Para Bellum (album)

Last updated
Para Bellum
Para Bellum (album).jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 10, 2025
Length50:24
Label Nuclear Blast
Testament chronology
Titans of Creation
(2020)
Para Bellum
(2025)
Singles from Para Bellum
  1. "Infanticide A.I."
    Released: August 21, 2025 [1]

Para Bellum is the upcoming fourteenth studio album by the American thrash metal band Testament, due for release on October 10, 2025, through Nuclear Blast. [1] It will be the band's first studio album since Titans of Creation (2020), and their first one with drummer Chris Dovas.

Contents

Background and production

As early as mid-2020, the members of Testament began discussing the possibility of making a fourteenth studio album. About a month after the release of Titans of Creation, frontman Chuck Billy spoke to former Exodus and Legacy frontman Steve "Zetro" Souza on his "Toxic Vault" video channel about the possibility of the band writing a potential follow-up album during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying, "We're not writing a record yet. I won't release what we're doing, but we are gonna write some stuff. Just to do something, not a record but maybe something just to have some singles." [2] In a July 2020 interview with Australia's Riff Crew, Billy commented on his take on the possibility of writing another Testament album during the pandemic, saying, "Well, if it is truly, as someone says, a two-year period, of course, we're gonna go write another record, and when it all settles, we'll have two records… And if it had to be that long, then, yeah, we would probably consider just writing another record." [3] Peterson reiterated Billy's comments the following month that the band could work on new material before beginning to tour in support of Titans of Creation. [4] In a March 2021 interview on Alive & Streaming, an internet podcast hosted by Death Angel guitarist Ted Aguilar, Billy confirmed that Peterson had begun writing new material for what could result in the next Testament album. [5]

On January 21, 2022, the band and longtime drummer Gene Hoglan announced on their respective social media accounts that he had once again left Testament to pursue "an exciting new chapter of [his] career and free agency, with all that it will entail." [6] On March 1, it was announced that drummer Dave Lombardo had rejoined the band in time for the North American leg of The Bay Strikes Back tour, which became Testament's first major outing with Lombardo, who had left the band before the 1999–2000 tour for The Gathering . [7] The band later discussed the possibility of recording a new album with Lombardo, [8] [9] [10] and Billy stated in September 2022 that the band would likely begin work on it after the conclusion of The Bay Strikes Back tour. [11] He later stated that he hoped they would begin recording their new album towards the end of 2023 for a 2024 release. [12] When asked in a June 2023 during their appearance at Hellfest when the album would be recorded, Peterson said, "Hopefully maybe October, November. If not, probably January, February. But we're shooting for this year — at the end of the year. I think I'll be done writing in September. So we just have to wait for vocals. Which can take a while. But we'll see what happens." [13] It was announced the same month that Testament had renewed their deal with Nuclear Blast for three more albums, and the label had acquired the rights to the band's first six studio albums for future reissues. [14] Work on the new album resumed in July 2023, with Peterson describing its direction as a combination of thrash, NWOBHM, "thrash black [and] heavy hard rock blues", [15] and it was announced nearly two weeks later that the songwriting process of the album had begun. [16] By December 2023, Testament had begun tracking their new album with mastering engineer Justin Shturtz at Sterling Sound in Nashville, [17] [18] [19] but progress was slow, with Di Giorgio confirming in March 2024 that pre-production on the album had begun, [20] and Billy revealing in June that "most of the drums" were recorded. [21] [22] The band members later announced that their new album would not be released until 2025. [23] [24]

In April 2023, Lombardo announced that he would not be joining Testament throughout their 2023 tour dates, giving scheduling conflicts as the reason and expressing uncertainty that he would return to the band afterwards. [25] He was officially replaced by former Seven Spires drummer Chris Dovas, who had filled in for Lombardo for a few U.S. dates the previous fall. [26]

On August 19, 2025, Testament released the first single titled "Infanticide A.I." from their then-untitled fourteenth album, being streamed exclusively on SiriusXM Liquid Metal with Jose Mangin. [27] Two days later, they revealed Para Bellum as the title of their new album, which will be released on October 10, 2025. [1]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."For the Love of Pain"5:35
2."Infanticide A.I."3:27
3."Shadow People"5:45
4."Meant to Be"7:33
5."High Noon"3:52
6."Witch Hunt"4:16
7."Nature of the Beast"4:28
8."Room 117"4:18
9."Havana Syndrome"4:40
10."Para Bellum"6:30
Total length:50:24

Personnel

References

  1. 1 2 3 "TESTAMENT Announces 'Para Bellum' Album, Shares 'Infanticide A.I.' Single". Blabbermouth.net. August 21, 2025. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  2. "Testament's Chuck Billy Reveals Follow-Up to 'Titans of Creation' May Not Result in Full-Length Album". Ultimate Guitar. July 10, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  3. "TESTAMENT Is Planning 'Something Cool' For 'Titans Of Creation' Relaunch Once Pandemic Has Subsided". Blabbermouth.net. August 1, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  4. "Testament: Next Album Could Be Released Before 2024". Ultimate Guitar. September 28, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  5. "Testament - Writing New Album". Metal Storm. March 7, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  6. "TESTAMENT Parts Ways With Longtime Drummer GENE HOGLAN". Blabbermouth.net. January 21, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  7. "TESTAMENT Rejoined By Drummer DAVE LOMBARDO". Blabbermouth.net. March 1, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  8. "Testament - Chuck Billy On Band's Next Album, Upcoming Debut Solo Album". Metal Storm. April 27, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  9. "DAVE LOMBARDO re-joins TESTAMENT!". worshipmetal.com. March 2, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  10. "CHUCK BILLY Says DAVE LOMBARDO Has Expressed Interest In Playing On Next TESTAMENT Studio Album". Blabbermouth.net. March 18, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  11. "TESTAMENT Hopes To Release New Studio Album In 2023". Blabbermouth.net. September 21, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  12. "CHUCK BILLY Hopes to Get New TESTAMENT Album Recorded Before End of 2023". April 24, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  13. "TESTAMENT Has Five or Six 'Killer' New Songs Written for Next Studio Album". June 19, 2023.
  14. "TESTAMENT's Complete Catalog Acquired By NUCLEAR BLAST". Blabbermouth.net. June 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  15. "Testament Are Writing New Album, Describe It as Combo of 'Thrash, NWOBHM, Thrash Black, Dark Heavy Hard Rock Blues'" . Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  16. "Testament - Begin Writing New Album" . Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  17. "Testament Were Recently In The Studio". ThePRP. December 6, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  18. "TESTAMENT Is In The Studio". MetalInjection. December 6, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  19. "Testament - Enter Recording Studio". Metal Storm. December 8, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  20. "Testament - New Album In Pre-Production Phase". Metal Storm. March 18, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  21. "CHUCK BILLY: 'Most Of The Drums' Are Recorded For Next TESTAMENT Album". Blabbermouth.net. June 12, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  22. "TESTAMENT Hopes To Be Done Recording New Album Within Three Weeks". Blabbermouth.net. June 24, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  23. "CHUCK BILLY Reveals New TESTAMENT Songtitles, Says Upcoming Album Is 'One Step Up As Far As Aggression'". Blabbermouth.net. July 2, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  24. Kennelty, Greg (August 22, 2024). "TESTAMENT's New Album Is Due In 2025". Metal Injection. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  25. "DAVE LOMBARDO to Sit Out TESTAMENT's 2023 Shows, Says Future with the Band is Uncertain". April 13, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  26. "TESTAMENT's ERIC PETERSON Says New Drummer CHRIS DOVAS Will Make the Band 'Heavier and More Precise Than Before'". April 17, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  27. "TESTAMENT Announce World Premiere Of New Song "Infanticide A.I."". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles . August 18, 2025.