TESTAMENT

Thrash Will Never Die

-So it seems that old friends are still in a good relationship. How would you describe the influence of adding Paul Bostaph to your line-up. I must say that I'm really happy because my prayers have been answered. I wouldn't say anything wrong about Nick, but when I've heard that he had to leave, knowing that Bostaph left EXODUS I thought only of one. And my dreams came true. How does it feel to play together again?
Paul is a great musician. He has an excellent music sense. He showed me different approach to many elements that were present in my riffs. He has a great ease of finding a great rhthm patterns. He would never say: No I don't want to play that riff. He will play all that we ask . It's real teamwork. You have to try everything to find out what is best . Paul was involved all the time in creating process. He put in our music all those small elements which cause that in the end the album is done as well as possible. I think this is the best album that Paul has recorded in his career. Now he is already a full member of TESTAMENT.

-So return of fully classical line-up woth Louie is only a wishful thinking?
Louie is someone more than the ordinary member of the team. Paul is a drummer, who records with us and CD plays live.. Louie is a someone who we consider as a master drummer in TESTAMENT.

-Let's go back to the songs. Although it is bloody hard task to choose a favorite one if I had, to do so I'd point at "The Evil Has Landed" and "Persecuted Won't Forget". Do you have your favorites tracks or those that have a special meaning for you?
Of course I like all the songs. But the song, that I recently listen with great pleasure to is "The Henchmen Ride" It has truly electrifying and powerful riffs. I also really like: "More Than Meets The Eye", "Killing Season" and "Afterlife", in which we have very good vocal harmonies. Chuck sings in that song with more rock attitude. In fact I still like all the tracks. I think that everyone may find a favorite one.

-We have eleven songs. But didn't you record any more tracks during the session? For example for the limited editions or the japanese version of CD?
We've recorded one more song. It's new version of "Souls of Black". It came out really great. I think that it will be released as a bonus on CD. It can be used also in a GUITAR HERO. But there's nothing more in the closet. All cards are on the table.

-The value of the new stuff has been clearly highlighted by the sensational sound. Tell us how the steel was made?
This time, Andy was very involved in the process of recordings. He worked with us from the very beginning, when we put t the basic tracks. When the drums were recorded we were already very happy. The same was with guitars. It is very important. Because those tracks were already so good that there was no need of using too much effects. During the mix most of the new elements were used on vocals. We've tried many new solutions. We didn't use the reverb everywhere. Those new things you may hear in songs like "Dangers of the Faithless" and "Leave Me Forever". We were barinstorming with Chuck and Andy. And then ideas for vocal work appeared. The whole session lasted from 17 November to 20 January. In the meantime, however, we've had Christamss holidays, New Year's Day and Thanksgiving Day. So whole sesion took about 5-6 weeks. Of course you can always complain that you need a little more time, but the album is great, so there's no need to do so.

-I'd like to ask you about the graphic design. Unfortunately, I had the the chance to see only the front cover. I must say that I was really happy when I saw the most classic TESTAMENT logo. Why did you decide to use it. Is it also the way to make the relationship with your past stronger?
We didn't think about it in that way. This logo fits best into the picture. I wanted to have this logo again. And although I wasn't thinking of things that you say, but actually it may be a link back to our past. The most important is to ensure that the logo fits the image, which is very apocalyptic. It refers to the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. This is beautiful picture in the renaissance style. However it originates from romantic period.

-Does the album's title have any hidden message? Or maybe you just wanted to have the most metal title in history. When I heard those words "The Formation of Damnation" I already knew that the album must be good ...
This title may seem pretty stupid. But when you connect it with the cover it has a new meaning. Those strong words refer to everything we did on this album.