TESTAMENT Honored In 'Best Music Video' Category At 'American Indian Film Festival'

"Native Blood", the latest video from San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal legends TESTAMENT, was honored in the "Best Music Video" category at Native American Film Institute's 37th annual American Indian Film Festival, which was held yesterday (Friday, November 9) at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, California.

The American Indian Film Festival recognizes outstanding Indian cinematic accomplishments, and will recognize Native media makers and talent via its American Indian Motion Picture Awards Show. The festival also provides an opportunity for filmmakers, tribes, media and public audiences to come together and share in the creative experience and celebrate cinematic accomplishment.

For more information, visit Aifisf.com.

TESTAMENT vocalist Chuck Billy collaborated with seasoned director Mike Sloat to put together a clip that is universal in message while bringing the spotlight to Billy's Native American heritage — The Pomo Indians.

The performance portion of the clip was shot on the Billy Ranch in Hopland, California, where the flames were huge and the temperatures were high.

The "Native Blood" video is about the growth a Native American youth throughout the years. When faced with hatred, racism, bullying, and harassment, he uses nature's sanctuary to recharge and meditate on the lessons he learned from his grandfather to handle these very tough situations in a way to honor and dignify himself and his people.

Billy previously stated about "Native Blood", "It's almost like a protest song, that the Native Americans have a voice that needs to be heard — that's the chorus of the song."

TESTAMENT recently wrapped a co-headlining North American tour with fellow American thrash metal greats ANTHRAX and Nuclear Blast labelmates DEATH ANGEL.

"Native Blood" comes off TESTAMENT's new album, "Dark Roots Of Earth", which sold more than 20,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No, 12 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD arrived in stores on July 31 via Nuclear Blast Records.

TESTAMENT's previous studio album, "The Formation of Damnation", opened with 11,400 units back in May 2008 to debut at position No. 59.

"Dark Roots Of Earth" was produced, mixed and mastered by acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap (ARCH ENEMY, NEVERMORE, ACCEPT, EXODUS). Special bonus tracks were recorded, mixed and mastered by Juan Urteaga (MACHINE HEAD, EXODUS, TED NUGENT, NIGHT RANGER) at his Trident Studios. The cover artwork for the effort (see below) was painted by Eliran Kantor, who has previously worked with ATHEIST, SIGH, ANACRUSIS and GWAR, among others.

Making of "Native Blood" video part 2:

Making of "Native Blood" video part 1:

"Native Blood" video: