AltScene

Testament

Thrash Metal (Heavy Metal) band from San Francisco, California (USA).

Initially founded as Legacy (27) in 1983 by Eric Peterson (guitar) his cousin Derrick Ramírez (guitar and vocals) and Mike Ronchette (drums). Same year Steve "Zetro" Souza joined as vocalist, Gregg Christian as bassist and Louie Clemente replaced Mike on drums. In 1984 Alex Skolnick replaced Derrick on the guitar and they began rehearsing for their first demo.

In 1985 they recorded their first demo called "First Strike Is Deadly" and in 1986 they changed their name into Testament after parting ways with Zetro (who left to join fellow Bay-area thrashers Exodus) and hooking up with new vocalist Chuck Billy. After the successful debut album "The Legacy" they played the Dynamo festival in Holland and recorded a live EP. Their second album made Testament one of the world's biggest metal bands and a tour was arranged with Megadeth, Voivod, Anthrax, Judas Priest and others. Their third album "Practice What You Preach" sold more than 400,000 copies.

After the release of 1992's "The Ritual", Louie Clemente and lead guitarist Alex Skolnick left the band and were replaced by guitarist Glen Alvelais and drummer Paul Bostaph, both from the band Forbidden. In 1995, after more line up changes which included guitarist James Murphy replacing Alvelais and a few different guys behind the drums, the band was dropped from Atlantic Records and they therefore decided to create their own label called Burnt Offerings Inc. In 1996 Testament split up during the pre-production for the seventh album. Chuck told that he and Eric would form a new band called Dog Faced Gods while James left to do a personal project and Greg formed the band Flangue. However Eric and Chuck soon resurrected the Testament name with various players. 1997's "Demonic" featured founding member Derrick Ramirez (playing bass) and drummer Gene Hoglan. 1999's "The Gathering" saw the return of James Murphy, along with bassist Steve DiGiorgio and former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo.

In 2005, after several years of playing with different line ups and Chuck's battle with cancer, he and Eric reunited with "classic line up" members Alex Skolnick, Greg Christian, and Louie Clemente for a series of show which resulted in the release of a live album. Moving forward, the original members opted to continue working together, with exception of Louie Clemente, who was unable to commit to the band full time and was replaced by ex-Dimmu Borgir drummer Nick Barker. Barker's tenure was brief, as visa problems prevented him from working in the US, and he was replaced by Paul Bostaph.

Testament began recording their new album, Dark Roots of Earth, on June 20, 2011. Paul Bostaph was unable to take part in the recording due to a "serious injury"; however, he was expected to rejoin when the band tours to support the album. Gene Hoglan, who played drums on the band's 1997 album Demonic, filled in for Paul on the drum tracks. It was announced on December 1st that Paul Bostaph left Testament. Gene Hoglan recorded the drums tracks for Dark Roots of Earth and continues to play live with the band. In interviews, Testament have expressed pleasure in Hoglan's playing, and a hope that he will continue with the band for the foreseeable future. In 2014, it was announced that Testament and Greg Christian had parted ways.

Current line up:
Chuck Billy - vocals (1986–present)
Eric Peterson - guitar (1986–present)
Alex Skolnick - guitar (1986–1992, 2001, 2005–present)
Steve DiGiorgio - bass (1998–2004, 2014–present)

PEOPLE WHO LIKE TESTAMENT

Werewolf

Slovenia
Slovenia

Sep 17, 2025 07:42

Nocturnal Sleazef**ker

Texas
United States

Sep 17, 2025 07:27

Dissident Aggressor

New York
United States

Sep 17, 2025 07:09

Vargr80

New York
United States

Sep 17, 2025 05:49

Demoniality

Cornwall
United Kingdom

Sep 17, 2025 04:07

lest4t

qc
Canada

Sep 17, 2025 03:28

Ass_Biscuits

New York
United States

Sep 17, 2025 02:08

phrozenspite

New Hampshire
United States

Sep 17, 2025 02:05

Psychosphere_89

Norfolk
United Kingdom

Sep 16, 2025 23:41

RemandCorpse

New Hampshire
United States

Sep 16, 2025 23:38

Mike

Cheshire
United Kingdom

Sep 16, 2025 20:40

SJG

Derbyshire
United Kingdom

Sep 16, 2025 18:53

Thelema666

Cumbria
United Kingdom

Sep 16, 2025 17:30

Chris

Florida
United States

Sep 16, 2025 14:47

Alareth76

Lombardia
Italy

Sep 16, 2025 14:01

Aop1975

West Sussex
United Kingdom

Sep 16, 2025 08:53

XSirenaSeverlinaX

Wisconsin
United States

Sep 16, 2025 01:20

YozorasWorld

Georgia
United States

Sep 16, 2025 00:51

Kyōraku

Ajax, Ontario
Canada

Sep 15, 2025 03:57

Mork (DrWho3000)

Oxfordshire
United Kingdom

Sep 14, 2025 12:33

DlennGanzig

California
United States

Sep 12, 2025 21:34

PhStephen

Waterford
Ireland

Sep 12, 2025 20:16

Anarchy al

Tennessee
United States

Sep 12, 2025 12:25

Immolation666

Cleveland
United Kingdom

Sep 12, 2025 11:08

FramingArmageddon

West Virginia
United States

Sep 11, 2025 22:33

DecadenceWithin

New York
United States

Sep 10, 2025 17:32

metalwave80

brabant
Netherlands

Sep 10, 2025 05:37

Keiran Boswell

West Midlands
United Kingdom

Sep 9, 2025 20:05

Metalheart69

Thessaloniki
Greece

Sep 9, 2025 09:12

Jakabok

Dublin
Ireland

Sep 8, 2025 01:31

peags

Devon
United Kingdom

Sep 6, 2025 07:03

Just Tim

West Midlands
United Kingdom

Sep 4, 2025 20:35

ClayBS16

Bristol
United Kingdom

Sep 3, 2025 17:14

alareth1976

Milan
Italy

Sep 3, 2025 09:02

motleycrue666

Hong Kong
Hong Kong

Sep 2, 2025 15:26

Neo1313

Norfolk
United Kingdom

Sep 1, 2025 00:19

BobRossAteMySon

Wisconsin
United States

Aug 31, 2025 14:09

NikkiSixx66

California
United States

Aug 30, 2025 18:05

Eastievildead

Lancashire
United Kingdom

Aug 29, 2025 01:39

Virtue

Greater Manchester
United Kingdom

Aug 27, 2025 20:32

Valhallan75

Kansas
United States

Aug 27, 2025 16:06

herbonculus_rex

West Midlands
United Kingdom

Aug 26, 2025 12:15

XGoryDollX

Georgia
United States

Aug 24, 2025 19:10

Joery-043

Limburg
Netherlands

Aug 18, 2025 08:38

Motionless98

Greater Manchester
United Kingdom

Aug 4, 2025 23:09

GOOD LUCK

California
United States

Jul 31, 2025 08:27

metalheadScot

Washington
United States

Jul 23, 2025 08:30

🦇Dark Prince🦇

West Midlands
United Kingdom

Jul 21, 2025 22:53

TimeConsumer

Somerset
United Kingdom

Jul 18, 2025 15:08

NobleSavage

Asturias
Spain

Jul 18, 2025 09:32

Gabrieal

Missouri
United States

Jul 16, 2025 04:04

Bleak.n.Blurry

Kent
United Kingdom

Jul 12, 2025 00:02

Big sam

London
United Kingdom

Jul 10, 2025 10:01

Grizlybaer1996

California
United States

Jun 30, 2025 02:24

She belongs dead

West Midlands
United Kingdom

Jun 29, 2025 14:30

Viking beserker

Lincolnshire
United Kingdom

Jun 28, 2025 14:23

rickster

Idaho
United States

Jun 27, 2025 04:02

HardnHeavy3140

NSW
Australia

Jun 26, 2025 17:47

Váli

California
United States

Jun 26, 2025 01:26

Lone Wolf Soul

Portugal
Portugal

Jun 23, 2025 09:33

Bassios

Shropshire
United Kingdom

Jun 6, 2025 17:25

Caveman112

Argyll
Scotland

May 30, 2025 23:22

theMETAL365

Virginia
United States

May 28, 2025 11:26

Chuy666

California
United States

May 24, 2025 11:18

TheDankDarkKnight

East Sussex
United Kingdom

May 13, 2025 00:55

Steven

London
United Kingdom

May 9, 2025 05:36

HackSore

Greater Manchester
United Kingdom

Apr 29, 2025 19:00

BlackPlague

Suffolk
United Kingdom

Apr 23, 2025 02:44

RunaWulfa

gld
Netherlands

Apr 14, 2025 13:21

Blood in the Ink

Worcestershire
United Kingdom

Apr 8, 2025 22:17

Winterfrosst793

West Virginia
United States

Mar 25, 2025 13:37

Forgottenvalleysofhades

Södermanland
Sweden

Mar 22, 2025 15:52

DanSquelchy

London
United Kingdom

Mar 20, 2025 13:47

NinjaKot

Georgia
United States

Feb 28, 2025 21:43

Lucidabby58

North Carolina
United States

Feb 23, 2025 22:08

Stoneydee777

California
United States

Feb 16, 2025 22:09

Musical_fool

Texas
United States

Feb 12, 2025 03:54

Naomi-sjb

Oxfordshire
United Kingdom

Feb 8, 2025 20:13

Apocred

Greater Manchester
United Kingdom

Jan 28, 2025 01:12

thrashdoll

Ohio
United States

Jan 16, 2025 04:02