Dark Roots of Earth

Dark Roots of Earth
Studio album by Testament
Released July 27, 2012 (2012-07-27)
Recorded June 2011 – February 2012
Studio (see Studios)
Genre Thrash metal
Length 50:48
Label Nuclear Blast
Producer Andy Sneap
Testament chronology
Live at Eindhoven '87
(2009)		 Dark Roots of Earth
(2012)		 Dark Roots of Thrash
(2013)
Singles from Dark Roots of Earth
  1. "True American Hate"
    Released: 2012
  2. "Native Blood"
    Released: July 20, 2012

Dark Roots of Earth is the tenth studio album by American thrash metal band Testament. It was released on July 27, 2012 in Europe, and four days later in North America by the independent German record label Nuclear Blast Records.[1][2] The album is available in three configurations: CD, CD/DVD and vinyl with the latter two versions including four bonus tracks.[2][3] The album was produced by Andy Sneap, who mixed and engineered the band's previous three studio releases, The Gathering (1999), First Strike Still Deadly (2001) and The Formation of Damnation (2008).[2][3] The album artwork was created by Eliran Kantor.[2][3] A music video was made for the track "Native Blood".[4] Dark Roots of Earth entered the Billboard 200 at number twelve, Testament's highest position ever.

This album saw a reunion with Gene Hoglan, who played drums on the band's 1997 album Demonic. During the recording, Hoglan filled in for Paul Bostaph due to his "serious injury".[5] Chris Adler of Lamb of God provided drum tracks on the iTunes bonus version of "A Day in the Death".[5] Dark Roots of Earth is also the last Testament album with bassist Greg Christian, who left the band for a second time in January 2014.[6]

Songs

"Native Blood" was released as a single from the album on July 20, 2012, both as a download and a limited edition 7-inch single.[7] A video was made for the song as well.[8] Previously, "True American Hate" was released as a free download.[9]

"Native Blood" was described as being about Billy's Native American heritage. "True American Hate" was written about the prevalence of hatred, particularly anti-Americanism, in younger generations around the world, often perpetuated by their upbringing. Billy has described "Cold Embrace" as being about "a girl becoming a vampire and never being able to see the sun again." He added that the band hoped to pitch it for a Twilight movie. "Dark Roots of Earth" was described as being a metaphor about the band. "Rise Up" is about war.[10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic82/100[11]
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[12]
Allmusic[13]
Blabbermouth.net8.5/10[14]
Exclaim!favorable[15]
Jukebox:Metal[16]
Revolver4/5[17]

Dark Roots of Earth has received mostly positive reviews. Ryan Ogle of Blabbermouth.net awards the album eight-and-a-half stars out of ten and states, "This album is anything but a rehashing of former glories. The skilled interplay between Alex Skolnick and Eric Peterson, which features a wall-to-wall showcasing of intricate and harmonized runs, back-and-forth soloing, hooky riffs and metallic perfection, is at the centerpiece of this album. The duo displays everything that made them among the most formidable guitar teams on the late '80s / early '90s while placing everything into a modern context." Ogle also praises the music a "noticeably different vibe than its predecessor by leaning more towards their (now) classic American thrash roots", while he describes the album as a "2012 take on Testament's classic and pioneering sound."[14]

Dark Roots of Earth sold over 20,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, and reached number twelve on the Billboard 200—Testament's highest U.S. chart position to date.[18] By March 2013, Dark Roots of Earth sold around 60,000 copies in the U.S.[19]

Touring

To promote the album, Testament embarked on US and Canadian tour co-headlining with Anthrax and openers Death Angel in fall 2012.[20] The three bands had already been touring the US together since fall 2011, with Anthrax supporting their 2011 album Worship Music.[21][22]

In January and February 2013, following the dates with Anthrax and Death Angel, Testament embarked on a U.S. headlining tour with Overkill, Flotsam and Jetsam and Australian band 4Arm.[23]

Track listing

No. TitleLyricsMusic Length
1. "Rise Up"  BillyPeterson 4:18
2. "Native Blood"  Billy, JamesPeterson 5:21
3. "Dark Roots of Earth"  Billy, James, PetersonPeterson, Skolnick 5:45
4. "True American Hate"  Billy, SouzaPeterson, Skolnick 5:26
5. "A Day in the Death"  Billy, Souza, SkolnickPeterson, Skolnick 5:38
6. "Cold Embrace"  Billy, JamesPeterson, Skolnick 7:45
7. "Man Kills Mankind"  Billy, JamesPeterson 5:05
8. "Throne of Thorns"  Billy, JamesPeterson, Skolnick 7:04
9. "Last Stand for Independence"  Billy, JamesPeterson 4:42
Total length:
 50:48

Credits

Writing, performance and production credits are adapted from the album liner notes.[24]

Personnel

Testament
Session musicians
Production
Bonus cover tracks production
Artwork and design

Studios

Chart positions

Chart (2012) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[25] 21
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[26] 54
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[27] 29
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[28] 12
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[29] 29
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[30] 32
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[31] 4
French Albums (SNEP)[32] 46
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[33] 4
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[34] 1
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[35] 56
Korean Albums (Gaon)[36] 91
Korean International Albums (Gaon)[37] 10
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[38] 11
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[39] 8
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[40] 57
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[41] 8
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[42] 10
UK Albums (OCC)[43] 57
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[44] 5
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[45] 3
US Billboard 200[46] 12
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[47] 1
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[48] 1
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[49] 1
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[50] 2

References

  1. ↑ Rosenberg, Axl (2012-05-15). "Album art + release date for Testament's Dark Roots of the Earth!!!". MetalSucks. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Childers, Chad (2012-05-16). "Testament Reveal 'Dark Roots of Earth' Album Artwork + Track Listing". Loudwire. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  3. 1 2 3 Hart, Josh (2012-05-15). "Testament Reveal Artwork, Track Listing, Release Date for New Album, 'Dark Roots of Earth'". Guitar World. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  4. ↑ "Testament - Dark Roots of Earth Review". Guitarhoo!. Guitarhoo.com. 29 March 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  5. 1 2 "TESTAMENT: New Album Title Revealed; Tour With ANTHRAX, OVERKILL, DEATH ANGEL Planned". Blabbermouth.net. 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  6. ↑ "Testament Parts Ways With Bassist Greg Christian, Announces Return Of Steve DiGiorgio". Blabbermouth.net. 2014-01-13. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  7. ↑ "Testament: 'Native Blood' Single Now Available". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. July 20, 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  8. ↑ "Testament Frontman To Discuss 'Native Blood' Video On 107.7 The Bone". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. November 5, 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  9. ↑ "Testament: 'True American Hate' Available for Free Download". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. July 2, 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  10. ↑ "testament: New Songtitles, Lyrical Concepts Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. February 3, 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  11. ↑ "Dark Roots of Earth – Testament". Metacritic. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
  12. ↑ Jervis, Marcus. "Testament – Dark Roots of Earth Review". About.com. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
  13. ↑ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Dark Roots of Earth – Testament". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
  14. 1 2 Ogle, Ryan. "Testament – Dark Roots of Earth". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
  15. ↑ Pratt, Greg (2012-08-08). "Testament – Dark Roots of Earth". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
  16. ↑ Andy Lye. "Jukebox:Metal review".
  17. ↑ Camisasca, Paige (2012-07-18). "Review: Testament – Dark Roots of Earth". Revolver. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
  18. ↑ "Testament's 'Dark Roots of Earth' Cracks U.S. Top 15 – Aug. 8, 2012". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  19. ↑
  20. ↑ Adams, Gregory (May 31, 2012). "Anthrax, Testament and Death Angel Team Up for Canada-Heavy Tour". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  21. ↑ Ouellette, Mary (September 6, 2011). "Anthrax Announce Co-Headlining Fall 2011 Tour With Testament". Loudwire. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  22. ↑ Hart, Josh (December 5, 2011). "2012 Dates Added for Anthrax, Testament, Death Angel Tour". Guitar World. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Testament to Tour U.S. with Overkill, Flotsam and Jetsam". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. November 26, 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  24. ↑ Dark Roots of Earth (liner notes). Testament. Nuclear Blast. 2012.
  25. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Testament – Dark Roots of Earth" (in German). Hung Medien.
  26. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Testament – Dark Roots of Earth" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  27. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Testament – Dark Roots of Earth" (in French). Hung Medien.
  28. ↑ "Testament – Chart history" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for Testament.
  29. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Testament – Dark Roots of Earth". Hung Medien.
  30. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Testament – Dark Roots of Earth" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  31. ↑ "Testament: Dark Roots of Earth" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  32. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Testament – Dark Roots of Earth". Hung Medien.
  33. ↑ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH.
  34. ↑ "Top 40 album DVD és válogatáslemez-lista – 2012. 31. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ.
  35. ↑ "テスタメントのアルバム売上ランキング - ORICON STYLE".
  36. ↑ "South Korea Gaon Album Chart". On the page, select "2012.07.29~2012.08.04" to obtain the corresponding chart. Gaon Chart
  37. ↑ "South Korea Gaon International Album Chart". On the page, select "2012.07.29~2012.08.04", then "국외", to obtain the corresponding chart. Gaon Chart
  38. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Testament – Dark Roots of Earth". Hung Medien.
  39. ↑ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLIS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry.
  40. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Testament – Dark Roots of Earth". Hung Medien.
  41. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Testament – Dark Roots of Earth". Hung Medien.
  42. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Testament – Dark Roots of Earth". Hung Medien.
  43. ↑ "Testament | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart
  44. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company.
  45. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  46. ↑ "Testament – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Testament.
  47. ↑ "Testament – Chart history" Billboard Independent Albums for Testament.
  48. ↑ "Testament – Chart history" Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums for Testament.
  49. ↑ "Testament – Chart history" Billboard Top Rock Albums for Testament.
  50. ↑ "Testament – Chart history" Billboard Top Tastemaker Albums for Testament.
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