Don't Expect Next TESTAMENT Album Before 2016, Says ERIC PETERSON

Robb Chavez of "Robb's Metalworks" conducted an interview with guitarist Eric Peterson of San Francisco Bay Area metallers TESTAMENT on April 6 in San Antonio, Texas. You can now watch the chat below.

Speaking about the progress of the songwriting sessions for TESTAMENT's follow-up to 2012's "Dark Roots Of Earth", Eric said: "I would say, musically, [we have] probably, like, a little bit over half [the record written] — maybe a little bit more. Chuck's [Billy, vocals] catching up [on writing vocal lines and lyrics]. And the first batch of songs are just, like, all thrash. And I usually only write a couple of thrash ones, and then I focus on midtempo or just real heavy. But, for some reason, they just all came out super fast. And they're all different, too, so I think, actually, they'll all be keepers."

Asked if he is feeling the pressure following up a record as acclaimed as "Dark Roots Of Earth", Peterson said: "For me, it's just gotta be a killer record. I've gotta put it on and be a fan — at least have it in my CD player for a month and go, 'Man, this is killer.' If it wasn't for that, our new record would be out, and I would just piss it out and go, 'Whatever. That's good enough.' 'Cause I've been told, 'That's good enough.' And I'm, like, 'It's not.'"

Regarding who will be handling the production of the new TESTAMENT CD, Eric said: "I'll probably be definitely involved in the recording. Of course, [acclaimed British producer] Andy Sneap is always my first choice [to produce the album]. I've actually reached out to him, and he's just, like, 'Okay, what century are you gonna record it in?' He's always messing with me like that."

On the topic of when TESTAMENT plans to begin recording the new album, Peterson said: "My main goal is to get home [from tour] in June, finish it up and get in the studio by September." As for the CD's possible release date, he said: "Well, you know, it's tough to have it out later in the year, because if you put it out past October, people will say, 'Oh, that's last year's record, and it's only been out for a couple of months. So I would lean more towards early '16. And that's right around the corner. We will serve no wine before its time. So it's gotta be right."

TESTAMENT kicked off the "Dark Roots Of Thrash II" tour with EXODUS and SHATTERED SUN on April 1 at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco.

"Dark Roots Of Thrash", a DVD/2CD release documenting TESTAMENT's sold-out headlining performance at the Paramount in Huntington, New York in February 2013, was made available on October 18, 2013 (Europe) and October 29, 2013 (North America) via Nuclear Blast Records. "Dark Roots Of Thrash" was produced by Get Hammered Productions, directed by Tommy Jones (DEATH ANGEL, KATAKLYSM, SOILWORK) and mixed by Juan Urteaga (VILE, EXODUS, SADUS, MACHINE HEAD).