Forget
Metallica
, forget
Megadeth
,
Anthrax
, and even
Slayer
! The most formidable on-stage thrash metal powerhouse of 2011 was arguably the (mostly) reconstituted classic lineup of
Testament
: singer
Chuck Billy
, guitarists
Alex Skolnick
, and
Eric Peterson
, plus returning bass badass
Greg Christian
and occasional drummer
Gene Hoglan
, who probably tops most predecessors on the stool, most would agree. This fearsome ensemble spent several months tearing up concert halls worldwide, consistently putting the "mosh" back in the "pit," before invading Oakland, California's Driftwood Studios to record their tenth album
Dark Roots of Earth
, which, though not quite as timeless as
's late-'80s triumphs, sure comes as close as anything they've done over the past 20 years. Savagely lucid thrashers like "Rise Up," "True American Hatred," and "Last Stand for Independence" highlight everything that made
special from day one and their failure to achieve stardom so perplexing: the homegrown Bay Area violence rivaled only by
Exodus
and a versatile musicality on par with
. A simplistic analysis could chalk up the former to rhythm guitarist
Peterson
's brute-fist force, the latter to lead shredder
Skolnick
's
Satriani
-caliber virtuosity, but they are both just pieces of the band's alchemical musical puzzle, complemented by
Billy
's unique penchant for growling in tune,
Christian
's inventive and athletic bass contributions, and
Hoglan
's devastating percussive propulsion (if anything, he holds some of his death metal tricks in check here). Returning to the music itself, the more melodically driven title track and pummeling anti-ballad "Cold Embrace" raise fond memories of the
Souls of Black
and
Practice What You Preach
eras, respectively; and in the particularly memorable "A Day in the Death," fans get a polished-off ancient outtake co-written by original vocalist
Steve "Zetro" Souza
! Finally, though the songs named above largely see
reaping nostalgia's rewards, the multifaceted "Throne of Thorns" reveals new sounds, ideas, and a willingness to experiment more aggressively in years to come. For now,
improves upon 2008's comeback
The Formation of Damnation
and, in tandem with those rejuvenated live performances, promises a well-deserved second act for a band that so narrowly missed grasping the golden ring its first time around. Who knows, the best may be yet to come for
. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia