AS Electric Crown solo

[Flexkill]

So damn good, he still has it.

[James]

Skolnick is a machine, he makes that look way too easy

[Chris]

Hell yeah. A lot of fans don't like The Ritual but I think it kicks ass.

[Alan]

I've always loved that solo... that was awesome!

[Megametal7]

Electric crown is my fav song by testament, he makes it look easy to play that solo.

I want to learn that song and solo

[wombcannon]

Hell yeah. A lot of fans don't like The Ritual but I think it kicks ass.

It is an underappreciated album for sure but you can totally tell that they were like "oh shit, the new Metallica isnt thrash and selling like a mother fucker, we gotta chase that".

[thrashinbatman]

It is an underappreciated album for sure but you can totally tell that they were like "oh shit, the new Metallica isnt thrash and selling like a mother fucker, we gotta chase that".

this describes pretty much every thrash band around that time with the exception of Slayer and maybe a few others.

[wombcannon]

this describes pretty much every thrash band around that time with the exception of Slayer and maybe a few others.

Oh for sure but you could tell they totally didn't "want" to do that. It was also probably record company intervention as well.

[noodles]

Man, the way his alternate picked runs have that bounce to them is the coolest thing ever. They don't sound mechanical like most shredders.

[thrashinbatman]

Oh for sure but you could tell they totally didn't "want" to do that. It was also probably record company intervention as well.

yeah you could tell who actually wanted to do it and who did it out of obligation. Megadeth and Suicidal Tendencies are the bands I can think of off the top of my head that seemed to genuinely enjoy changing their style. Megadeth more out of competition with Metallica, but it's more than trend-chasing.

[Mike]

It is an underappreciated album for sure but you can totally tell that they were like "oh shit, the new Metallica isnt thrash and selling like a mother fucker, we gotta chase that".

Alex actually confirms this in his book.

[petereanima]

Yeeeea, the Ritual is the "must make a black album" record. However, it still rules. And Skolnick is boss, everythin in this video is awesome - playing, tone, song, that Silverburst ESP.

[Chris]

It is an underappreciated album for sure but you can totally tell that they were like "oh shit, the new Metallica isnt thrash and selling like a mother fucker, we gotta chase that".

Or perhaps "Oh shit, Metallica is paying their mortgages by not playing thrash, and we have houses and families too, we should probably try that."

[Dominic]

Alex actually confirms this in his book.

I'd gleaned much from interviews over the years, but also got the autobiography several Christmasses ago and have still not read it. I miss having time for books, guess I'll have to make some!

After hearing Souls, then Practice (I came late to Testament, starting in 1996), The Ritual came as a huge letdown and I still can't get into it. Having loved Skolnick's work on the first two above, I bought Handful Of Rain on the basis of interviews with him I found online where he said he'd been able to play "more like he'd wanted to", but found I didn't like his playing or the music on that. It's due (another) revisit.* And I might make a fist at learning Practice myself, including the solo, that Shredders Of Metal thing made me want a go. I like to bust out the Malpractice riffs in guitar shops, no one's recognised it yet...

*At least he got me into Al Di Meola's Elegant Gypsy and Casino. Race With Devil is rad shit. And Anthony Jackson is a very bad man. And metalheads always say Kÿng Yng is a bell-end. Oh you sweet summer children!

[Naren]

Wub that solo. Also love the natural harmonics in the main riff. Feel so good. Like others have said, it's cool to watch how effortlessly he plays that and just with such good feeling too.

[Chris]

Wub that solo. Also love the natural harmonics in the main riff. Feel so good. Like others have said, it's cool to watch how effortlessly he plays that and just with such good feeling too.

Right? The fact that he's having a super good time playing it makes an already cool lead even cooler.

[wombcannon]

Or perhaps "Oh shit, Metallica is paying their mortgages by not playing thrash, and we have houses and families too, we should probably try that."

Oh trust me. Im not putting them, or that album, down for trying to earn some coin. Im not a pissed off 20 year old kid anymore. Im pushing 40 and have a mortgage myself so I totally get it. I also dig The Ritual as well.

[Chris]

Oh trust me. Im not putting them, or that album, down for trying to earn some coin. Im not a pissed off 20 year old kid anymore. Im pushing 40 and have a mortgage myself so I totally get it. I also dig The Ritual as well.

So you were just being an internet douche, then.

This is the way.

[Ghost.]

By far, my favorite Skolnick solo. I was so pumped when he posted it.

Though, I love it when he performed it on his 90's Goldtop. It just sounds so glorious.

[Chris]

Chuck's voice, unlike basically everyone else in thrash, has just gotten better and meaner the older he gets. Awesome.

[wombcannon]

Chuck's voice, unlike basically everyone else in thrash, has just gotten better and meaner the older he gets. Awesome.

To further continue my internet douchery:

While Chuck's voice got "meaner", it also meant it got lower. While thats fine for the newer material, it sort of erks me when I see them live and they are down tuned at least 1 step to compensate for it. I HATE when I go to see thrash legends live and its downtuned but I get it, people get old and cant sing in the same register that they used to.

[Chris]

To further continue my internet douchery:

While Chuck's voice got "meaner", it also meant it got lower. While thats fine for the newer material, it sort of erks me when I see them live and they are down tuned at least 1 step to compensate for it. I HATE when I go to see thrash legends live and its downtuned but I get it, people get old and cant sing in the same register that they used to.

It's almost like people do what they have to do in order to prolong their careers. I actually like when I see live songs that are different than the album recordings.

I'll take that over the opposite - Hetfield crooning like Barry Manilow comes to mind. :\

[James]

Chuck's voice, unlike basically everyone else in thrash, has just gotten better and meaner the older he gets. Awesome.

Absolutely

Also, I've seen Testament at Koko (where Live in London was filmed), that's one hell of a venue! Probabaly the best sound of any venue I've been to

[Ghost.]

Absolutely

Also, I've seen Testament at Koko (where Live in London was filmed), that's one hell of a venue! Probably the best sound of any venue I've been to

That makes sense. Because I always tell people that's my favorite Live Album ever. It just sounds so perfect.



Chris, you'll find this interesting. Chuck was the only guy that I know of in the Thrash Scene to receive proper vocal lessons before he joined Testament, hence why his singing has always been tremendous. He is the perfect Thrash Vocalist.


Also. "The Ritual" might be my favorite Testament record. *Flame Shield*

[wombcannon]

That makes sense. Because I always tell people that's my favorite Live Album ever. It just sounds so perfect.



Chris, you'll find this interesting. Chuck was the only guy that I know of in the Thrash Scene to receive proper vocal lessons before he joined Testament, hence why his singing has always been tremendous. He is the perfect Thrash Vocalist.


Also. "The Ritual" might be my favorite Testament record. *Flame Shield*

I dont think you will get flamed much for that. Now if you said Demonic...