The Best of Testament by Testament, album cover
Album · Compilation · 30 years old this year

The Best of Testament

Released25 May 1996
Popularity10.3

The Best of Testament is a compilation released on 25 May 1996 through Atlantic, the label the band had been with across their earlier records. It gathers material from a thrash metal band that began life in San Francisco in 1983 under the name Legacy, and it arrived after six studio albums, from The Legacy in 1987 through to Low in 1994.

For anyone coming to Testament fresh, it works as a quick tour of their first decade, a period in which guitarist Eric Peterson, the one constant in a shifting line-up, kept the band moving. It sits just before Demonic in 1997, so it also marks a point where the early chapter of their story could be looked back on in one place. A handy starting point before heading into the full albums.

The Best of Testament: tracklist and credits

15 tracks · 1:10:16

Tracklist

  1. 1Over the WallChristian, Peterson, Skolnick, Souza4:08
  2. 2The New OrderEric Peterson and Alex Skolnick4:29
  3. 3Sins of OmissionTestament, Billy, Peterson, Skolnick5:03
  4. 4Electric CrownPeterson, Skolnick, Billy5:32
  5. 5The LegacyClemente, Peterson, Skolnick, Billy5:31
  6. 6Burnt OfferingsPeterson, Skolnick, Souza5:07
  7. 7Practice What You PreachTestament, Billy, Peterson, Skolnick4:56
  8. 8Hail MaryMurphy, Peterson, Billy, James3:34
  9. 9Trial by FirePeterson, Skolnick, Billy4:16
  10. 10Alone in the DarkPeterson, Skolnick, Souza4:07
  11. 11Disciples of the WatchPeterson, Skolnick, Billy5:07
  12. 12Greenhouse EffectTestament and Alex Skolnick4:56
  13. 13LowEric Peterson and Chuck Billy3:36
  14. 14Souls of BlackClemente, Peterson, Skolnick, Billy3:24
  15. 15Return to SerenityPeterson, Billy, James6:31
Produced by
Alex Perialas, David Pigg, Roy Rowland, Tony Platt, Garth Richardson, Testament
Executive producer
Jon Zazula, Marsha Zazula
Recorded at
Pyramid Sound Recording Studios, Fantasy Studios, One on One Studios, A&M Recording Studios, Studio D Recording
Mixed by
Alex Perialas, Nigel Green, Michael Wagener
Mixed at
Pyramid Sound Recording Studios, Fantasy Studios, Battery Studios, Scream Studios
Engineered by
Alex Perialas, Tony Platt, Bill Kennedy
Artwork
Bob Defrin
Label
Atlantic
Length
1:10:16

Line-up

  • Greg Christian · bass, bass guitar, electric bass guitar
  • Louie Clemente · drums (drum set)
  • Eric Peterson · guitar, electric guitar, background vocals
  • Alex Skolnick · guitar
  • Chuck Billy · lead vocals
  • Elliot “Gino” Cahn · vocals · guest
  • Bodgan Jablonski · vocals · guest
  • Willy Langs · vocals · guest
  • Mark Walters · vocals · guest
  • James Murphy · electric guitar · guest
  • John Tempesta · drums (drum set) · guest

From MusicBrainz. Only what the sources record is shown.

10.3
Popularity (0–100, vs the whole vault)
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327
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Releases and pressings

How we know the release date musicbrainz only
SourceDateNote
MusicBrainz25 May 1996
Wikidata1996
US release1996earliest US date
UK / Europe release1996earliest UK or European date
3 editions
DateCountryLabelBarcodeKind
1996XEAtlantic075678065224other
1996US—other
25 May 1996JPEastWest4988029096241original
Cover art sources

coverartarchive · upscaled: major: best source 1200x1200, upscaled to 1500 (x1.25)

SourceSizeVerdict
coverartarchive ✓1200×1200upscaled: major: best source 1200x1200, upscaled to 1500 (x1.25)