Dimitris Kontogeorgakos of Metal Kaoz recently conducted an interview with TESTAMENT frontman Chuck Billy. An excerpt follows:

Q: Will you include songs from the upcoming Testament album (on upcoming live dates)?

A: "No, just because there is too much internet now and too many people have their cell phones in the concerts, so we don’t want a bunch of shitty recordings of our new music. They never pay attention that these recordings sound terrible."

Q: So, the new album is entitled Dark Roots Of Earth?

A: "Yes, exactly."

Q: Is there any meaning behind the album title?

A: "Yeah, you can say that. Testament have always been a band that you can call “planet conscious” and many albums have songs talking about these matters. Also, the band is actually going back to its roots since the original lineup is back."

Read the entire interview at this location.

Testament have announced that current Dark Roots Of Earth studio drummer and world-famous percussionist GENE HOGLAN will be joining them on the road for select dates on their upcoming co-headlining run with ANTHRAX. Gene will join Testament from October 28th through November 13th.

“As many of you know, I just played on the new Testament record, Dark Roots Of Earth, which went amazingly well,” states Gene Hoglan. “The dudes were kind enough ask me to join them for a couple weeks on this tour with Anthrax and DEATH ANGEL. I’m super stoked to do the shows. It’s going to be a great time. Just so everybody knows, I will be selling my Drum Instructional DVD, The Atomic Clock, at the shows (shameless plug). If you can’t make it out to one of the shows, buy it on line!”

Testament recently announced that they will again be offering special VIP/Meet & Greet Packs on their upcoming co-headlining tour with Anthrax with support from Death Angel. The band is pleased to announce that the cut off time to purchase VIP/Meet & Greet packs before each individual show has been extended to eight (8) days! The VIP/Meet & Greet packs are selling quickly, so make sure to purchase your pack soon! For more information on how to obtain your special VIP/Meet & Greet Pack, head over to www.slotix.com now.

Purchasing a VIP/Meet & Greet Pack allows you the opportunity to spend intimate, quality time with Testament. Testament offered these packs on last year’s monumental American Carnage Tour also featuring MEGADETH and SLAYER, which presented fans with a unique and exclusive chance to spend time with the band before doors opened, take photos and get autographs, throw up the horns, and chat. This year with the VIP/Meet & Greet Packs, fans will have another chance to hang out, sign autographs and take photos with the band, as well as have access to a ticket to their performance, special merchandise hand-picked by the band, and a collectible Testament laminate to commemorate this ultimate fan experience!

Testament Meet & Greet package includes (full details):

- One General Admission ticket
- Meet & Greet with select members of Testament
- Photo with select members of Testament
- Autograph opportunity with select members of Testament
- Testament merchandise items *
- T-shirt of your choice from the merch booth (before doors open)
- Opportunity to purchase a second item at half off from the merch booth (before doors open)
- Assorted guitar picks
- Wristband
- Rare, out of print Live At The Filmore cassette
- Original printing of Demonic CD
- Collectible Testament laminate
“We love connecting with our fans and showing them same the respect and admiration they show us year after year,” states vocalist Chuck Billy. “Hanging out and talking to the fans was a phenomenal experience for everyone last year. It was a first for us as well as the fans. It’s a great way to join us at the shows in celebration of all that is heavy metal and to make a personal connection with us, so come hang out and commemorate this great tour!”

Tour dates:

October

11 - Grand Rapids, MI - The Orbit Room
15 - Chicago, IL - Congress Theater
16 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
18 - Wichita, KS - The Cotillion
19 - Denver, CO - The Summit Music Hall
21 - Las Vegas - LVCS – No Anthrax
22 - Los Angeles, CA - Nokia Theater
23 - San Francisco, CA - The Warfield
24 - San Diego, CA - House of Blues
26 - Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater
28 - Dallas, TX - South Side Music Hall
29 - Austin, TX - Emo’s East
30 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live

November

1 - Lake Buena Vista, FL - House of Blues
2 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Revolution
4 - Myrtle Beach, SC - House of Blues
5 - Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore
6 - Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore
8 - Clifton Park, NY - Northern Lights
10 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
11 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
12 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
13 - Huntington, NY - The Paramount
15 - Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom
17 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
18 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
19 - Milwaukee, WI - Rave Ballroom

Gene Hoglan recently released his long-awaited instructional DVD, The Atomic Clock. Available on Hoglan Industries in the US and on Reversed Records in Canada, the disc showcases Hoglan's three decades of experience of performing and recording with the world's most well-known metal bands, along with many others on his resume.