In a recent and revealing interview with Stig Gøran Nordahl of Norway’s Metal Express Radio, TESTAMENT vocalist Chuck Billy has confirmed that the iconic thrash metal band is actively planning a remixed version of their fourth album, the 1990 release "Souls Of Black." This revelation comes as TESTAMENT continues to navigate the reacquisition and reissue of their early catalog, a process that has seen the band reclaim ownership of their first six albums recorded for the major label Atlantic Records.
"Me and [TESTAMENT guitarist] Eric [Peterson] took back all the Atlantic records, the six records we did with the Atlantic major record label. Now we took them back," Billy stated during the interview, as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET. He further elaborated on the timeline for regaining control of their discography, noting, "Next year we get ‘The Ritual’ [1992] back, and a few years later we’ll get ‘Low’ [1994] back." The immediate focus, however, is on the albums that have already been secured: "But right now we have ‘The Legacy’ [1987], ‘The New Order’ [1988], ‘Practice What You Preach’ [1989] and now ‘Souls Of Black’."
The remixed version of "Souls Of Black" is particularly significant because, unlike previous reissues of their early material, the band was able to access the original multitrack recordings. This allowed for a full remix, rather than a remaster, a distinction Billy emphasized. "We remastered all the others – ‘The Legacy’, ‘The New Order’ and ‘Practice’ – because we couldn’t find the two-inch master reels, so we just did a remastering," he explained. "But ‘Souls Of Black’, we had all the tracks, so we went in there and remixed it, and it sounds great. I can’t wait for people to hear it. It sounds so good. Really modern sound and raw. It sounds good."
The Genesis of a Remix: Addressing Production Shortcomings
Billy’s comments shed light on the long-standing desire within the band to rectify perceived sonic deficiencies in the original "Souls Of Black" recording. The album, while a fan favorite and a crucial part of TESTAMENT’s evolution, has often been critiqued for its production quality. Billy attributed these issues to the band’s youth and inexperience in studio environments at the time of its creation.
"Well, we put our faith in the producers, engineers, people mixing it," Billy admitted. "We were young, and we put a record out every year and toured. We didn’t know the studio or none of that stuff. We were just writing songs and recording, so we left it up to the people in charge." This reliance on external expertise, while common for emerging artists, led to a result that the band felt did not fully capture their sonic ambitions. "In the end, we wanted it to sound better, but we didn’t know how to make it sound better," he continued. "It took us 35, 40 years later for us to get in a studio and put up the tracks again and go, ‘Oh, God, that sounds bad. Let’s fix that.’"
The remix process, therefore, represents a deliberate effort to bring the album’s sound into alignment with the band’s current understanding of their music and the sonic possibilities of modern production. "So now that’s what we’ve done, and it just sounds… I hear the songs way different now, because you can really hear the guitars are so heavy and the vocals aren’t all wet and reverbed out," Billy described. "We pulled a lot of stuff back and made it really raw and hit you a lot harder. So, yeah, it’s way better." This statement suggests a move away from a potentially overly polished or processed sound towards a more direct and impactful presentation, a hallmark of many contemporary metal productions.
Vocal Performance Unchanged: Preserving the Original Energy
Intriguingly, despite the opportunity to revisit and potentially re-record vocal tracks, Chuck Billy expressed satisfaction with his original performance on "Souls Of Black." When asked if he was tempted to re-sing any of his vocal parts, he responded, "I thought I would. But I was very happy with all the vocals. It was actually a very strong performance on all the tracks. There was no… Nothing, when we listened to it, said, ‘Oh, oh, I wanna change that,’ or, ‘Oh, I don’t like that.’ All of it was… I had a good performance on that record, so that helped. I didn’t have to fix anything." This decision underscores a commitment to preserving the authenticity of the original vocal delivery, focusing the remix efforts on the instrumental and overall mix rather than altering the core vocal performance.
A Timeline of Reacquisition and Reissue
The reacquisition of TESTAMENT’s Atlantic Records catalog is a significant undertaking, reflecting a growing trend among established bands to regain control over their master recordings. This process has been ongoing for some time and has been carefully managed by the band.
- Summer 2023: TESTAMENT enters into a new partnership with Nuclear Blast, a deal that secures the rights to the band’s first six albums in the United States. This agreement marks a pivotal moment in the band’s efforts to re-release and present their early work under their own stewardship.
- Late 2023: The re-release of TESTAMENT’s first two albums, "The Legacy" (1987) and "The New Order" (1988), commences. These reissues typically involve updated packaging and, in some cases, remastered audio.
- January 2025: The reissue of "Practice What You Preach" (1989) becomes available. This release offered multiple formats, including CD, an orange bone swirl LP, a limited-edition orange cassette (700 worldwide), and a limited-edition long box (CD, sticker, and button, limited to 500), demonstrating a commitment to catering to various fan preferences and collector interests.
- Upcoming Release: The remixed version of "Souls Of Black" (1990) is slated for release sometime in the next year, following the completion of the current promotional cycle for the original version of the album with Nuclear Blast. The band is also reportedly working on creating "really cool packaging" for this forthcoming release.
- Future Reacquisitions: As mentioned by Chuck Billy, the band will also regain control of "The Ritual" (1992) next year, and "Low" (1994) a few years thereafter. This suggests a phased approach to reclaiming their entire Atlantic Records discography.
Contextualizing "Souls Of Black"
The significance of "Souls Of Black" within TESTAMENT’s discography cannot be overstated. Released in 1990, it followed the critical success of "The New Order" and the widely acclaimed "Practice What You Preach." The album represented a slight stylistic shift for the band, incorporating more melodic elements and a more polished, albeit ultimately criticized, production. Guitarist Eric Peterson himself reflected on the album’s rapid creation in a 2013 interview with The Great Southern Brainfart, stating, "I wouldn’t have rushed out ‘Souls Of Black’ like we did. That album could’ve been something different. It is a classic record now, but it was just thrown together so quickly." This sentiment aligns with Billy’s current assessment, highlighting a collective desire to revisit and refine a seminal work.
The original release of "Souls Of Black" occurred during a dynamic period for thrash metal, a genre that was both evolving and facing increasing commercial pressures. Bands were experimenting with their sound, and major labels were often keen to guide them towards more radio-friendly territories. TESTAMENT, as a young band on a major label, navigated these influences, and "Souls Of Black" stands as a testament to that period of their career. The upcoming remixed version offers an opportunity to re-evaluate the album through a contemporary lens, potentially revealing nuances and strengths that were previously obscured by its original production.
Broader Implications and Fan Anticipation
The announcement of a remixed "Souls Of Black" is likely to generate considerable excitement among TESTAMENT’s dedicated fanbase. For many, the band’s early catalog represents a golden era of thrash metal, and the prospect of hearing these classic tracks with a revitalized sound is highly appealing. This initiative also aligns with a broader trend in the music industry, where legacy artists are increasingly reissuing their back catalogs with updated production and expanded bonus content, often as a way to engage with new generations of fans and reintroduce their work to existing ones.
The success of TESTAMENT’s recent album, "Titans of Creation," released in April 2024 via Nuclear Blast, demonstrates the band’s continued relevance and creative vitality. The album, recorded with Juan Urteaga and mixed by Jens Bogren, with artwork by Eliran Kantor, received critical acclaim and further solidified their position in the metal landscape. This contemporary success provides a strong platform for the reissue of their classic material, offering a compelling narrative of a band that has consistently evolved while honoring its storied past. The remixed "Souls Of Black" will undoubtedly be a focal point of fan discussion and anticipation throughout the coming year, promising a fresh sonic perspective on a beloved thrash metal artifact.
