''Demonic'' is the seventh studio album by American

thrash metal Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...

band Testament. Released in 1997 with original members

Chuck Billy Charles Billy (born June 23, 1962) is an American singer who is best known as the lead vocalist for thrash metal band Testament. Career Testament Billy joined Legacy in 1986, replacing vocalist Steve "Zetro" Souza who would later join Exod ...

(vocals) and

Eric Peterson Eric Neal Peterson (born October 2, 1946) is a Canadian stage, television, and film actor, known for his roles in three major Canadian series – '' Street Legal'' (1987–1994), '' Corner Gas'' (2004–2009), and '' This is Wonderland'' ...

(guitar), the record also features artists Derrick Ramirez (bass),

Gene Hoglan Eugene Victor Hoglan II (born August 31, 1967) is an American drummer, acclaimed for his creativity in drum arrangements, including use of abstract devices for percussion effects and his trademark lengthy double-kick drum rhythms. Though his pla ...

(drums) and

Glen Alvelais Glen Alvelais (born February 22, 1968) is an American heavy metal guitarist from the San Francisco Bay Area. He was the lead guitarist for the thrash metal band Forbidden and has also played in Testament. Career Forbidden Alvelais joined ...

(guitar). Ramirez was previously the band's first guitarist (although here he is performing on bass guitar), and Alvelais had previously performed with Testament on the 1993 live album, ''

Return to the Apocalyptic City ''Return to the Apocalyptic City'' is a live EP by American thrash metal band Testament, released in 1993. All tracks were recorded at the Hollywood Palladium, except for the last two; "Reign of Terror" was recorded during '' The New Order'' ses ...

''. ''Demonic'' was also Testament's only album with Hoglan for 15 years, until he rejoined and performed on the album '' Dark Roots of Earth'' (2012). Musically and lyrically, this album is very different from anything Testament had released before, marking a deviation from previous albums to a much darker death metal sound mirroring the album's exorcism theme. Songs like "John Doe" and "Hatreds Rise" stand out in reviews as examples noting the overall heavier change.

Artwork

The album cover art for ''Demonic'' was done by Dave McKean who also did the cover art for the prior Testament studio album, ''Low'' and would go on to do their next, ''The Gathering''. In a 1999 interview while supporting the release of ''The Gathering'', Peterson described how the image depicts a type of African exorcism where a wooden mask is made to represent the possessed victim. Nails are then driven into it cleansing the afflicted person of the evil spirit. McKean gets double duty from the cover's pentagram graphic using the style depiction from the Legacy (band) logo, the band name Testament released a 1985 demo under, as both a nod to longtime fans and as the spirit being driven forth. The center skull art without the pentagram enclosure can be seen on the album cover of Testament's first studio album, ''The Legacy''.

Re-release

The album was reissued on January 8, 2018 under license from ''Burnt Offerings'' via label

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, featuring new cover artwork.

Track listing

Personnel

Testament

– vocals *

– lead and rhythm guitars * Derrick Ramirez – bass *

– drums *

– lead guitars on track 9

Production and design

*Chuck Billy – co-producer *Eric Peterson – co-producer *Douglas Hall – co-producer, engineer *Michael Wagener – mixing (2008) *Mauricio Acevedo – engineer (assistant) *George Marino – mastering * Dave McKean – album cover artwork *Walter Morgan – photography (band photo)

References

{{Authority control Testament (band) albums 1997 albums Albums with cover art by Dave McKean Death metal albums by American artists Groove metal albums