TESTAMENT

First and foremost, let it be known that the stone-cold zero (NA) rating above has nothing to do with TESTAMENT as a musical entity, or about the music on this CD. You'd have to be a dick not to show some respect for their (ahem) legacy — they're one of the few bands of their age that's improved with age, and 1999's The Gathering remains arguably their best album. As the best of the second tier Bay Area thrash bands, they skated right up to the edge of mainstream acceptance, faltered in that realm, but then came back heavier and stronger, becoming grizzled, likable metal veterans.

But while we're speaking of respect, can we ask that the band's various labels show some to their catalog, and stop dry-humping it? Live albums, too many best-of collections, re-recorded early tracks... the only trick the band hasn't pulled yet is a covers LP, and I wouldn't put it past them. "The Spitfire Collection" chronicles a decade of intermittent triumphs followed by years of frustrating delays and bad news (most notably singer Chuck Billy's cancer scare) — it encompasses a whopping two studio albums, plus two live records and the disc of re-recorded classics. Songs like "Practice What You Preach" and "Souls of Black", already beaten to death on other best-of's and recycled on live recordings, are now re-recycled here, along with a seemingly random selection of tunes from "Demonic" and "The Gathering". The music is great — you should own both of these albums already if you consider yourself a metal fan — but what's the point of this sloppy mix tape?

It's not exactly a crime against humanity or anything, but it still sucks when a band ends up with as many compilations in their discography as there are legitimate studio albums. It's confusing for new fans, and it's a burden for diehards who feel obligated to buy every piece of shit a junior intern compiles and sends off to the mastering plant. Hell, even the band has made their displeasure known about this most recent tug at the udder. Buying "The Spitfire Collection" does no one any good, save for a coupla bright bulbs in marketing who pride themselves on finding new ways to make you pay for the same shit twice (or more). Is that what you wanna do with your fifteen bucks?

Go buy whatever TESTAMENT album you still don't have, instead of supporting this hosejob. You know you're missing at least one. Say yes to real albums, and continue the wait for new music from Chuck and Eric, but say no to getting shaken down in the name of loyalty to your favorite acts.