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)
Disciples of the Watch
Testament Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Banned by the light
Worship and listen to me
Condemned in his mind
In his evil place
Your fate is all that you'll see
I am the one
To show you the path
Listen up children and follow me
Or I'll let you pay the price
Of malachi!
Disciples of the watch
Obey!
Or I'll burn you to that cross!
Holding the mass
The demon is cast
To resurrect your soul
Calling to him
Is like an evil sin
A prophet is what they're told
Taking the land under command
Killing friend or foe
Feel the might of his evil wrath
Desecrate your soul!
Disciples of the watch
Obey!
Or I'll burn you to that cross!
Cast to the fire
Banned by the light
Worship and listen to me
Condemned in his mind
In his evil place
Your fate is all that you'll see
I am the one
To show you the path
Salvation is in the fields
Listen up children and follow me
Or I'll let you pay the price
Of malachi!
Disciples of the watch
Obey!
Or I'll burn you to that cross!
The lyrics to the song "Disciples of the Watch" by Testament highlight the dangers of blindly following a charismatic figure who claims to have all the answers. The song begins with the singer warning that those who don't follow him will suffer the consequences. He claims to be the one who can show the way to salvation and condemns anyone who disagrees with him to a fate of their own making. The imagery of fire and light throughout the song suggests that this figure is both powerful and dangerous.
As the song continues, we learn that this leader is not an altruistic figure. He and his followers are killing and desecrating the land under their command. They are blindly following his orders, believing him to be a prophet who can resurrect their souls. This depiction of blind obedience to a cult-like figure who is willing to use violence to achieve his goals echoes real-world scenarios from history and today.
The warning of the song comes through loud and clear: blindly following anyone, no matter how persuasive, can lead to disaster. The consequences of not questioning authority can be dire, and blindly following someone who promises salvation can lead to violence and destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
Cast to the fire
Being cast into the flames of Hell as punishment for disobedience to the singer
Banned by the light
Being cast out from the light of God and all that is good
Worship and listen to me
Be obedient and subservient to the singer, who considers themselves a divine figure
Condemned in his mind
The artist considers anyone who doesn't follow them to be condemned and unworthy
In his evil place
The artist's realm is one of darkness, sin, and corruption
Your fate is all that you'll see
If you don't obey the singer, your future is bleak and filled with suffering
I am the one
The singer sees themselves as a messianic or godlike figure, with the power to guide and dictate the actions of others
To show you the path
The artist believes they have the answers to the ultimate questions of life, and that their way is the only correct one
Salvation is in the fields
Following the artist's teachings is the only way to be saved from eternal damnation
Listen up children and follow me
The artist is addressing their followers like children, who must obey their parent or face punishment
Or I'll let you pay the price
Disobedience will result in severe punishment, which the singer will not hesitate to carry out
Of malachi!
This may be a reference to the Book of Malachi in the Bible, which warns of judgment and punishment for disobedience to God
Disciples of the watch
The followers of the singer, who watch for signs of disobedience and act as enforcers of the singer's will
Obey!
The singer's command to submit to their will and follow without question
Or I'll burn you to that cross!
The singer promises punishment, which may include crucifixion, for disobedience
Holding the mass
The artist is leading a religious service or ritual, which may involve sacrilegious acts
The demon is cast
The artist is casting out demons or other evil forces, which they blame for their followers' sins and failures
To resurrect your soul
The singer promises redemption and salvation through their teachings and practices
Calling to him
The singer is calling upon supernatural forces or entities to aid in their quest to control and manipulate others
Is like an evil sin
The artist's use of dark powers is seen as corrupt and sinful by many, but they do not care
A prophet is what they're told
The artist is presenting themselves as a holy figure or messenger of God, but may not truly be such
Taking the land under command
The artist is establishing a tyrannical grip on their followers, and may even be expanding their power and influence through violent means
Killing friend or foe
The singer is willing to commit acts of violence and betrayal against anyone who stands in their way or disobeys them
Feel the might of his evil wrath
The artist's power is formidable, but their intentions are cruel and wicked
Desecrate your soul!
The singer seeks to corrupt and defile their followers' very beings, in order to make them more obedient and subservient
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEXANDER NATHAN SKOLNICK, CHARLES BILLY, ERIC STANLEY PETERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind