State College metalheads will get a chance to see a legendary metal band when Testament comes to town this weekend.
The California outfit will play at 7 p.m. Sunday at Lulu's Nightspot, 129 1/2 S. Pugh St. Tickets are available for $17 at Rainbow Music, City Lights Records or online at www.ticketweb.com. Soilent Green will open the show.
Testament is one of the founding fathers of thrash metal, along with fellow San Francisco metalers Metallica.
"Testament is one of the originators of thrash metal," Lulu's promoter, Ted Swanson, said. "They're from the Bay Area, where Metallica's from."
Testament guitarist Alex Skolnick, said Metallica, along with Megadeth, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, largely influenced his group's early sound.
"Their first three albums were a blueprint for thrash metal bands," Skolnick said.
When Metallica moved away from thrash and toward mainstream hard rock in the early '90s, Testament stayed the course. Since that time, Testament has grown into a band other bands look to for inspiration.
"It was surprising," Skolnick said. "You can't imagine other bands listening to you. It's a great feeling. Some of the bands that have cited us as an influence have gotten big too, like Lamb of God."
Testament's lasting influence of the genre is easily apparent in the fact the band accompanied fellow metal pioneers Judas Priest, Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath fronted by Ronnie James Dio), and Motörhead on the Metal Masters Tour this past summer. Testament will also be touring with Judas Priest and Megadeth beginning in February, according to an Adrenaline PR press release.
"That was amazing. Those bands are influences of ours," Skolnick said. "It was nice because we usually do tours with younger bands and we feel like the old guys. Also, it's great to see these guys are still doing it in their 50s and 60s and they still sound amazing."
Testament is touring in support of The Formation of Damnation, which was released in April and won "Best Album" at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards in June. Skolnick said the band's live show is known for its frantic pacing.
"We're very energetic," Skolnick said. "It doesn't start off slow and build, it kicks off full steam. It's a non-stop high-energy show."
Skolnick said it will be nice to play a show in a college town, adding the band likes to see young metal fans.
"It keeps it fresh and vibrant," Skolnick said. "You never want to see the music only appeal to one generation."
Swanson said this year is the first time in a while the band has assembled its '80s lineup for a tour.
"This is the first national metal band we've had in State College," Swanson said. "All these guys out there playing Guitar Hero should come see where it came from. Alex is one of the greatest metal guitar players of all time. These guys are legends."
