Description

Still sealed digipak

Influenced by the then-emerging Bay Area thrash metal scene, vocalist Steve Souza, guitarists Eric Peterson and his cousin Derrick Ramirez, bassist Greg Christian, and drummer Louie Clemente came together as Legacy in late 1983. Before future Exodus vocalist Steve Souza left this band they recorded one hell of a demo, but by then Ramirez had been replaced by Alex Skolnick and drummer Clemente had left and been replaced by Mike Ronchette. Clemente was soon back in the band but missed out on the recording of this demo. Featuring three songs that would end up on the Testament debut and one bastard of a lost thrash classic, this is one of the truly classic thrash demos and is pretty much indispensible for the true Testament fan. The production on this demo is actually very good. Sure its a bit dry but for being a demo its definitely ok sound. Souza’s vocals are more frantic than even Chuck Billy’s would be and it adds to the intensity. But other than the different vocals and a few altered guitar solos and bridge riffs, the songs are virtually identical to the album versions found on Testaments debut album. The true gem here is Reign Of Terror, which was supposed to be re-recorded for The New Order, but for reasons unbeknownst, it never was (can later be found on the First Strike Still Deadly album). This song is brutal and is probably one of the band’s best songs of all time. Legacy were doing okey and the group was attracting record company attention but they was handed a severe blow when Souza abruptly quit to join original Bay Area scene legends Exodus. However it was Souza himself that suggested Chuck Billy as their newe vocalist and the change would prove to be godsend. Legacy did only one show with Billy behind the microphone because when Petersen and Skolnick started writing more Metallica-inspired thrash metal instead of thrash like their less-refined peers such as Forbidden and Vio-Lence they really needed a singer that were significantly more versatile. Chuck Billys greater melodic talents and inimitable, bowl-shaking growl would better complement the band’s increasing diversity and mastery of melodic crunch. The band changed name to Testament and under that name they would go on and pump out plenty of quality thrash metal for decades to come. Besides this kick ass demo we get 4 rehearsal tracks recorded before the demo where Petersen and Ramirez are working on new tracks. Here we have Ramirez on vocals. A rare and rarely heard recording indeed that gives us a taster of more tracks from the band. Petersen would work with his cousin again, several years down the road, when the two of them founded Dragonlord. So get this rare album and though their skill isn’t at its peak yet, they’re not too far from greatness here.

Track list:
1. Burnt Offerings-demo 85
2. Reign Of Terror-demo 85
3. Alone In The Dark-demo 85
4. Raging Waters-demo 85
5. Legacy-rehearsal 84
6. Palace Of Torture-rehearsal 84
7. Intruder-rehearsal 84
8. Soul Snatcher-rehearsal 84