Testament is really trying to get the follow-up to their 2020 record Titans Of Creation recorded and ready to go.
According to Testament vocalist Chuck Billy in an interview with Rockin' Metal Revival, the new record is really gonna showcase new drummer Chris Dovas' blazing ability behind the kit and equally impressive writing skills. For those unaware, Dovas replaced Dave Lombardo in 2023.
It's worth noting that this interview was conducted before Testament played Milwaukee Metalfest in May.
"We won't talk about the title because we have a bunch of working ones, but it always changes in the final minute. But I do have to say that Chris Dovas is our new drummer on board and he is lighting Eric Peterson up as far as writing, which I'm very excited, because I know we have a lot of history, a lot of music.
"It's always tough to get creative this far in your career, but I feel that Chris has pushed Eric to that limit to really go beyond what he's done. So there's some really, really cool stuff on this record — modern, old school; it's got a little of everything. So Chris is bringing a lot to the table for this record."
Billy later added that he thinks most of the drums for the new Testament record are done, and that includes some unspecified cover songs.
"I'd say the only thing that's changed is that we don't live near each other and don't go to the studio and hang out and drink beer like we used to. So we work writing songs via the Internet, and we'll work that way for a while and then Eric and Chris come to my house and then… we'll run through the music and the songs.
"But the guys have been in the studio for about three weeks right now, and I believe most of the drums are done, a couple of cover songs we're gonna cover are done. We're still writing the last probably four songs, finalizing them. So when we get back from the Milwaukee Metalfest, we've got about a month and a half to get the rest of the record recorded before we leave for Europe in July]."
Testament's current touring schedule is as follows. Tickets are available here.
7/15 SE Malmö, Slagthuset (w/ Behemoth)
7/16 SE Uppsala, Parksnäckan (w/ Behemoth)
7/18 FI Laukaa, John Smith Rock Festival
7/19 ET Tallinn, Noblessner Foundry (w/ Behemoth)
7/21 PL Warsaw, Progresja Summer Stage (w/ Behemoth, Gaerea)
7/23 SK Kosice, Hádzanárska Hala (w/ Behemoth, Gaerea)
7/24 SK Tolmin, Tolminator Festival
7/25 RS Novi Sad, SKCNS Fabrika
7/27 BG Sofia, Arena Sofia (w/ Behemoth, Pestilence)
7/28 GR Athens, Release Athens (w/ Behemoth, Pestilence)
7/31 RO Rasnov, Rockstadt Extreme Fest
8/2 DE Roitzschjora, Full Rewind Festival
8/3 DE Wacken, Wacken Open Air
8/5 DE Karlsruhe, Substage (w/ Havok, Spiritworld)
8/6 AT Feldkirch, Poolbar (w/ Sylosis, Havok)
8/7 DE Ulm, Roxy (w/ Havok, Dust Bolt)
8/8 CZ Brutal Assault Festival
8/10 BE Kortrijk, Alcatraz Festival
8/11 FR Cercoux, Festival 666
w/ Kreator & Possessed
9/12 Reno, NV Grand Sierra Resort
9/13 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues
9/14 Salt Lake City, UT The Union Event Centre
9/16 Seattle, WA Showbox SoDo
9/17 Portland, OR Roseland Theatre
9/18 Vancouver, BC Canada Vogue
9/20 Calgary, AB Canada MacEwan Hall
9/21 Enoch, AB Canada River Cree Casino
9/22 Saskatoon, SK Canada Coors Event Centre
9/24 Winnipeg, MB Canada Burton Cummings Theatre
9/26 Maplewood, MN Myth Live
9/28 Huber Heights, Oh Rose Music Center
9/29 Detroit, MI Royal Oak Music Theatre
10/1 Cleveland, OH The Agora
10/3 Toronto, ON Canada History
10/4 Montreal, QC Canada MTelus
10/5 New Haven, CT College Street
10/6 Boston, MA House of Blues
10/8 Silver Spring, MD The Fillmore
10/10 Montclair, NJ The Wellmont Theatre
10/11 Bethlehem, PA Wind Creek Casino
10/12 Raleigh, NC The Ritz
10/13 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
10/15 Orlando, FL. Hard Rock Live
10/16 St. Petersburg, FL Jannus Live
10/18 Houston, TX White Oak Music Hall (Lawn)
10/19 San Antonio, TX The Aztec
10/20 Dallas, TX The Factory
10/22 Denver, CO Fillmore Auditorium
10/23 Albuquerque, NM Albuquerque Convention Center
10/24 Phoenix, AZ The Van Buren
10/26 Los Angeles, CA Palladium
10/27 San Francisco, CA The Warfield
