The New Order (album)
| The New Order | ||||
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| Studio album by Testament | ||||
| Released | May 5, 1988 | |||
| Recorded | 1987–1988 | |||
| Studio | Pyramid Sound Studios, Ithaca, New York | |||
| Genre | Thrash metal | |||
| Length | 39:22 | |||
| Label | Atlantic/Megaforce | |||
| Producer | Alex Perialas | |||
| Testament chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The New Order | ||||
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
The New Order is the second studio album by American thrash metal band Testament, released on May 5, 1988.
Alex Skolnick recounts of the album recording process:
"We barely got done with our first couple of tours on that first album cycle when we were informed we have to have another album, soon! [...] We got spooked in a way, because we never had to come up with music on the fly. [...] By the time we finally recorded the album, we neglected to look at our recording contract. We actually had it in our contract that there's a minimum of 40 minutes of music, and we clocked in under that! [...] Our album was promptly sent back...we added the Aerosmith tune, we added those little instrumentals, we extended a couple of sections...that was all done so we wouldn't be in breach of contract."
The New Order was the album that broke Testament into the thrash metal mainstream, with singles "Trial by Fire" (which featured a music video, as did the cover of Aerosmith's "Nobody's Fault") and "The Preacher". This success would only grow with their next album Practice What You Preach. The New Order was also the first Testament album to enter the Billboard 200, reaching number 136 on that chart. It was also the band's first album to include an instrumental track. The album contains many songs that the band still plays live to this day including "Into the Pit", "The Preacher", "The New Order", "Disciples of the Watch", and "Trial by Fire". "Into the Pit" is one of Testament's most frequently performed songs, having been played live over 500 times (second only to "Over the Wall" from The Legacy, at over 515).
Reviews for The New Order have generally been favorable. Allmusic's Alex Henderson awards the album four-and-a-half stars out of five, and claims that Testament "delivered its best offering ever" and describes it as "every bit as brutally forceful as The Legacy." He also called the album the "ideal choice."
The New Order entered the Billboard 200 album charts in August 1988, three months after its release. The album peaked at number 136 and remained on the chart for thirteen weeks, making it Testament's longest run so far. "Trial By Fire" and "The Preacher" were released as singles, but neither of them charted.
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