We can’t help mentioning that Testament made us wait a while for this release. It’s been 9 years since their previous offering, “The Gathering”, and frankly, that's more than the whole careers of some bands. But the fact that during those years the band managed to reunite with Alex Skolnick and added drummer Paul Bostaph to its ranks is enough to make the wait worth it.. “The Foundation of Damnation” is all a Testament fan could demand (and expect) from the band after their long and diverse career. There is the crativity of the early albums and Skolnick’s solos, but at the same time the more aggressive sound they had developed through the 90’s and the suitable heavyweight production are present, too. The guitar intro “For the Glory of…” that features some Eastern motives flows into the real opener “More Than Meets the Eye”, where we are welcomed by Chuck Billy’s trademark vocals. “The Evil Has Landed” touches the topic of September 11, 2001. “Killing Season”, on the other hand, is intended for the US troops in Iraq to listen to before battle. The death metal detour of “Demonic” (1997) hasn’t been forgoten and in the title track we can hear some propper growling. The production is made by guitarist Eric Peterson and Chuck Billy, and the mixing is handled by no other than Andy Sneap, which pretty much renders any explanations about how good it is, useless. Testament have created an effort making their return not just another pointeless reunion, but a triumph instead. Especially now, when thrash seems to be on top again, “The Foundation of Damnation” wil surely be featured in all the fan and media charts at the end of the year. Even if everyone jokes about Testament having sat with their hands in their pockets doing nothing for 9 years.