TESTAMENT

The Spitfire Collection

Spitfire Records (2007)

by Sully Payton

 

Another TESTAMENT greatest hits album?  When you add in last year's phenomenal Live In London, Testament have now released four greatest hits collections, with The Spitfire Collection (Spitfire Records) being the newest addition.  The Spitfire Collection is not going to pull in any uninitiated thrash heads into the TESTAMENT cult.  It's strictly a fans only collection since the Spitfire label years have not seen their strongest output.  

You get three tracks from Live At The Fillmore, a live record that now pales in comparison to Live In London.  Quite frankly, the three cuts chosen have stronger versions on the latter live CD.  You get three tracks from Demonic, with "John Doe" being the one worth cranking from an album that is Testament's weakest offering in their storied history.  The Gathering tracks are well chosen.  "Careful What You Wish For", "Down For Life" and "Riding The Snake" are great choices from one of the band's most brutal offerings.   Two cuts from First Strike Still Deadly and three from Live In London round out this package.  The live version of "Disciples Of The Watch" which closes the album out is proof that Chuck Billy and company still have a lot of gas in the tank and are a force to be reckoned with.  It would be nice if they could channel that energy and power into a new record.  C'mon guys, it's been eight years…How about it?

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