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{ "I'm not gonna lie to your readers. I choose to smoke pot, }
and I like it." --
{ Chuck Billy, vocalist }
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{ the }
-=/*> Buzzz Bros. <*\=-
present..
TESTAMENT - HIGH TIMES Interview (May, 1991)
and
TESTAMENT - 'Souls Of Black' (lyrics)
text entry by Havoc
{ }
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Combining the resounding of original hard-rock purveyors like Black
Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, and Led Zeppelin with the urgent sonic velocity and
aggressive intent of early 80's hardcore a la Black Flag and Discharge,
modern-day speed-lace heavy metal is arguably the most important force in
music today. Spearheaded by the massive and seemingly-unlikely successes of
bands like Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax, a second generation of speed-metal
has evolved. Leading the way are Bay Area bad boys, Testament.
Born out of teenage suburban boredom and a diligent fervor for playing
frenetically brain-jarring hyper-riffs, these five merchants of mosh (slang
for the often hazardous acts of stage diving and slam dancing by fans at
concerts), vocalist Chuck Billy, guitarists Alex Skolnick and Eric Peterson,
bassist Greg Christian and drummer Louie Clemente are soaring towards
legendary status.
Over the course of their four mind-blistering vinyl/laser efforts
(1987's debut "The Legacy", followed by '88's "The New Order", '89's
Practice What You Preach", and last year's ground-breaking "Souls Of Black",
all released through Megaforce / Atlantic), Testament have built a reputation
or unleashing no-frills, uncompromising music. Last year saw them touring
European arenas (as part of the heralded "Clash Of The Titans" tour with
Slayer, Megadeth and Suicidal Tendencies), similar-sized American venues
(with Judas Priest), and most recently, in support of death-metal icons,
Slayer. The tried-and-true rock success formula of non-stop touring and
recording has paid off for the Testa-men, with significant radio and MTV
airplay for their single "Souls Of Black," lucrative merchandising and some
serious six-digit sales figures (over 400,000 units of Souls Of Black sold at
press time). They've made their mark as keepers of the speed-metal flame,
and don't plan to change anytime soon.
"I think the main reson we've survived is that we do what we like, we
never sold out," offers Chuck Billy, the band's imposing vocalist. "Not to
sound corny or anything, but we've always played music from the heart. We're
fans of the music we play -- which is hard, fast speed-metal and thrash
music. It's all about playing music with lots of energy, and keeping it
challenging. As far as I'm concerned, that's what heavy music should be. We
don't wanna be like Metallica or Slayer -- but we're obviously fans of their
style from over the years, and they've been a major influence on us.
Testament is a heavy band, but we try to do something different from the
average thrash band."
A major part of Testament's essence is their bond with their
somtimes-anarchic audience, and their fandom's extremely physical reaction to
the music -- namely, "the pit," where participants mosh and otherwise get
wild. "Yeah, we're into the action," Billy relates, "We get off and we get
excited when the crowd gets into it. The wilder they get out there, the more
hyped we get. A lot of bands may say something like that, but in our case,
we need it. That's a major part of what Testament's all about. If they're
not goin' crazy out there, I'm probably not going to be able to give the best
performance, if you know what I mean."
"Now that we've mover up to a bigger level -- playing arenas and big
halls instead of the clubs -- we've been lucky that things haven't really
changed. Sure, there's a barrier between us and the audience now [arenas and
concert halls usually erect a wall between the stage and the front row, for
photographers and/or protection of the artists], but as long as we can see
the kids out there goin' wild, we're okay. We're glad that things are movin'
on for us real well, but we don't wanna lose sight of what got us there in
the first place. Our music's still heavy and in-your-face, and that's the
main thing. We're not gonna get weird about things now that we're becoming a
little more well-known. There's some people out there who think it's bad to
make it big -- some kids think you've sold-out just because you start sellin'
some records. And some bands think that you shouldn't go big-time. We're
not into that. We want our music to become as big and popular as possible --
that's what it's all about. We don't wanna be an unsuccessful underground
band, we want people to remember Testament, and hopefully they'll be somehow
influenced by what we do and say."
What Testament offer that's different from standard metal fare are
lyrics with significant meaning. While they're not exactly Jackson Browne or
U2 (many of the band's lyrics are steeped on the darker side of life and/or
fantasy characters), Testament have garnered considerable acclaim for songs
with social significance -- like 1989's "Greenhouse Effect" or "Perilous
Nation," which comment on various environmental / political issues. "We're
not here to change the world; we're just a band," Chuck says. "We're not a
political band, we don't wanna get ourselves stuck in that trap. But we do
observe a lot of things that go on in day-to-day life, and as a band, we
should be free to express ourselves as we see fit. As far as the kinda
political songs we have got, there's a lot of fucked up things going on out
there in the world, and we shouldn't not talk about them, just 'cause we're a
metal band. The greenhouse effect is a universal thing, even thrashers are
gonna have to deal with it. It's important for people to know what's going on
in the world, and music should be just another place for them to learn. But
like I said, that's only one small part of our music, and because of that, it
does sometimes get overexaggerated."
"Also, when we play live, the songs are a little bit different and
faster, and it's pretty much there for the kids to mosh to, and let off some
aggression. So, we don't really expect people to get the words we're sayin
in our songs when it's live at a club or theater or somethin'. But when the
fan goes home, and listens to the record and read the lyric sheet, that's
where we're gonna make some impact. But we're not preaching either. We
don't offer any solutions to these things -- after all, we don't have the
answers ourselves. We do pose the questions, so the kids can go out and
decide for themselves what should be done to help -- if they want to."
To the casual outside obsever, a heavy-metal concert can be a violent
experience. Metal fans ain't exactly angels, to say the least, and their
collective reactions to their fave acts is usually rabid and out-of-control.
Frontman Billy explains this unique artist-fan relationship: "Our music, and
[that of] bands like us, gives the fans a chance to release some of their
built-up aggression or frustration. When they come to a Testament show, they
can go off and get really into it. Our music is heavy and we use it to let
off some steam too. As a fan, I always liked metal because it was powerful
and heavy, and that's what we try to do. But people have got to realize that
while things get really crazy sometimes, it's all in fun. We're not trying
to get people to kill themselves. We don't write songs that say 'Kill your
mom.' We're not into that. The only times we've had any real problems with
real violence is when gang members would come to a show and try to start
fights -- that happened a few years ago when we played with Suicidal
Tendencies -- and that was pretty much the only time. Those people should
realize that if they wanna fight, they should stay away from the shows and go
fight in the street. But yeah, luckily, we haven't had many problems with
bad violence at our gigs, most people don't take it to that extreme. There's
violence at our concerts, but it's friendly, and the fans know that. That's
why you haven't heard of anyone getting killed at one of our shows, or
anything like that."
Another thing which seperates Testament from the mindless metal millions
is that they're not one of those groups who are the real sell-outs, doing
"Just Say No" propaganda/public service announcements for radio and
television while privately feeding costly cocaine/heroin habits. Testament
are proud weed smokers, who fight for their right to party. "It burns me up.
I don't do coke or crank or any other shit like that -- I smoke pot. It's
just a plant, and I get shit for that. They say drugs are drugs, which is
bullshit. My manager always gives me shit whenever I say anything about this
subject, but I'm just telling you the truth. I'm not gonna sit here and say
I'm an angel when I'm not. I'm not gonna lie to the kids, and I'm not gonna
lie to your readers. I choose to smoke pot, and I like it. I'm not tellin'
people that they should smoke pot too -- that would be wrong and
hyppocritical -- but I do support people's freedom to do what they choose.
The way things are now in our society, you can get arrested for smoking a
plant, and that seems ridiculous to me."
Beyond Neanderthal metal and bullshit music-biz posturing, Testament are
a band that simply makes hard rock that matters -- incorporating
politically-conscious lyrics with fantasy metal tales, and mixing speed-laced
power chords with memorable harmonies. Testament have stuck to their guns
and are reaping the rewards of hard work.
All this and mosh music too.
____________________________
HIGH TIMES May, 1991 - Steven Bush
____________________________
-=*/> TESTAMENT - Souls Of Black (lyrics) <\*=-
1. Beginning Of The End
--------------------
Music: Peterson
2. Face In The Sky
---------------
Lyrics: Billy
Music: Peterson, Skolnick
Shadows glow from the full moonlight
Hear clouds cry, it's so insane
Souls hold on to the key of life
See how it's bleeding from the pain
Chorus:
-------
When will they open up their eyes
Stop to face our demise
It's live or die
Who am I?
Face in the Sky
Walk with me, my friend
to a darkened place
Welcome down to the abyss
Caught between two worlds
with no advocate
The legions' army
Hold on to your fate
Chorus
Screams from the night
seem to intensify
as the air shifts silent through
ghouls crowded in the clouds
on a misty night
guarding secrets
man has brought to you
Chorus
3. Falling Fast
------------
Lyrics: Billy
Music: Peterson, Clemente
Locked in a darkened world
Made to never last
That's where the dreams you seek
are like stories from the past
Sweet infant child's born
Sweet mother of the womb
Hope it is over soon
Not much more I can take
Help me lord
I'm falling fast
Bring me Back
Nerves slip away from
within your conscious mind
Translucent hopes are now
nothing but dismal lies
You lived your life so down
to the bitter end
Better think it over now
You life has just begun
Help me lord
I'm falling fast
Bring me back
From suicide
Just show me life is how
And not a bitter war
The odds in favor now
It's hard to live and learn
Silence the sorrow
and don't let it slip away
Think of tomorrow
as the future of today
Help me lord
I'm falling fast
Bring me back
from suicide
I'm falling fast
Locked in a darkened world
Made to never last
That's where the draems you seek
are like storie's from the past
Sweet infant child's born
to the mother of the Womb
Hope it is over soon
not much more I can take
Chorus
4. Souls of Black
--------------
Lyrics: Billy
Music: Peterson, Skolnick, Clemente
Can't you see
that in the world we live in
political lies
are just corporate decisions
They'll take away
all the hopes, not their promises
They'll put an end to all this
land of the living
Chorus:
-------
Look at the lost souls
They seem so black
Look at the lost souls
Souls of black
The get control
of the heart of a nation
Their social bribes
seem so graciously
as time goes by
'Cause time as you can see
will slowly die for you and me
Chorus
So put an end
to this idolization
Antagonizing so commonly
Open your eyes
'Cause the lie's there so plain to see
Life goes on
There's no gaurantees
Chorus
They're bleeding so black
5. Absence Of Light
----------------
Lyrics: Billy, Skolnick
Music: Peterson, Billy
Life, as we know,
is full of gloom
Oppress the massess
We'll lead to our doom
We want the right
to live or die
Can't take away
What we feel inside
Like empty shadows
afflict our brains
Envision our dreams
just to ease the pain
There's more to life
than to satisfy
I ask myself
for the reason why.
Chorus:
-------
If it were my way
I'd deliver us from this hell
If it were my way.
If ever there comes a day
Renovations blown away.
Is there no end
to this endless war
The fear of man
is now what's in store
We look at life as a memory
Long live the dreams
That they took from me
Chorus
6. Love To Hate
------------
Lyrics: Peterson, Clemente & Billy
Music: Peterson, Skolnick
Hail to the new leader now
Ruler of this land,
with plans that follow
to demonstrate
Fear the blackened band
So horrid
and deathly true
Dishonest and powermad
Unspoken, sealed fate
Bursting so desolate
Chorus
------
His love to hate
He'll murder souls like you and me
But along the way
He'll have you to dwell
in his own hell
Clear the streets
See them marching
while columns take a stand
Time provoked, their mirrors of hatred
with dark uncanny plans
to take out
and follow through
Just following their orders
with death rates
and death's tolll
Those poor unfortunate souls
Chorus
Twisting and turning
through the mazes in your head
But in a time like this
you're better off dead
The time has come now
Put up or shut down
The feelings that you have
were lost and never found
Chorus
7. Malpractice
-----------
Lyrics: Skolnick, Billy
Music: Skolnick, Peterson
We all will go and stay sometime
Soon to be a victim of a crime
Loss of blood and death is near
Take a number, can you wait right here
Chorus:
-------
Check in - to the place
Reduce you life into disgrace
Isn't there some kind
of better way
When it's time to operate
fatalistic figures hold your fate
Just relax you'll feel no pain
Hope they put you in the right domain
Patients helpless to defy
Negligence is why
Chorus
Within the laws
they'll rip you off
then write you off
Malpractice!
And in the end
they'll let you in
Please come again
Malpractice!
Suffer until you get well
Bleak exsistence like a prison cell
If you find your life is lost
Dedicate the world to pay the cost
Patients helpless to defy
Negligence is why
Chorus
Within the laws
they'll rip you off
then write you off
Malpractice!
And in the end
they'll let you in
Please come again
Malpractice!
8. One Man's Fate
--------------
Lyrics: Billy
Music: Peterson, clemente
Time is nothing but life's decay
Pitch your reverend path
This is the path you paved
What you will find
is life's only way
There's no looking back
There must be a better way
Lightning skies
Prayers from an open grave
A dead man's day
Black skies fade to shadow grey
The darkness is so deep
Prayers for the light of day
What you will find
is life's only way
There's no looking back
back to a better way
Lightning skies
Prayers from an open grave
A dead man's eyes
Must be a dead man's day
that leads to one man's fate
There ain't no better way to die
Fate, there's no compromise
Hate leads to suicide
Trapped in a crystal haze
Hail to a dead man's day
Time is but a passageway
trying to believe
your life was sanity
A matter of time
is all that you need
Life's not coming back,
back to those better days
Lightning skies
Prayers from an open grave
A dead man's eyes
Must be a dead man's day
9. The Legacy
----------
Lyrics: Skolnick, Billy, Peterson
Music: Peterson, Clemente, Skolnick
We're gonna take you back
through the pages of the past
Just another lonely boy
I could laugh and play
and live in any other way
Then the devil took my soul
The fortune and the fame
I knew I was not the same
and I know I'd never return
Looking at the sky
I knew I would never die
And forever shining through
Wish the sky would say
that blue would turn to grey
and I know I'd be there
Chorus:
-------
Life was like a fantasy
taken by reality
Does anyone remember me
Flashes of the sky
I knew I was here to stay
But no one stays the same
Turn the pages back in time
through the chapters in my mind
Life's too short to leave behind
It's too late now
Chorus
Flashes of the day
I knew I was here to stay
But no one
knows my name
10. Seven Days Of May
-----------------
Lyrics: Skolnick, Billy
Music: Peterson, Skolnick
Put your life on the line
To hesitate is a waste of time
No giving in to repent
unto the system of the government
It's called the Peoples Republic here
The propaganda so sincere
Oh, what a joke and a blatant lie
from criminals ranking high
Chorus:
-------
Born a political prisoner
Raised outside the law
I'm gonna keep on fighting
until I die for the cause
Put an end to hipocracy
Lead the way to Democracy
No longer will we play the fool
to brutalized military rule
They started forty years ago
We never could say yes or no
Million souls made our voice
We want the right to make a choice
Chorus
Freedom, freedom calling
out from the pain
Freedom, freedom calling
seven days in May
They tried to show a peaceful path
then it turned into a blood bath
In the Square they plan the game
That's when the tanks of the army came.
They called the murders minimal
Described their victims as criminals
Dead souls like you and me
who only wanted free society
Chorus
Freedom, freedom calling
out from the pain
Freedom, freedom calling
seven days in May
-----------------------------
All melodies by Chuck Billy
All arrangements by Testament
All compositions (c) 1990 COTLOD Music (adm. by
Zomba Enterprises Inc.) Zomba Enterprises Inc. (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved. Used without permission.
____________________________
Special Thanks to:
____________________________
Kilbourn
Alannah and Vanessa at Kroozin' Music
HIGH TIMES
(c) MCMXCI -=*/> Buzzz Bros. <\*=-