A Ton Of TESTAMENT Updates, Including More European Tour Dates & Gene Hoglan's Temporary Replacement!

                                   

Bay area thrash legend’s TESTAMENT have announced several European tour dates planned for this November/December. The appearances include re-booked shows that had to be rescheduled due to drummer Gene Hoglan’s commitments with his other band DETHKLOK. “The LAMB OF GOD and DETHKLOK U.S. tour had to be canceled and DETHKLOK re-booked some shows. This has caused some conflicts with a few previously scheduled TESTAMENT dates since Gene couldn’t participate in them,” said the band. “Mark Hernandez (ex-FORBIDDEN) will be helping us out but he wasn’t available until November the 25th. So various shows will be staying the same but others may be moved to 2013.”

All refunds for cancelled shows are available at point of purchase. Confirmed appearances as of now are as follows:

TESTAMENT:
11/27: Garage – Glasgow, Scotland
11/28: Wulfrun Hall – Wolverhampton, UK
11/29: Ritz – Manchester, UK
11/30: Koko – London, UK
12/1: Hard Rock Hell Festival – Prestatyn, Wales
12/3: Dynamo – Eindhoven, Netherlands (original tickets purchased remain valid)
12/5: KKZ – Moscow, Russia
12/6: Za Ozhidaniya – St.  Petersburg, Russia

Stay tuned for more European performances in 2013 to be announced soon.

The Native American Film Institute will be holding the 37th annual American Indian Film Festival this November 2 – 10 at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, CA. The event will include a screening of TESTAMENT’s “Native Blood” music video. Attendees can catch the showing on Friday, November 9, 2012  at 7:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased HERE for the event.

The American Indian Film Festival recognizes outstanding Indian cinematic accomplishments, and will recognize Native media makers and talent via its American Indian Motion Picture Awards Show. The Festival also provides an opportunity for filmmakers, tribes, media and public audiences to come together and share in the creative experience and celebrate cinematic accomplishment. For more information visit http://aifisf.com.

“Native Blood”, whose lyrics are about vocalist Chuck Billy’s Native American heritage, was filmed at the Hopland Indian Reservation in Hopland, CA. The clip was directed by Mike Sloat (MACHINE HEAD, STAIND).

TESTAMENT recently wrapped up a co-headlining North American tour with fellow American thrash metal greats, ANTHRAX, and label mates DEATH ANGEL.

TESTAMENT scanned 20,720 copies of their NEW album 'Dark Roots of Earth' in its first week of sales in the United States according to Nielsen SoundScan. The album debuted at No. 12 on the US Billboard Top 200 chart, making it their highest first week sales since the inception of SoundScan. This also marks the highest first week sales for a Nuclear Blast artist yet.

'Dark Roots of Earth' was produced, mixed and mastered by acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap (ARCH ENEMY, NEVERMORE, ACCEPT, EXODUS). Special bonus tracks were recorded, mixed and mastered by Juan Urteaga (MACHINE HEAD, EXODUS, TED NUGENT, NIGHT RANGER) at his Trident Studios. Eliran Kantor, who has previously worked with ATHEIST, SIGH, ANACRUSIS and GWAR, among others, provided the cover artwork.



Related links:

Testament

Gene Hoglan Will Be Touring With TESTAMENT Following The DETHKLOK/LAMB OF GOD Tour Cancellation!

Yesterday (July 26), TESTAMENT announced that they had recruited drummer Mark Hernandez (FORBIDDEN, HEATHEN, DEFIANCE, VIO-LENCE) for their upcoming two-week European tour, which kicks off on July 31 at the Total Metal Festival in Toritto, Italy.
 
Well, if there is one good thing about the DETHKLOK/LAMB OF GOD tour cancellation (More about this story HERE!) is that drummer Gene Hoglan (Gene Hoglan (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, DEATH, DETHKLOK, FEAR FACTORY)) WILL be joining TESTAMENT on the European run (starts next week).

In a series of tweets, TESTAMENT guitarist Alex Skolnick explained, "As some of you know, there's been a sub-drummer lined up for this tour, Mark Hernandez (ex-FORBIDDEN), subbing for Gene Hoglan, who was booked.

"So we find out Gene is available now (due to last-minute LAMB OF GOD/DETHKLOK tour cancellation). Calls were made and it's worked out: Gene is coming [out with us].

"Mark Hernandez took it very well; [he was a] total pro! Agreed it's best to have Gene if he's now available. But [the other] guys [in TESTAMENT] didn't tell me!!

"So I show up [to rehearsal] and they tell me [Mark] doesn't know and ask me to break the news to him. I take him outside and tell him. He acts devastated! Eric [Peterson, guitar] films it from afar. I told him please not to take it hard, it's just like being an understudy on Broadway! He tells me he's crushed, he's been working so hard, etc. And then, I said a line that everyone's now quoting and probably will for years. That's when they all came out and everyone started laughing.

"The quote of the year... Here's what I said, while looking this dude straight in the eye: 'It sucks to be the understudy.'"

A complete list of tour dates can be seen below.

In anticipation of the release of TESTAMENT's NEW album 'The Dark Roots Of Earth' (out today in Europe, Tuesday in North America), Skolnick has been busy spreading the word about the bands 10th studio album. We recently had the chance to chat with him at the "meet and greet" that was hosted in New York City. Here is what went down!



Video by: Zulie Alvarez (www.zuliephotographierocks.com/)

UPCOMING TESTAMENT TOUR DATES:

July/August 2012

European Tour Dates:

7/31 – Toritto, Italy – Total Metal Fest
8/02 – Székesfehérvár, Hungary – Fezen Fest
8/03 – Lucerne, Switzerland – Konzerthaus Schuur
8/04 – Wacken, Germany – Wacken Fest
8/06 – Tolmin, Slovenia – Metalcamp
8/09 – Vasteras, Sweden – Sigurdsgatan 25
8/10 – Rejmyre, Sweden – Skogsrojet
8/11 – Derbyshire, UK – Bloodstock Fest
8/12 – Brussels, Belgium – Alcatraz Fest
8/13 – Istanbul, Turkey – Venue 2012

September/October 2012

U.S./Canada Tour Dates:

09/14 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
09/15 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theatre
09/16 – Kennewick, WA @ Toyota Center
09/17 – Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
09/19 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
09/20 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theater
09/21 – Calgary, AB @ MacEwan Hall
09/22 – Edmonton, AB @ Edmonton Event Centre
09/24 – Saskatoon, SK @ Odeon Event Center
09/25 – Winnipeg, MB @ Burton Cummings Theatre
09/29 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
09/30 – Quebec City, QC @ Capitole du Quebec

10/02 – Montreal, QC @ Metropolis
10/03 – Portland, ME @ State Theater
10/05 – Montclair, NJ @ Wellmont Theatre

Related Links:
Official Site of Testament

TESTAMENT Hire FORBIDDEN Drummer Mark Hernandez For Upcoming European Tour!

UPDATE:

If there is one good thing about the DETHKLOK/LAMB OF GOD tour cancellation (More about this story HERE!) is that drummer Gene Hoglan WILL be joining TESTAMENT on the European run (starts next week).

In a series of tweets, TESTAMENT guitarist Alex Skolnick explained, "As some of you know, there's been a sub-drummer lined up for this tour, Mark Hernandez (ex-FORBIDDEN), subbing for Gene Hoglan, who was booked.

"So we find out Gene is available now (due to last-minute LAMB OF GOD/DETHKLOK tour cancellation). Calls were made and it's worked out: Gene is coming [out with us].

"Mark Hernandez took it very well; [he was a] total pro! Agreed it's best to have Gene if he's now available. But [the other] guys [in TESTAMENT] didn't tell me!!

"So I show up [to rehearsal] and they tell me [Mark] doesn't know and ask me to break the news to him. I take him outside and tell him. He acts devastated! Eric [Peterson, guitar] films it from afar. I told him please not to take it hard, it's just like being an understudy on Broadway! He tells me he's crushed, he's been working so hard, etc. And then, I said a line that everyone's now quoting and probably will for years. That's when they all came out and everyone started laughing.

"The quote of the year... Here's what I said, while looking this dude straight in the eye: 'It sucks to be the understudy.'"

A complete list of tour dates can be seen below.

Previous article:

This just in, TESTAMENT have recruited drummer Mark Hernandez (FORBIDDEN, HEATHEN, DEFIANCE, VIO-LENCE) for their upcoming two-week European tour, which kicks off on July 31 at the Total Metal Festival in Toritto, Italy. Hernandez is filling in for the bands current drummer Gene Hoglan (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, DEATH, DETHKLOK, FEAR FACTORY), who is unable to make this run due to scheduling conflicts.

TESTAMENT's 'The Dark Roots of Earth', was produced, mixed and mastered once again by the world renowned Andy Sneap (ARCH ENEMY, NEVERMORE, ACCEPT, EXODUS). Special bonus tracks were recorded, mixed  and mastered by Juan Urteaga (CATTLE DECAPITATION, HEATHEN, VILE, SADUS) at his Trident Studios. The highly anticipated follow up to their 2008 release 'The Formation of Damnation' will be released tomorrow July 27, 2012 (Europe) and July 31, 2012 (North America) via Nuclear Blast Records.

In anticipation of the release of TESTAMENT's NEW album 'The Dark Roots Of Earth', Skolnick has been busy spreading the word about the bands 10th studio album. We recently had the chance to chat with him at the "meet and greet" that was hosted in New York City. Here is what went down!



Video by: Zulie Alvarez (www.zuliephotographierocks.com/)

UPCOMING TESTAMENT TOUR DATES:

July/August 2012

European Tour Dates:

7/31 – Toritto, Italy – Total Metal Fest
8/02 – Székesfehérvár, Hungary – Fezen Fest
8/03 – Lucerne, Switzerland – Konzerthaus Schuur
8/04 – Wacken, Germany – Wacken Fest
8/06 – Tolmin, Slovenia – Metalcamp
8/09 – Vasteras, Sweden – Sigurdsgatan 25
8/10 – Rejmyre, Sweden – Skogsrojet
8/11 – Derbyshire, UK – Bloodstock Fest
8/12 – Brussels, Belgium – Alcatraz Fest
8/13 – Istanbul, Turkey – Venue 2012

September/October 2012

U.S./Canada Tour Dates:

09/14 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
09/15 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theatre
09/16 – Kennewick, WA @ Toyota Center
09/17 – Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
09/19 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
09/20 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theater
09/21 – Calgary, AB @ MacEwan Hall
09/22 – Edmonton, AB @ Edmonton Event Centre
09/24 – Saskatoon, SK @ Odeon Event Center
09/25 – Winnipeg, MB @ Burton Cummings Theatre
09/29 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
09/30 – Quebec City, QC @ Capitole du Quebec

10/02 – Montreal, QC @ Metropolis
10/03 – Portland, ME @ State Theater
10/05 – Montclair, NJ @ Wellmont Theatre

Related Links:
Official Site of Testament

Death Angel & Forbidden Tour Manager Attacked by 'Thugs'!

Filipino-American Trashers Death Angel are currently on the road with Anthrax and Testament. After the show in Denver, Colorado on Wednesday, October 19th, tour manager Dane Wolf was viciously attacked by a group of "thugs" and as a result now has a cracked skull and other serious injuries. Here is a statement from Forbidden, from whom Wolf works for as tour manager and guitar tech.

"Calling ALL Forbidden fans. Our guitar tech/tour manager and friend, Dane Wolf, was attacked by a group of thugs after the Death Angel/Testament/Anthrax show in Denver on Wednesday night.

"Dane has a cracked skull and other serious injuries. He was working Death Angel and had to drop off of the tour. We need your help to cover his hospital expenses. Please donate whatever you can. It all helps!"

Here is a message from Dane:

"The doctor's appt. went well today, and I have been deemed travel ready and will be finishing my recovery with my Mother who has been worried sick, and kitty cat in Saint Louis! I leave on my first flight in a few hours.

"My brain IS there, and looks alright :-) stitches come out in another week, chicks dig scars, right? I am trying a different pain medication to see if it can reduce side effects, as I am still battling major headaches as my fractures heal and the swelling subsides. I will be meeting with a specialist in Saint Louis to determine if I will require surgery to repair my orbital socket, fingers crossed.

"None of these options would have been available without your help, I am so grateful to spend the rest of my recovery with Mom, because we all know that no one takes care of you like mom does.

"The many positive actions this week so far out-way the negative in my mind, that I can't help but look forward to getting healed and paying it back to others. I will be back in The Bay with all you crazy fuckers when I'm fully Dane again, and back out on the road with my brothers and sisters when duty calls. Thanks to my Uncle Brad, cousin Brandon, doctors, nurses, police, and friends in Denver for watching over me :-) I will welcome seeing my Saint Louis friends as soon as my body tells me I'm ready to do so, as I will be strictly following doctor's orders to give it the full opportunity to rest and recover as I have been.

Thank you all, so much, once again."

Much Love,

Dane

We wish Dane and his family the best of luck during this hard times, and ask everyone of you to help Dane out by clicking here!