When the Big Four Tour was announced in late 2009, featuring Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax, there was little Thrash Metal fans could complain about. A dream come true, this lineup included the most dominant Thrash Metal bands of the 1980s; however, it did not diminish the plethora of other legendary acts earning these ranks. Many have argued that if you expanded the list, you could include bands like Overkill, Exodus, and, of course, Testament.
Formed in 1983, Testament were part of a tremendous Thrash Metal scene in the San Francisco Bay area at the time, which included Exodus, Death Angel, Forbidden, Vio-lence, and Lȧȧz Rockit. With that in mind, Testament did not release their debut album, The Legacy, until 1987, a few years behind much of the Big Four’s pioneering steps. Opening eyes with The Legacy, some would call Testament’s arrival a key moment in the second wave of Thrash Metal dominance during the ’80s. Hard to deny, they followed up boldly on 1988’s The New Order, 1989’s Practice What You Preach, and 1990’s Souls of Black. Each sensational, top-notch Thrash Metal, as Grunge Rock left much of the ’80s in the review mirror, 1992’s The Ritual found Testament experimenting with different Metal sounds, as did 1994’s Low, 1997’s Demonic, leading into the impressive and highly underappreciated 1999 album The Gathering.
All a part of Testament’s vast history, around 2005, Guitarist Alex Skolnick returned with Guitarist Eric Peterson and Vocalist Chuck Billy, solidifying the key components of their classic lineup. A truly transformational moment, since then, Testament has released 2008’s The Formation of Damnation, 2012’s Dark Roots of Earth, 2016’s Brotherhood of the Snake, and 2020’s Titans of Creation, all of which found their way into charts around the world. A well-deserved resurgence: in 2025, they return once more with the new album Para Bellum.
Released on October 10, 2025, through Nuclear Blast Records, Para Bellum marks the band’s first album in five years, after they toured heavily between 2022 and 2023 and had to replace longtime Drummer Gene Hoglan, who left in early 2022. Finally bringing in Chris Dovas on drums in 2023, after some time away from writing, the band was reinvigorated (rather than feeling pressured to pump out more music like an assembly line), resulting in the mighty Para Bellum.
Taking the title from the Latin phrase Si vis pacem, para bellum (translating to “If you want peace, prepare for war”), Testament’s fourteenth overall studio album is one that ebbs and flows, surprising you at every turn. At first, it hits you with the very heavy Blackened Death Metal assault of “For the Love of Pain” and the album’s lead single, “Infanticide A.I.,” which, honestly, is a bit overwhelming, but in a good way. Full of fury and intensity, the album then shifts to more traditional Thrash Metal in the blink of an eye with “Shadow People,” before the stunning dark, melodic ballad “Meant to Be,” and another kick to the head with the raw aggression of “High Noon.”
At this point, all over the place in just the first five songs, it is actually quite delightful, because you are left wondering what exactly the last five tracks will have in store. Some might say it is schipheronic, but the truth is it keeps you on your toes and prevents the record from ever growing mundane. With that in mind, “Witch Hunt” has more Death Metal sounds, before “Nature of the Beast” and “Room 117” have more killer Thrash Metal guitar melodies, “Havana Syndrome” feels like it could fit on any of the band’s ‘80s era records, and the title track closes you out with one last speedy gut-punch.
Usually, it is not necessary to break down each song on a record in the track list’s order, but in the case of Para Bellum, it feels right in order to show just how the album is constructed. By clearly connecting with audiences, Para Bellum debuted at Number 9 on the Billboard 200 (the highest-ever US chart position for Testament). It has also become one of the top-selling physical format Metal releases of 2025 and is peaking on charts across the rest of the world.
Amazing to see, now Testament is gearing up for the Thrash of the Titans North American tour in the spring of 2026 with Overkill and Destruction, will release a 35th-anniversary remixed edition of 1990’s Souls of Black, and has intentions of returning in 2027 with another new album. With a lot going on, prepare to go into Testament’s Para Bellum by taking a deep breath to clear your mind and stimulate your sense of curiosity, because it is one hell of a ride. That is why Cryptic Rock gives their new album 5 out of 5 stars.
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