Search - Testament :: Formation Of Damnation

Digi-Book DVD Adds To This Epic Thrash Album

Michael Costa | Chicago,, IL USA | 07/17/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've already given the music on TFoD five stars on the single CD product page, so I'll focus on the double-disc (DVD and CD) Digi-Book here, which is approximately $14 more than the single CD. (It was $28.99 when I bought it.)



In this package, you get the audio CD of TFoD, an impressive hardcover Digi-Book with liner notes and glossy band photos, and a bonus DVD, which includes a 20-minute "making of" TFoD documentary. The DVD also has a photo gallery of the band during TFoD publicity shoots, and the entire album again, but with an onscreen song menu, and scrolling lyrics while a tune is playing. Perfect for your next Testament karaoke party...



The documentary is essentially raw studio footage taken with a Handycam, edited without narrative or interviews. If you're new to the band, you might not get much out of it. But if you're a fan, some of the in-studio clips are great: Alex Skolnick playing his solo over "The Evil Has Landed"; Paul Bostaph isolated in the booth pounding his double-kick drum setup; and Eric Peterson's flying fingers on the opening riff of "The Persecuted Won't Forget."



Is it worth an extra $14 for the DVD and Digi-Book? I think so. TFoD will arguably end up an all-time thrash record, and this is a peek inside how it was made, with a deluxe package to boot."