First Strike Still Deadly
Studio album of re-recorded songs by
Testament
ReleasedOctober 24, 2001[1]
StudioDriftwood Studios, Oakland, California
GenreThrash metal
Length48:40
LabelSpitfire
Testament chronology
The Very Best of Testament
(2001) 		First Strike Still Deadly
(2001) 		Days of Darkness
(2004)

First Strike Still Deadly is the ninth studio album by Testament, released in 2001. It consists of re-recorded songs released on The Legacy and The New Order, as well as a re-recording of "Reign of Terror", which was originally on Legacy's Demo 1 and appeared as a B-side from the "Trial by Fire" single; the latter version also appeared on the 1993 EP Return to the Apocalyptic City. On some Japanese versions of this release, a different cover is present, and the disc is an enhanced CD and includes a bonus documentary produced by Reality Check TV/RCTV Studio with live clips of various incarnations of the band and interviews with Chuck Billy and Eric Peterson in various settings in and around San Francisco.

First Strike Still Deadly saw a Testament reunion with three former or current members (guitarist Alex Skolnick, bassist Steve DiGiorgio and drummer John Tempesta) as well as their original singer Steve "Zetro" Souza. Souza, Skolnick and Tempesta did not officially rejoin Testament at the time of its recording, though Skolnick did in 2005 and is still a member of the band to this day. First Strike Still Deadly was also the last Testament album with bassist DiGiorgio before his return in 2014.[2]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]

First Strike Still Deadly has received mostly negative reviews. AllMusic writer Brian O'Neill awards the album one star out of five, and criticizes, "Re-recording one's hits is worse than live albums because it tries to be something it never can be, and this disc is no exception. Get the originals, or even the two Testament hits compilations, for the real deal; check this out if karaoke is your idea of contemporary entertainment."[3]

Track listing

No.TitleLyricsMusicOriginal albumLength
1."First Strike Is Deadly"Steve Souza, Greg ChristianAlex Skolnick, Eric PetersonThe Legacy4:00
2."Into the Pit"Chuck Billy, Skolnick, PetersonSkolnick, PetersonThe New Order2:54
3."Trial by Fire"Billy, Skolnick, PetersonSkolnick, PetersonThe New Order4:33
4."Disciples of the Watch"BillySkolnick, PetersonThe New Order4:34
5."The Preacher"Billy, SkolnickSkolnick, PetersonThe New Order3:56
6."Burnt Offerings"Souza, PetersonSkolnick, PetersonThe Legacy5:28
7."Over the Wall"SouzaSkolnick, Peterson, ChristianThe Legacy4:18
8."The New Order"Skolnick, PetersonSkolnick, PetersonThe New Order4:43
9."The Haunting"Souza, PetersonSkolnick, PetersonThe Legacy4:37
10."Alone in the Dark"SouzaSkolnick, PetersonThe Legacy4:40
11."Reign of Terror"Souza, Derrick Ramirez, PetersonRamirez, PetersonDemo 15:06
Total length:48:40

Credits

Musicians

Other

Charts

Chart (2001) Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[4] 70

References

  1. ^ "Testament - First Strike Still Deadly". Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  2. ^ "Testament Parts Ways With Bassist Greg Christian, Announces Return Of Steve DiGiorgio". Blabbermouth.net. January 13, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  3. ^ a b O'Neill, Brian. First Strike Still Deadly at AllMusic
  4. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
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