Dark Roots of Earth

Dark Roots of Earth
Studio album by
Testament
ReleasedJuly 27, 2012 (2012-07-27)
RecordedJune 2011 – February 2012
GenreThrash metal
Length50:48
LabelNuclear Blast
ProducerAndy Sneap
Testament chronology
Live at Eindhoven '87
(2009) 		Dark Roots of Earth
(2012) 		Dark Roots of Thrash
(2013)
Singles from Dark Roots of Earth
  1. "True American Hate"
    Released: 2012
  2. "Native Blood"
    Released: July 20, 2012

Dark Roots of Earth is the eleventh studio album by American thrash metal band Testament. It was released on July 27, 2012, in Europe, and four days later in North America by independent German record label Nuclear Blast Records.[1][2] The album is available in three configurations, CD, CD/DVD and vinyl, with the latter two versions including four bonus tracks.[2][3] The album was produced by Andy Sneap, who mixed and engineered the band's previous three studio releases, The Gathering (1999), First Strike Still Deadly (2001), and The Formation of Damnation (2008).[2][3] The album artwork was created by Eliran Kantor.[2][3] A music video was made for the track "Native Blood".[4] Dark Roots of Earth entered the Billboard 200 at number 12,[5] Testament's highest position ever.

This album saw a reunion with Gene Hoglan, who played drums on the band's 1997 album Demonic. During the recording, Hoglan filled in for Paul Bostaph who was unable to attend the recording sessions because of a "serious injury", although the latter left the band in December 2011.[6] Chris Adler of Lamb of God provided drum tracks on the iTunes bonus version of "A Day in the Death".[7] Dark Roots of Earth is also the last Testament album with bassist Greg Christian, who left the band for the second time in January 2014.[8]

  1. ^ Rosenberg, Axl (May 15, 2012). "Album art + release date for Testament's Dark Roots of the Earth!!!". MetalSucks. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d Childers, Chad (May 16, 2012). "Testament Reveal 'Dark Roots of Earth' Album Artwork + Track Listing". Loudwire. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c Hart, Josh (May 15, 2012). "Testament Reveal Artwork, Track Listing, Release Date for New Album, 'Dark Roots of Earth'". Guitar World. Archived from the original on May 20, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  4. ^ "Testament - Dark Roots of Earth Review". Guitarhoo!. Guitarhoo.com. March 29, 2013. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  5. ^ Blabbermouth (August 8, 2012). "TESTAMENT's 'Dark Roots Of Earth' Cracks U.S. Top 15". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  6. ^ "Drummer PAUL BOSTAPH Quits TESTAMENT". Blabbermouth.net. December 1, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  7. ^ "TESTAMENT: New Album Title Revealed; Tour With ANTHRAX, OVERKILL, DEATH ANGEL Planned". Blabbermouth.net. July 13, 2011. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  8. ^ "Testament Parts Ways With Bassist Greg Christian, Announces Return Of Steve DiGiorgio". Blabbermouth.net. January 13, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.