Testament: Burnt Offerings (1987) - Song Review

Official Score = 2 1/2 Devils 

Alright guys, I will be honest with you, this one is just about as new for me as I imagine that it must be for you guys who haven't heard this song, so why not join me for a journey as we dive in to the world of Testament's, 'Burnt Offerings', from their 1987 album, 'The Legacy'!

Testament doing, 'Burnt Offerings' live 2013!  

Now first off let me say this, this song very well defines the 1980s... As far as heavy metal goes... This might not be a thing to most... But it is certainly a thing for me, and it is something that I have noticed that a lot of the more modern day Heavy Metal bands definitely seem to be missing... That being that garage band feel that a lot of the truly great heavy metal bands of the 80s still have, and in some cases, have lost.

What I mean by that is that when you are listening to them play, it doesn't sound necessarily like they are playing to a packed stadium, and like they are just playing for the love of the music, with out the use of equipment that could cost thousands, if not 10s of thousand of dollars... But like they are playing with the instruments that they have had since they were kids!

I am going to say this, in my opinion, the live version of this song is better then the studio version, The reason that I mention this, and I have noticed other bands try this, and don't really completely pull it off, and Testament in this song didn't entirely either... That being that their singer (albeit I am sure they did not know this,) but the way that Chuck Billy belted out this song, along with the instrumentals, seemed like a wrong mix of Heavy Metal, and a precursor to death metal...

Either way, this song is one that is worth it, and if you get a chance to check it out, you might like it! I will admit that I found it to be a pretty good song!

For the true fan... Lyrics to Testament's Burnt Offerings!

Summoned to the house of seance
To play the evil tarot cards
To find out what our fate will bring us
Before the war!

Approaching now the hour of tiamat
Evil feeling in the air
The chosen wait impatiently
To find the rituals of power
Come out of the fire
Making the legacy known
Predicted by the past
Takes its toll at last
Now knowing when it strikes

The endless feuding shows its fate
The people are all shocked with fright
They know the end is coming near
It's time to fight
The revolution holds on strong
The armies have all met their match
Entire world up in arms
Destruction sees the spirits of anger
Come up from the gallows
Conjured my demons appear
Summoned to my cast, prey this deadly mass
Takin' by the fire you fall

The world became a vast wasteland
Survivors turned to cannibals
Killing everything in sight
Warfare tonight
The armies are all closing in
The populations getting small
The feelings are as cold as ice
Survival names its price
Starting to burn
The rape and the violence grows high
A kingdom will rise
To rule with contempt
They will surprise
Kill and repent
The weakness in armies
Won't die! Won't die! Won't die!

Leaving now the house of seance
Speculating destiny
Wonder if the cards were true
Will wait to find out and will wait to see.