CHUCK BILLY Explains How Grunge Affected TESTAMENT’s Momentum In The ’90s

The rise of grunge within the early ’90s marked a seismic shift within the music business. Whereas the Seattle sound captured mainstream consideration and reshaped popular culture, its ascent disrupted the momentum of different genres, particularly metallic. Testament frontman Chuck Billy just lately mirrored on this turbulent period, providing a candid perspective on how grunge affected his band and metallic as a complete.

In an interview with Full Steel Jackie (through Loudwire), Billy addressed the frequent perception that grunge “killed” metallic, providing a extra nuanced take: “There’s those that say it killed metallic. I do not know if it killed metallic. I simply suppose some bands, and I can solely communicate for us, nevertheless it killed our momentum.”

For Testament, the timing was significantly irritating. The band had begun to get pleasure from important radio publicity, breaking by way of the late-night faculty radio area of interest that usually confined metallic.

“Throughout that point, we had been getting publicity on radio, really having metallic performed throughout drive time visitors, which was superior to us for each Observe and Souls of Black in that period,” Billy defined. “There was, God, it needed to be a pair hundred stations throughout the nation that had been taking part in metallic throughout drive time visitors. You simply did not have the midnight present on faculty radio. So metallic was getting an opportunity. It was getting publicity for somewhat bit, much more excessive type metallic.”

Nevertheless, as grunge grew right into a cultural juggernaut, metallic’s second within the solar pale. The shift pressured Testament to reevaluate their method to music and profession: “It did not kill us, nevertheless it modified our perspective seeing what was occurring to the opposite bands. The momentum slowed down, and we needed to shift gears to form of return to our roots,” Billy recalled.

As a substitute of chasing mainstream developments or making an attempt to emulate probably the most established grunge bands, Testament selected a unique path. For Testament, this meant embracing their unique sound—heavier, extra aggressive, and uncompromising. This back-to-basics method in the end solidified their id and received the loyalty of followers.

 “It wasn’t about writing a music that is going to get publicity on the radio anymore as a result of it was form of altering. And naturally, we weren’t going to attempt to be Soundgarden or Pearl Jam. So we shifted again to the place we began.”

“Let’s return and write heavier songs and extra aggressive songs. Get again to what we all know, what we love, and simply follow that,” Billy mentioned. “I feel it was the precise selection as a result of we do discuss to followers at present who reward us and say thanks a lot for sticking round and being Testament. And that is a giant praise.”