TESTAMENT Practice What you Preach BRAZIL LP 1989 Heavy Metal Thrash Exodus OG

$

86

ARTIST: Testament
TITLE: Practice What You Preach
LABEL: Atlantic – 670.8122, Atlantic – 00763
RECORD GRADING: VG
SLEEVE GRADING: VG
NOTES: Includes insert. Official first pressing from Brazil. 1989. Official.  ____
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Testament’s Practice What You Preach, released in 1989, marked the band’s third studio album and a pivotal moment in their evolution. While their earlier works (The Legacy and The New Order) leaned heavily into dark, occult, and supernatural themes, Practice What You Preach shifted toward more socially conscious and political lyrics, tackling topics like environmental destruction, hypocrisy, and the human condition. Musically, the album retained Testament’s signature thrash intensity but incorporated more groove, melody, and mid-tempo dynamics, making it one of their most accessible yet still powerful releases.
The lineup—Chuck Billy (vocals), Eric Peterson (rhythm guitar), Alex Skolnick (lead guitar), Greg Christian (bass), and Louie Clemente (drums)—was firing on all cylinders. Skolnick’s lead guitar work in particular drew praise for its technicality and melodic flair, while Billy’s commanding vocal presence gave the album both aggression and clarity. The production, handled by Alex Perialas, offered a cleaner, crisper sound compared to many of their thrash contemporaries, giving the riffs more definition without sacrificing punch.
Commercially, Practice What You Preach performed well for a thrash album of its time, reaching the Billboard 200 and earning significant MTV airplay for the title track. The balance of speed, groove, and intelligent lyrics helped broaden Testament’s fan base, securing them a place among the elite of the late ’80s thrash scene. The album is still considered one of their classics and an essential gateway for new fans exploring the genre.
In the broader thrash metal landscape, Practice What You Preach represents a moment when the genre was expanding beyond sheer velocity, experimenting with songwriting depth and thematic range. Its influence can be heard in later thrash and groove-metal acts who sought to blend technical musicianship with more socially aware content. Decades later, Testament continue to perform several tracks from this record, underscoring its enduring power in their catalog.
50 Similar Albums (thrash with technicality, socially aware lyrics, and late ’80s/early ’90s polish):
Metallica – …And Justice for All
Megadeth – Rust in Peace
Anthrax – Persistence of Time
Exodus – Fabulous Disaster
Overkill – The Years of Decay
Kreator – Coma of Souls
Sodom – Better Off Dead
Sacred Reich – The American Way
Flotsam and Jetsam – When the Storm Comes Down
Forbidden – Twisted into Form
Death Angel – Act III
Vio-lence – Oppressing the Masses
Annihilator – Never, Neverland
Heathen – Victims of Deception
Metal Church – Blessing in Disguise
Xentrix – For Whose Advantage?
Coroner – No More Color
Artillery – By Inheritance
Toxik – Think This
Laaz Rockit – Nothing’s Sacred
Defiance – Void Terra Firma
Paradox – Heresy
Cyclone Temple – I Hate Therefore I Am
Realm – Suiciety
Tourniquet – Stop the Bleeding
Wrathchild America – Climbin’ the Walls
Powermad – Absolute Power
Watchtower – Control and Resistance
Helstar – Nosferatu
Iced Earth – Iced Earth
Riot – Thundersteel
Blind Guardian – Tales from the Twilight World
Rage – Secrets in a Weird World
Running Wild – Death or Glory
Gamma Ray – Heading for Tomorrow
Jag Panzer – Ample Destruction
Pantera – Cowboys from Hell
Suicidal Tendencies – Lights…Camera…Revolution!
Prong – Beg to Differ
Voivod – Nothingface
Living Colour – Time’s Up
King’s X – Gretchen Goes to Nebraska
Sanctuary – Into the Mirror Black
Morgana Lefay – Symphony of the Damned
Vendetta – Brain Damage
Vendetta – Go and Live… Stay and Die
Mekong Delta – The Principle of Doubt
Manilla Road – Out of the Abyss
Liege Lord – Master Control
Jag Panzer – The Fourth Judgement