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In a brand new interview with Shawn Ratches of Laughingmonkeymusic, TESTAMENT singer Chuck Billy spoke concerning the progress of the songwriting classes for his upcoming first-ever solo album. He mentioned (as transcribed by Phoosi.com): “I recruited guitar gamers and I instructed guitar gamers that I’ve recruited, ‘Simply write me a track. However do not write a TESTAMENT track and a thrash track. I wanna write one thing completely different than that. Write me one thing both bluesy, actual heavy, extra rock. I grew up in an period of loving THIN LIZZY and UFO and bands like that, so write some cool THIN LIZZY-style riffs.’ However I actually needed it to be a file the place it actually took it again, saved it easy, saved it dry — no sampled drums and triggered kicks. Simply make it rock, just like the previous data you was once — simply clear, which you could crank up they usually sound good. I would like it to be the place somebody places it on and goes, ‘Oh, that is Chuck?’ Sort of listening to it. That is form of what I am searching for.”
Elaborating on how completely different his vocal method is likely to be on his solo album in comparison with the music he has written and recorded with TESTAMENT, Chuck mentioned: “Pace metallic and thrash metallic is predicated on loads of cadence — it is the timing and the beat of the track — so I’ve realized how you can sing in cadence, actually, the place different rock songs [have] extra melody or perhaps there’s extra be aware altering within the guitar enjoying the place I can carry completely different melodies and issues like that. I suppose I am searching for a problem and one thing that I will really be happy with.”
Billy went on to say that his debut solo album will “positively occur. I simply thought perhaps throughout COVID [I would have more time to work on it… But you just get busy in life, and I just didn’t focus on it,” he explained. “But I do have a lot of people reaching out to me going, ‘I’d like to contribute a song.’ It’s, like, ‘Write it and just send it to me. And we’ll take it from there.'”
Last month, Billy told the “Let There Be Talk” podcast that he has spoken to “about six guitar players” so far about collaborating with him on his solo album – “anywhere from Gary Holt [EXODUS, SLAYER] to Mark Morton from LAMB OF GOD. I even chatted with Joe Bonamassa,” he mentioned. “Simply all types of various guys.”
Billy beforehand mentioned his plans for a solo album throughout a summer time 2021 look on the “Not These Two Fucking Guys” podcast. On the time, he mentioned: “Nicely, it began [to be] within the works, however then issues simply form of bought held up. I used to be recruiting some guitar gamers during the last six months to write down a file with me, and I used to be gonna use a special guitar participant on each track to assist me write songs. Mark Morton, I’ve talked to him; he desires to work [with me]. I additionally need Gary Holt to write down some songs with me. Glen Drover [ex-MEGADETH] is gonna write some songs… I have never approached my cousin Stef [Stephen Carpenter] from the DEFTONES but, however I am gonna see if he’ll wanna write a track with me. I attempted to achieve out to Joe Bonamassa [to see if he wants to] write a track with me.”
As for the musical course of his solo LP, Billy mentioned: “I would like it to be completely different. And what I’ve instructed all these guys [is] that I wanna do a solo file, however I do not need it to resemble TESTAMENT; I wanna do one thing completely different. And the course I wanna go is the previous traditional vinyl-sounding data — simply actual, clear and dry and massive. Actual tones — not compressed digital stuff. I would like it to be traditional sounding, however have it rock, have it bluesy. Have some metallic, however simply have it the place [it doesn’t sound like what people are used to hearing from me].”
He continued: “I’ve performed these compilation data for this Cleopatra label, and I’ve performed something from Michael Jackson to Christmas songs. And each time folks hear it, they go, ‘Man, that is form of cool.’ And I used to be desirous about it — it is enjoyable to do, and it is difficult and completely different. So once I consider a solo file, I would like it to be completely different — I would like each track to form of have its personal character and stand on their very own. In order that was form of my aim. If I do a solo file — perhaps I will do a couple of, but when I do one solo file, I would like it to actually be one thing that [is] difficult to me, completely different for me and completely different from [people’s] expectations, when any individual places it on, [but] that they will take pleasure in it nonetheless.
“So that is what I needed to do,” Chuck added. “So I have been telling [the various guitar players], ‘Simply begin writing. Put the track collectively for me. However do not suppose metallic. Do not suppose TESTAMENT. Do not suppose the bands you are in. Simply write one thing cool that is bought a vibe. And provides it to me. Let me do my factor on it.'”
TESTAMENT, EXODUS and DEATH ANGEL kicked off the 2022 version of “The Bay Strikes Again Tour” this previous Saturday evening (April 9) on the Fremont Theater in San Luis Obispo, California. The present marked TESTAMENT‘s first look with drummer Dave Lombardo since he rejoined the group earlier this yr.
An authentic member of thrash metallic legends SLAYER, Lombardo was the visitor drummer on TESTAMENT‘s 1999 studio album “The Gathering”, which additionally marked the primary time the band labored with then-up-and-coming British producer/engineer Andy Sneap.
In January, TESTAMENT parted methods with its longtime drummer Gene Hoglan. Hoglan initially performed drums on 1997’s “Demonic”, however did not stick round lengthy sufficient to do any touring with the band. He formally joined TESTAMENT in 2011 and performed on the group’s final three albums: 2012’s “Darkish Roots Of Earth”, 2016’s “Brotherhood Of The Snake” and 2020’s “Titans Of Creation”.
