Dark Roots of Earth | ||||
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Studio album by Testament | ||||
Released | July 27, 2012 | |||
Recorded | June 2011 – February 2012 | |||
Studio | (see Studios) | |||
Genre | Thrash metal | |||
Length | 50:48 | |||
Label | Nuclear Blast | |||
Producer | Andy Sneap | |||
Testament chronology | ||||
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Singles from Dark Roots of Earth | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Aggregate scores | |
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 82/100 |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
About.com | |
Allmusic | |
Blabbermouth.net | 8.5/10 |
Exclaim! | favorable |
Jukebox:Metal | |
Revolver | 4/5 |
Dark Roots of Earth is the tenth 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 the independent German record label Nuclear Blast Records. The album is available in three configurations: CD, CD/DVD and vinyl with the latter two versions including four bonus tracks. 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). The album artwork was created by Eliran Kantor. A music video was made for the track "Native Blood".Dark Roots of Earth entered the Billboard 200 at number twelve, 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 due to his "serious injury".Chris Adler of Lamb of God provided drum tracks on the iTunes bonus version of "A Day in the Death".Dark Roots of Earth is also the last Testament album with bassist Greg Christian, who left the band for a second time in January 2014.
"Native Blood" was released as a single from the album on July 20, 2012, both as a download and a limited edition 7-inch single. A video was made for the song as well. A Spanish version of "Native Blood" entitled "Sangre Nativa" was released on the "Native Blood" single. Previously, "True American Hate" was released as a free download.