Labeled as one of the "big six" of the 1980s Bay Area thrash metal scene (along with Exodus, Death Angel, Lååz Rockit, Forbidden and Vio-lence), Testament is often credited as one of the most popular and influential bands of the thrash metal scene, as well as one of the leaders of the second wave of the genre in the late 1980s. They have also been referred to as one of the "big eight" of thrash metal, along with Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, Exodus, Overkill and Death Angel. The band has sold over 1.4 million albums in the United States since the beginning of the SoundScan era and over 14 million copies worldwide. To date, Testament has released thirteen studio albums (one of which is a collection of re-recorded songs), four live albums, five compilation albums, twelve singles and three DVDs.
After signing to Atlantic Records in 1986, and changing its name from Legacy to Testament, the band released their debut album The Legacy in 1987, followed a year later by The New Order (1988); both albums were acclaimed by critics and the press, including heavy metal-related publications. The band achieved mainstream popularity with its third album Practice What You Preach (1989), which was Testament's first album to climb up the Top 100 on the Billboard 200 chart. A string of more successful albums were released during the early-to-mid-1990s, including Souls of Black (1990), The Ritual (1992) and Low (1994), with the first two also entering the Top 100 on the Billboard 200 chart. After Atlantic dropped the band in 1995, Testament (who had at this point had begun to experiment with a death metal-influenced sound) continued to record and perform until their temporary hiatus in 2001, when Billy was diagnosed with cancer. By 2005, his cancer was in remission and Testament had resumed activity, which saw a brief reunion of The Legacy lineup, resulting in the live album Live in London. Since then, Testament has experienced a resurgence of popularity, with four of their studio albums—The Formation of Damnation (2008), Dark Roots of Earth (2012), Brotherhood of the Snake (2016) and Titans of Creation (2020)—all entering the Top 100 on the Billboard 200, and they have continued to tour consistently.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testament_(band)
Studio albums
The Legacy (1987)
The New Order (1988)
Practice What You Preach (1989)
Souls of Black (1990)
The Ritual (1992)
Low (1994)
Demonic (1997)
The Gathering (1999)
First Strike Still Deadly (2001)
The Formation of Damnation (2008)
Dark Roots of Earth (2012)
Brotherhood of the Snake (2016)
Titans of Creation (2020)
Deadline
Testament Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Think about the things you say
The day awaits your soul in chains
Ya got to make it today
Or there will be hell to pay
And there is no other way
Look at how you're living now
the cradle to the grave
All I give is all I save
Every day's the same
Can you still feel the pain
You lose your mind then go insane
I can't talk to you
You can't tell me what to do
What I need is up to you
Look at how you're living now
Life can always bring you down
the cradle to the grave
All I give is all I save...
And I wonder how they live
Always taking what they give
Never far,always near,lose your mind
Gripping you with...fear...
What's done is done...
Hey,Slave,take it to the grave
Walk in someone else's shoes
That's the path you paved
Live,die,take off that disguise
Find your own reflection now
In the pool it lies
Now you know the score
You can't take this hell anymore
You feel like you never did before
Go and find the way
You're closer to it everyday
Yes,this is the price you pay
And I wonder how they live
Always taking what they give
Never far,always near,lose your mind
Gripping you with fear...
When the first comes down...
The song "Deadline" by Testament is a commentary on the pain and frustration that comes with living in a world where time is always running out. The lyrics urge listeners to take a step back and think about their lives, to consider the consequences of their actions, and to find the strength to make positive change.
The opening lines, "Take a look away/Think about the things you say," set the stage for the rest of the song, which is focused on the idea of taking a moment to reflect. The chorus, "Look at how you're living now/Life can always bring you down/The cradle to the grave/All I give is all I save," highlights the idea that life is a journey, and that everyone has to make choices along the way.
Throughout the song, there are references to fear and the ways in which it can control our lives. The lines, "And I wonder how they live/Always taking what they give/Never far, always near/Lose your mind/Gripping you with...fear," suggest that many people are trapped by their fears, unable to break free and take control of their lives. The final line, "When the first comes down," is a warning that time is running out, and that we need to act fast if we want to make a change.
Overall, "Deadline" is a powerful song that urges listeners to live their lives with purpose and to break free from the cycle of fear and inaction. It's a call to arms for anyone who wants to make a difference in the world and to leave a positive legacy behind.
Line by Line Meaning
Take a look away
Stop, look around, and observe your surroundings.
Think about the things you say
Be mindful of the words that come out of your mouth.
The day awaits your soul in chains
If you don't prioritize the important things, you'll be stuck in life, unable to move forward.
Ya got to make it today
Make the most of your time, as there's no guarantee for tomorrow.
Or there will be hell to pay
There will be consequences if you fail to act now.
And there is no other way
You must take action in the present moment, because there are no other opportunities.
Look at how you're living now
Observe your current lifestyle and reflect on your priorities.
Life can always bring you down
Challenges in life will always be present.
the cradle to the grave
From birth to death.
All I give is all I save
The only thing you have control over in life is the amount of effort you put in.
Every day's the same
Without taking action, every day will blend together and become monotonous.
Can you still feel the pain
Reflect on past experiences and whether or not they've influenced you currently.
You lose your mind then go insane
If you don't take control of your life, you'll drive yourself crazy.
I can't talk to you
Communication is difficult if the other person isn't willing to cooperate.
You can't tell me what to do
I have my own free will and won't be dictated to by others.
What I need is up to you
I'm willing to listen to your advice, but ultimately the choice is mine to make.
And I wonder how they live
Reflect on the actions and behaviors of others.
Always taking what they give
Others take advantage of less assertive individuals.
Never far, always near, lose your mind
The thought of being taken advantage of is always looming and can cause people to go crazy with worry.
Gripping you with...fear...
The fear of being taken advantage of.
What's done is done...
There's no changing the past, so it's best to focus on the present and future.
Hey,Slave,take it to the grave
Don't let others control your life to the point where you're miserable, because you'll regret it in the end.
Walk in someone else's shoes
Be empathetic towards others and try to view life from their perspective.
That's the path you paved
The way you choose to live your life is entirely up to you.
Live,die,take off that disguise
Be true to yourself and live life authentically.
Find your own reflection now
Reflect on who you are as a person and what you truly value.
In the pool it lies
Your true self can be found within, beneath the surface level.
Now you know the score
After reflecting on your life thus far, you're aware of your current situation.
You can't take this hell anymore
Your current situation is causing immense anguish and you need to take control to improve it.
You feel like you never did before
Taking action and regaining control of your life can lead to a sense of empowerment and newfound strength.
Go and find the way
Actively seek out opportunities to make positive changes to your life.
You're closer to it everyday
Each day that passes is another opportunity to take control of your life and make positive changes.
Yes,this is the price you pay
Taking control of your life requires effort, sacrifice, and dedication, but it's worth it in the end.
When the first comes down...
Not sure what this line means. Please provide more context if this is important.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEXANDER NATHAN SKOLNICK, CHARLES BILLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
baddfingerz
FEROCIOUS!
Take a look away
Think about the things you say
The day awaits your soul in chains
Ya got to make it today
Or there will be hell to pay
And there is no other way
Look at how you're living now
Life can always bring you down
The cradle to the grave
All I give is all I save
M. Z.
Take a look away
Think about the things you say
The day awaits your soul in chains
Ya got to make it today
Or there will be hell to pay
And there is no other way
Look at how you're living now
Life can always bring you down
the cradle to the grave
All I give is all I save
Every day's the same
Can you still feel the pain
You lose your mind then go insane
I can't talk to you
You can't tell me what to do
What I need is up to you
Look at how you're living now
Life can always bring you down
the cradle to the grave
All I give is all I save...
And I wonder how they live
Always taking what they give
Never far, always near, lose your mind
Gripping you with...fear...
What's done is done...
Hey, Slave, take it to the grave
Walk in someone else's shoes
That's the path you paved
Live, die, take off that disguise
Find your own reflection now
In the pool it lies
Now you know the score
You can't take this hell anymore
You feel like you never did before
Go and find the way
You're closer to it everyday
Yes, this is the price you pay
And I wonder how they live
Always taking what they give
Never far, always near, lose your mind
Gripping you with fear...
When the first comes down...
Jack
This is one of their most underrated songs.
Rick Animal Taylor
Yea man one of their best for sure!!!
Jason Cogburn
This whole album is underarated IMO - alex's solo work is amazing on this album
IBroLLyI SephirothI
@Aygen Ada Chuck Billy
Aygen Ada
Underrated song by an underrated band
relpitstudios
This the BEST Testament song ever !!!!
Great groove, great vocals, killer solo !!!
Rick Animal Taylor
Right on man!!Yea this song kicks ass man!!Just covered it on the drums tonight again for the umpteenth time!!Haha Rock on!!
Jason Cogburn
love this song man - CHEERS!!!!!!
horst baur
Never get tired of this track. Doesn't just kick ass, it kicks you right in the nuts. Whoever wrote the lyrics is wide awake, man.
carlinfan4life
Alex Skolnick kicks ass on this album! His solos are fiery and virtuoso-like!