kid was my dark red Ibanez Saber (540S) with the wizard neck. I purchased that guitar to sound like Alex Skolnick who played that model and color back in the day. So all these years later to be signing those OG, genre-defining TESTAMENT albums that were such an early influence like The New Order, Practice What You Preach, and Souls of Black, as well as new TESTAMENT albums to Nuclear Blast, is completing a full circle for me. Truly an 'If the 15-year-old me could see this' type of moment. It’s time to continue 'The Legacy' with Nuclear Blast!”
In additional news, Testament was recently confirmed as the headliners for the inaugural Metal Injection Festival set for September 17th at the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA. The line-up includes Machine Head and Fear Factory performing a special Demanufacture and Obsolete set. The bill is rounded out by sets from Xibalba, Spirit Adrift, Exmortus, Kyng, Contracult Collective, Upon Stone and Thrown Into Exile. Get info - HERE
