I think the next album is going to be rougher, but it's not going to be noisier. People who are expecting more commercial songs are going to be disappointed. People who are expecting Slayer-sounding songs are going to be disappointed as well. I think a lot of people are going to enjoy it and come back for more.
Alex / Testament interview, Thrash Metal, 1990
TESTAMENT released their fourth album, Souls of Black, on this day in 1990.
The new stuff is a lot more comfortable. Some of our more hardcore fans may not like it as much, but we're not a Slayer-type band, and it was about time for us to prove that we have a lot more going for us musically than most other bands that we're classified with. I think the days of talentless bands are over...
Alex / Testament interview, Thrash Metal, 1990
...Practice What You Preach, Souls Of Black, those records at that era of our life and career, things were really starting to happen, things were really good. The business was good, the metal scene was good. Shortly after that was when everything changed; the industry, the music, the bands. Radio changed, metal bands started getting dropped. It was a weird period then.
Chuck Billy / Testament interview, Heavy Music HQ, 2020