Killswitch Engage vocalist Jesse Leach recently praised Testament as one of the most underrated thrash metal bands from the 1980s era. He shared his thoughts in an interview with Mike Z.
Leach discussed Testament’s influence on his band and expressed his admiration for the veteran thrash group.
“Testament’s a big influence on us,” Leach said. “I mean we had Chuck Billy our last record. We love them. To me, Testament are one of the most underrated bands from that era.”
The vocalist also highlighted how 1980s thrash metal has shaped Killswitch Engage’s sound and his personal connection to the music.
“’80s Thrash is definitely part of our DNA,” he continued. “And I love that song (‘Where It Dies’) too. Even just the intro before I even start really singing. When I hear that intro like I want to get down and start a circle pit.”
Leach’s praise for Testament reflects the band’s significant but often overlooked contribution to the thrash metal genre. The genre emerged from the Bay Area scene in the 1980s.
Wikipedia reported that Testament was originally formed as “Legacy” in 1983. The band became one of the first Bay Area thrash metal bands to emerge alongside influential acts like Metallica. The band’s early formation placed them at the forefront of a movement that would define heavy metal for decades to come.
Testament’s commercial success came through their groundbreaking early albums. Louder Sound documented that their early releases including “The Legacy,” “The New Order,” and “Practice What You Preach” cemented their reputation as a leading thrash metal band. “Practice What You Preach” became particularly significant as their first album to enter the Top 100 on the Billboard 200 chart.
The band’s enduring influence extends well beyond their initial success in the 1980s. Testament Legions noted that Testament maintains nearly 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify. This demonstrates their continued relevance and impact on both longtime fans and new generations of metal enthusiasts.
Testament’s legacy as pioneers of Bay Area thrash metal continues to inspire contemporary bands like Killswitch Engage. This proves that their influence on the genre remains as strong today as it was during their initial rise to prominence in the 1980s.
