TESTAMENT Frontman On SLAYER Calling It Quits: 'It's A Sad Feeling'

TESTAMENT frontman Chuck Billy says that "it's a sad feeling" knowing that SLAYER has chosen to embark on its "farewell" tour.

Back in January, SLAYER, one of metal's most popular and influential bands of the past four decades, announced its "final world tour" via a 30-second video. The group also confirmed that the first leg of its last-ever North American run of dates would feature support from LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX, BEHEMOTH and TESTAMENT.

During a brand new interview with "Met Al Metal" — Israel's metal radio show hosted by brothers Lior and Niv Peleg — Billy was asked for his opinion about SLAYER calling it quits.

"It's a sad feeling, but, you know, that's the decision they've made after 37 years," he said (hear audio below). "They've been doing it for such a long time, it takes a lot to probably make that decision. I don't know if it's like any other band that's called it quits and then comes back five years later and plays again. I don't know."

Regarding whether he thinks SLAYER will come out of retirement and play more shows in a few years, Billy said: "I don't know. I hope so. I think everybody would hope so."

Pressed about whether TESTAMENT has contemplated pulling the plug on its three-decade-plus-year career, Chuck said: "Not yet. I would imagine if bands have problems and you can't live with people, it probably makes it hard. But I think for TESTAMENT, we all get along pretty well and we have a good time on the road and we have a lot of fun. And I think that's important. I don't see it in the near future, but you never know. Who knows the future?"

SLAYER will kick off the first leg of its farewell world tour with a May 10 concert at San Diego's Valley View Casino Center, with dates running through August 26 at San Jose, California's SAP Center.

TESTAMENT is continuing to tour in support of its latest album, "Brotherhood Of The Snake", which was released in October 2016 via Nuclear Blast. The cover was once again created by renowned artist Eliran Kantor, who also handled the art for TESTAMENT's previous album, 2012's "Dark Roots Of Earth", and worked with bands like HATEBREED, SOULFLY and KATAKLYSM in the past.