The Berkeley, Calf. metal band Testament was born in 1983 and is still kicking with singer Chuck Billy leading the charge, with the band having released its 10th studio album, "Dark Roots of Earth," last summer.
Best of all, Billy said in a phone interview, "We haven’t done a ballad in 15 years."
The band has seen many line-ups over the years, but the current incarnation features musicians who have both left and then come back, with bass player Greg Christian in the band since 2004 after nearly a decade removed; lead guitarist Alex Skolnick has been in the band since 2005 after initially leaving in 1993; and drummer Gene Hoglan, who played with the band in 1997, rejoined the band in 2011.
(Guitarist and founding member Eric Peterson remains.)
"We’re like brothers," Billy said. "We fight like brothers. We understand what we want and expect from one another."
The band’s longevity and consistency has allowed the band free reign from its German record label, Nuclear Blast Records, allowing it to not put out a new record since 2008’s "The Formation of Damnation."
"We demo over and over," Billy said. "There’s no throw-away or filler songs on the records. We try to put out 10 solid songs."
Overkill, Flotsam and Jetsam, and Harm open.
When • Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 6 p.m.
Where • In The Venue, 579 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $24 in advance, $26 day of, at SmithsTix
