The Gathering

The Gathering is a late-representative masterpiece on which Testament, layering a low, heavy sound onto sharp thrash riffs, powerfully steps into extremely aggressive metal. Made in an ironclad lineup welcoming the mighty Gene Hoglan on drums and Steve DiGiorgio on bass, its playing’s destructive power is tremendous. The songs move complexly, yet at their center are the never-stopping, overwhelming pressure of the rhythm and biting vocals. From the overwhelming destructive power of the all-too-intense opening classic “D.N.R. (Do Not Resuscitate)” and the aggression of “Down for Life” to a cut like “Eyes of Wrath,” every song is engaging, while cuts like “Riding the Snake” and “3 Days in Darkness” convey the work’s fullness. Though technical showcases are abundant in places, what determines this album’s intense impression is purely its raw, overwhelming destructive power. An extremely polished record that beautifully fused the dark, heavy direction of the previous Demonic, in a more refined form, with thrash’s speed. A late, extremely important masterpiece that inscribes the band’s heavy side as intensely as possible. Gene Hoglan’s superhuman drumming is also essential listening. A powerful record showing the band’s underlying strength.