Demonic (album)
| Demonic | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Testament | ||||
| Released | June 9, 1997[1] | |||
| Recorded | Driftwood Studios, Oakland, CA | |||
| Genre | Death metal, thrash metal | |||
| Length | 40:47 | |||
| Label | Burnt Offerings 1997, Prosthetic 2008 | |||
| Producer | Eric Peterson, Chuck Billy, Douglas Hall | |||
| Testament chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   Allmusic review |
Demonic is the seventh studio album by American thrash metal band Testament. Released in 1997 with original members Chuck Billy (Vocals) and Eric Peterson (Guitar), the record also features artists Derrick Ramirez (Bass), Gene Hoglan (Drums) and Glen Alvelais (Guitar). Ramirez was previously the band's first lead singer (although here he is performing on bass guitar), and Alvelais had previously performed with Testament on the 1993 live album, Return to the Apocalyptic City.
Cover Art
Album cover artwork for "Demonic" was done by Dave McKean who also did the cover art for the prior Testament studio album, Low and would go on to do their next, The Gathering. In a 1999 interview while supporting the release of The Gathering, Peterson described how the image depicts a type of African exorcism where a wooden mask is made to represent the possessed victim. Nails are then driven into it cleansing the afflicted person of the evil spirit.[2]
McKean gets double duty from the cover's pentagram graphic using the style depiction from the "Legacy" (band) logo, the band name Testament released a 1985 demo under, as both a nod to long time fans and as the spirit being driven forth. The center skull art without the pentagram enclosure can be seen on the album cover of Testament's first studio album, The Legacy.
Release
Demonic features eleven tracks, marking a deviation from previous albums to a much darker death metal sound mirroring the album's exorcism theme.[2] Songs like "John Doe" and "Hatreds Rise" stand out in reviews as examples noting the overall heavier change.[3]
The album was remixed and reissued on January 8, 2008 under license from Burnt Offerings via label Prosthetic, featuring new cover artwork.[4] A Russian bootleg in 2002 also includes a Judas Priest cover song by Testament, ""Rapid Fire", bringing the new (unauthorized) track total to twelve.[5]
As of 1999, Demonic has sold over 200,000 copies worldwide.[6]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Demonic Refusal" | Billy | Peterson, Ramirez | 5:21 | |
| 2. | "The Burning Times" | Billy | Peterson, Ramirez | 5:15 | |
| 3. | "Together as One" | Billy | Peterson | 4:17 | |
| 4. | "Jun-Jun" | Billy | Peterson, Ramirez | 3:43 | |
| 5. | "John Doe" | Billy | Peterson | 3:11 | |
| 6. | "Murky Waters" | Billy | Peterson | 3:00 | |
| 7. | "Hatreds Rise" | Billy | Peterson | 3:15 | |
| 8. | "Distorted Lives" | Billy | Peterson | 3:36 | |
| 9. | "New Eyes of Old" | Billy, Peterson | Peterson, Alvelais | 3:00 | |
| 10. | "Ten Thousand Thrones" | Billy | Peterson | 4:37 | |
| 11. | "Nostrovia" | Billy | Peterson, Ramirez | 1:32 | |
| 12. | "Rapid Fire (2002 bootleg)" | Halford | Tipton, Downing | 3:42 | |
Total length: |
40:47 | ||||
- (Total length does not reflect bootleg play time)
Credits
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See also
References
- ↑
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 G., Evil (1999). "Interview with Eric Peterson". Metal Rules.
- ↑ "Demonic". All Music (Reviews). 2012.
- ↑ "Testament(2) - Demonic". Discogs (Credits). 2012.
- ↑ "Demonic". Bootlegs (Rate Your Music).
- ↑ "The Gathering". Metal Judgment (Album Review). 1999.
- ↑ Henderson, Alex (2012). "Demonic". Credits (All Music).
- ↑ "Testament(2) Demonic". Credits (Discogs). 2012.
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