«The New Order» is Testament’s second album. It was released on 10 May 1988 by Megaforce and Atlantic, with Alex Perialas producing. The recordings took place in January and February 1988 at Pyramid Sound Studios in New York. It is the band’s first album to enter the American Billboard chart, reaching number 136.
“`Country: USA
Style: Thrash Metal
For fans of: Metallica, Exodus, Death Angel
Behind the record are Chuck Billy on vocals, Alex Skolnick and Eric Peterson on guitars, Greg Christian on bass and Louie Clemente on drums. The sound is sharp, fast thrash with the emphasis on the guitars, more mature than the debut and with moments that already show the band’s lean toward more melodic and technical paths.
«Trial by Fire» was the single, while «Into the Pit» became a permanent part of the live set and one of Testament’s most recognisable songs. The title track «The New Order» and «Disciples of the Watch» also stand out, with «The Preacher» adding a darker tone. At the end of the album there is also the cover of Aerosmith’s «Nobody’s Fault».
The band had delivered an album shorter than its contract required and added the cover and two instrumentals to make up for it. «The New Order» is regarded as one of the key American thrash albums of 1988 and one of the strongest in their catalogue. To promote it Testament toured for three months, passing through Europe alongside names such as Megadeth, Sanctuary, Flotsam and Jetsam and Nuclear Assault.
See also
Slayer: the story of the band that shaped the sound of thrash metal and The old school thrash albums that laid the foundations of the genre.
