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Testament

From page 87 of Classic Rock Magazine August 2009

Cover of August 2009 issue.

Playing "an historical best-of".

Testament guitarist Alex Skolnick checks in as the veteran San Francisco thrashers get set to play six UK dates and his jazz trio line up some 'glass of wine' shows here in September.

What made you return to Testament in 2005, after 13 years away?

I'd been playing jazz for most of that time, but the idea sounded interesting. It snowballed from one gig to a whole tour then a record [The Formation Of Damnation, 2008]. And I was amazed that the shows were attended by so many younger fans. Somehow it felt right not only to stay, but also to keep my jazz trio.

The Alex Skolnick Trio reworks metal anthems into previously unimagined new formats.

It's fun to do. The audience can sit down with a glass of wine and each performance is unique. I'm doing some more of those shows in the UK in September, actually.

What do you think is the reason for the recent resurgence of interest in thrash metal?

Largely because of an injustice that dates back to the 1990s. It was so unfair that groups like Testament were swept away by grunge after being lumped in with Warrant. We had the same enemy! We had nothing to do with glam rock. Thrash has integrity, which is why it's back with a vengeance.

When Testament played London's Islington Academy in March you revisited your first two albums, The Legacy and The New Order. What can we expect to hear this time?

A historical best-of, I suppose, with some songs from The Formation Of Damnation.

Are you still working with Jim Steinman in Dream Engine?

As far as I know, that band's on hold. Jim's working on a musical. But I did play with him for a couple of years. Jim's definitely an interesting guy. He's a mad genius. DL

Testantentk current run of1PK.shows ends in `7Pokerhampton on Yuly 25.