It’s 6:25 pm and the inside of the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith is already suffocatingly warm. The standing area is already pushing past the snug fit status when The Beastie Boys Classic Fight For Your Right starts playing. It is time for the evening’s fun to start and who better than Testament, a band who could rightfully take the place of the headliners in the Thrash Big Four. (Yeah? Fight me!)
Testament
Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith – 23 November 2024
Words: Paul Hutchings
Photography: Steve Ritchie
The Bay Area’s representation on this essential Thrash show, Testament hit the ground hard and fast with DNR followed by Three Days Of Darkness. It is clear that Chuck Billy and his band of brothers are here to remind you of their existence with a muscular and innovative set that draws mainly from the later part of their discography, in quiet contrast to the retrospective-looking headliners.
There is pyro, lots of pyro and a light show to support bruiser after bruiser. Although the sound is not brilliant, at times, Alex Scolnick’s scintillating lead work is lost in the mix, and Billy’s vocals are a bit buffeted. But this is Testament at full speed and heavier than a bag of anvils.
They drop into most recent album, 2022’s Titans Of Creation with Children Of The Next Level and WWIII and then change the set to include a stunning Return To Serenity, played for the first time in 30 years, Billy tells us.
It is an honour to be part of the crowd for this moment, and the two songs we miss out on from previous shows, Dark Roots Of The Earth and True American Hate, are happily parked in favour of this choice.
It takes a while to get things moving on the floor, but the pit slowly forms, and by the time Low And Native Blood are ripped out, it is starting to steam in the centre. Behind the kit, newish drummer Chris Dovas ensures that the Atomic Clock is not missed, while the rich and thick bass lines of Steve Di’Gorgio resonate throughout the entire venue.
Only one visit to the earliest albums, and that’s the inevitable closer Into The Pit from sophomore album The New Order, which draws in many more for a first or final circle pit.
As chaos reigns down the front, I reflect on this shrewd band’s cleverly mixed set. Testament are superb. Full stop.
The Eventim Apollo Thrash Metal Special. The young pups may be scratching at the door, but old dogs Anthrax, Kreator and Testament are in no mood to give up their place at the top table.
This was such a special evening the reviews have been published separately: Anthrax | Kreator | Testament.
