TESTAMENT Frontman Hopes To Begin Recording New Album In January

During a recent appearance on Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show, TESTAMENT frontman Chuck Billy said that the band is hoping to release the follow-up to 2016's "Brotherhood Of The Snake" album in early 2019. "The plan is to get a lot of riffs and stuff going out here on [the second leg of TESTAMENT's] tour [with SLAYER], 'cause we do have a lot of time on our hands," he said (hear audio below). "So by the time we finish this, we'll go home and me and Eric [Peterson, guitar] will really get together and really try to chop out a bunch of music, 'cause the goal is to get in the studio hopefully by January and have a record out hopefully by April. That's the goal."

Billy went on to say that he wishes TESTAMENT could make a new album every year. "We talk about that, 'cause in our early years, when we first came out, we did five records in a row, year after year," he said. "And I think about it — back [then], we wrote a record and toured, [went] right back in the studio, wrote a record, toured; there was no time off. But you had a lot of momentum going. So, you've gotta think of that — you don't want to lose the momentum when you've got something going. So, it's a tough balance. But if you're prepared, we go for it."

Asked what lyrical themes he might cover on TESTAMENT's next album, Chuck said: "Well, we don't know yet, but I know on 'Brotherhood', I definitely ventured out and kind of went to secret societies and alien creating mankind. And it was really cool — a lot of that stuff I researched. So, I don't know. I still maybe might lean a little towards that. I'm still intrigued with that; it still fascinates me. When it comes time to write, I really write off whatever Eric gives me; the vibe of the song has a feel of the title and the whole thing for me has to come together in that."

Chuck went on to say that the overwhelmingly positive response to the last two TESTAMENT albums, 2012's "Dark Roots Of Earth" and the aforementioned "Brotherhood Of The Snake", puts more pressure on him and his bandmates to once again deliver the goods. But, he said, "I think the pressure is good. Since [1999's] 'The Gathering', I think we've been kind of picking up momentum and honing in our technique and what TESTAMENT is, and especially trying to sound more current than established back in the '80s or whatever. I think now it's definitely different."

"Brotherhood Of The Snake" was recorded under the watchful eyes of producer Juan Urteaga (EXODUS, HEATHEN, MACHINE HEAD),Peterson and Billy and was mixed and mastered by British metal producer Andy Sneap (ACCEPT, ARCH ENEMY, CRADLE OF FILTH, KREATOR, MACHINE HEAD, MEGADETH).