Live in London

by Greg Prato It seems like more so than any other era in rock history, the late '90s and early 21st century was the era of the "reunion," as the classic/definitive lineups of Kiss, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest toured arenas once more. Reunions also reached into the realm of thrash metal, with such '80s vets as Anthrax and Testament able to reassemble their best-known lineups in 2005. The same year, both bands also issued live CD and DVD sets (within a few weeks, to boot) -- Anthrax with Alive 2 and Testament with Live in London. Testament's release focuses entirely on what is considered their "golden age" by many fans -- 1987's The Legacy through 1992's The Ritual -- and the group truly sounds reinvigorated throughout. Singer Chuck Billy's growl sounds as bear-ish as ever, while returning six string hero Alex Skolnick (who focused on jazz-fusion during his hiatus from the band) can still shred away with the best of them. Highlights include such late-'80 and early-'90s Headbangers Ball approved thrashers as "Over the Wall," "Practice What You Preach," and "Electric Crown," in addition to such early favorites as "Into the Pit" and "The Legacy." Testament picks up precisely where they left off with Live in London.