Comparable to Slayer, Megadeth, and Metallica, Testament is one of thrash metal’s more accessible and best-known bands. Testament quickly earned respect in thrash circles with its debut album, The Legacy, a relentlessly heavy and promising effort focusing on such subjects as the occult, witchcraft, nuclear war, and global destruction. Though one can hear the influence of Judas Priest and Metallica on bonecrushing numbers like “Burnt Offerings,” “Apocalyptic City,” and “First Strike Is Deadly,” there’s no question that Testament had a collective personality and vision of its own. Alex Perialas’ production is superb — well respected in metal circles, he obviously encouraged Testament to play hard and let it rip. – Alex Henderson