Dark Roots of Earth

Dark Roots of Earth is a work on which Testament, binding sharp thrash riffs, heavy groove and aggressive vocals, splendidly builds thrash metal with a modern thickness. A record that pushed the momentum of the comeback The Formation of Damnation further. The songs, by no means relying on speed alone, generate sure pressure even with heavy, powerful mid-tempo steps. Content where the band’s mature ability shines. From the powerful drive of the opener “Rise Up” and the aggression of “Native Blood” to the drama of the title track “Dark Roots of Earth,” every song is engaging, while cuts like “True American Hate” and “Throne of Thorns” convey the work’s fullness. Complex, technical guitar work and memorable, powerful phrases coexist extremely naturally, evoking both a sure ease particular to veterans and a sharp edge at once. A record that beautifully fused the rich experience cultivated over a long career and modern, overwhelming destructive power, again powerfully proving Testament’s toughness. It achieved great critical and commercial success. A powerful, engaging thrash-metal work showing the sure fullness of Testament after the revival — a record where the band’s maturity shines.