As part of their first new material since 1999’s The Gathering, Testament has been working with drummer Dave Lombardo. In an interview with Bloodstock TV, guitarist Eric Peterson said he’s working on putting together a new album, which should be released in late 2023.

Peterson said, “I’ve been working on ideas, but I’m trying to put them all together. So hopefully we’ll have a new record by the end of 2023.”

He joked that Testament has certainly gotten faster since the last time he played with Lombardo. As he said, “His groove is completely different.” He said, “I noticed we sped things up a little bit, which is good. I like that we’re sped up.” So who knows – maybe the new record will go at warp speed the whole time.

The band has been having a lot of fun with Lombardo behind the kit, says Testament vocalist Chuck Billy in a recent interview.

“We had a great time [playing with Dave Lombardo]. I think he really enjoys the music. And we’re now talking about maybe making a new record.”

We don’t have anything in the books after [the second U.S. leg of The Bay Strikes Back tour] because Eric has a lot of music… Getting in there and working on new songs from November to April is the best time to get started. We hope to release a new record by next year.

The History of Testament

Testament is a thrash metal band that was formed in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1983. The band’s original lineup consisted of lead vocalist Chuck Billy, guitarists Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick, bassist Greg Christian, and drummer Louie Clemente.

Over the years, Testament has released a total of 12 studio albums and has undergone several lineup changes. Chuck Billy has remained the band’s lead vocalist, while Eric Peterson has remained a constant member, playing rhythm and lead guitar. Other notable members of the band include drummer Gene Hoglan, who has played on several of Testament’s albums, and bassist Steve Di Giorgio, who has also played on a number of the band’s releases.

Testament is known for their heavy, aggressive sound and their powerful live performances. They have played at numerous music festivals and have toured with other notable metal bands such as Slayer and Megadeth.

Throughout their career, Testament has received critical acclaim for their musical prowess and their contributions to the thrash metal genre. They have a dedicated fan base and continue to tour and release new music to this day. If you’re a fan of thrash metal, you definitely don’t want to miss a chance to see Testament live!