40 years into any band's career (if they get that far), it is hard to imagine them continuing to innovate, reinvigorate their sound, and create music at such a high level. We have seen great artists play the hits in the twilight of their career, and that is fine as they have earned it.

But this band isn't just any other band. They are one that somehow continued to reinvigorate their thrash metal sound as time went on. So much so that when they released their 14th album in 2025, it was considered to be one of, if not, the best albums of the year. So... how did this happen.

Chuck Billy from the thrash metal legends Testament joins the Chord Progression Podcast today. With the release of their 14th album, Para Bellum, in late 2025 and a brand new tour in the spring of 2026, we had a chance to catch up with this living legend for a great conversation. On this episode, we talk about:

- The songwriting behind Para Bellum and how bringing in a freshness to Testament's legendary sound was done thanks to the influences from drummer Chris Dovas.

- How not challenging the music and being open to newer influences allowed Testament to both vocally and instrumentally create one of the best albums of 2025.

- What the future of Testament's writing will look like, and how it will continue to evolve over time so the band can keep creating at a high level.

A legendary conversation with a legend of the metal industry. Tap the subscribe button because plenty more are coming your way.

Find Testament Online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/testamentlegions/

Twitter: https://x.com/testament

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testamentofficial/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0HZ7oBniMsRBI4skF6LClQ

Website: https://www.testamentlegions.com/site/

Merch: https://testamentlegions.store

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/28hJdGN1Awf7u3ifk2lVkg?si=dahThi2fQTmtyEjmxprgig

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/testament/157139

Check out our sponsor: DarkFusion Systems!

Use code "CPPOD" for $100 off of your computer build!

https://darkfusionsystems.com

Follow us on social media!

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/chordprogressionpodcast

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/cppodofficial

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/chordprogressionpodcast/

YouTube:

https://youtube.com/channel/UCqRKZCDMcFHIYbJaLQMfDbQ

Chord Progression Podcast (Spotify):

https://open.spotify.com/show/53XWPGrIUvgavKF5Fm6SLk

Chord Progression Podcast (Apple Podcast):

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chord-progression-podcast-the-gateway-to-new-rock-and-metal-music/id1454876657

Chord Progression Podcast (Amazon): https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b8dad803-444c-4a73-8aa5-67b4fc43f4ba

Chord Progression Podcast (iHeart Radio):

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-chord-progression-70632531/

Podcast Webpage:

https://mysongoftheday.com/my-song-of-the-day-rock-2000-today/chord-progression-podcast/

Welcome: (0:00)

Chuck Billy on the Podcast?: (1:37)

Creating Para Bellum with a Fresh Sound: (3:30)

Will Much of Para Bellum be Played on 2026 US Tour?: (7:31)

How Para Ballum Became Regarded as a Great Album: (9:19)

Seeing the Live Reation in Real Time: (18:56)

Peer Pressuring Danny Wimmer Presents: (20:40)

The European Festivals Testament is Looking Forward To: (21:44)

2026 Tour Preview: (24:29)

Chuck's Prediction for Rock & Metal in 2026: (28:00)

New Artists to Check Out: (33:48)

Kevin's Final Thought; Why testament Breakd Mold of Established Bands & New Music: (37:33)

Heavy music, espescially hardcore music, has continually risen not only in quality, but in prominence throught the heavy scene and culture since the early 2020's. Even we have gotten heavily into the music since that time. But why is that? And how are artists in that heavy genre continuing to contribute to this rise?

Well with one of best bands in that scene releasing a brand new album to kick off 2026, we not only answer those questions, but see how they are going to be contributing to that rise with their brand new album. Is it going to succeed? Is it their best work yet?

Shane from Varials joins the Chord Progression Podcast today! With Varials releasing their new album "Where The Light Leaves" on February 27th, we see how they are going to use this to contribute to that rise of hardcore music in the 2020's. On this episode, we talk about:

- Why hardcore music is getting more and more popular by the day, from fans diving deeper into how heavy music can go with their personal tastes, along with artists delivering their message in more passionate and catchy ways.

- How a lack of prejudice in music tastes from newer fans has helped the growth of heavy music to what it has become today, and what it will continue to become throughout the rest of the decade.

- The brand new album "Where The Light Leaves" giving you a preview of the entire thing and showing why this is Varials best album to date.

A fantastic episode for all the heavy music and hardcore music fans out there. Tap the subscribe button to not miss out on any future episodes.

Find Varials Online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VarialsPA

Twitter: https://x.com/varialspa

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/varialspa

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@varialsband

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClh7a3djtZm2V8JvUU09b3g

Website: https://varialspa.net

Merch: https://shopvarialsworldwide.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6EFV3PmaXblKwNbvpkGv9l?si=XPZkaIFZRgep2AORu3DPNg

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/varials/1049409377

Check out our sponsor: DarkFusion Systems!

Use code "CPPOD" for $100 off of your computer build!

https://darkfusionsystems.com

Follow us on social media!

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/chordprogressionpodcast

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/cppodofficial

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/chordprogressionpodcast/

YouTube:

https://youtube.com/channel/UCqRKZCDMcFHIYbJaLQMfDbQ

Chord Progression Podcast (Spotify):

https://open.spotify.com/show/53XWPGrIUvgavKF5Fm6SLk

Chord Progression Podcast (Apple Podcast):

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chord-progression-podcast-the-gateway-to-new-rock-and-metal-music/id1454876657

Chord Progression Podcast (Amazon): https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b8dad803-444c-4a73-8aa5-67b4fc43f4ba

Chord Progression Podcast (iHeart Radio):

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-chord-progression-70632531/

Podcast Webpage:

https://mysongoftheday.com/my-song-of-the-day-rock-2000-today/chord-progression-podcast/

Welcome: (0:00)

Busy, Exciting Times for Varials in 2026: (1:56)

The Rise of Hardcore Music to Mass Audiences: (3:54)

Lack of Prejudice in Heavy Music Fans Helped Bring Heavy Music & Bands Back: (13:01)

Making Varials a Full Career, Finally: (19:32)

Previewing "Where The Light Leaves": (23:40)

Highlighting Songs to Check Out on Release Day: (28:41)

Toughest Song to Write on "Where The Light Leaves": (35:29)

What Else is On Tap for 2026?: (39:32)

New Artists to Check Out: (40:32)

Kevin's Final Thought;...

The Gloom In the Corner is a band that a lot of diehard metalcore fans know of for their consistently heavy metalcore, and the ability to create an expansive story and world from album to album. It is like trying to make a high quality trilogy story on par with Lord of the Rings, but through albums.

Following the release of Trinity in 2023 and globe-trotting tours, it is now time for the band to conclude this last part of the story with a new album. But how will the story end? What is different about the music now compared to then? And did the live reception the band got on the road influence the next sound?

Mikey from the Australian metalcore band The Gloom in the Corner is on the podcast today. With the band's 4th full album, Royal Discordance, releasing on February 27th, join us for this epic episode as we discuss:

- The story behind Royal Discordance, as it completes the trilogy of Flesh & Bones along with Trinity, focusing in on character emotions throughout the end of the story compared to a presentation of disposition.

- How playing live shows across the world for Trinity led the band to bring more sonic diversity to Royal Discordance, in order to create a greater impact for fans on a repeat listen & live setting.

- Which of the non-singles you need to be prepared for with the entire release of the album drops.

This episode will show you how The Gloom in the Corner will win in 2026. Hit the subscribe button as we keep bringing the bands and artists that are going to be winning year over year.

Find The Gloom In The Corner Online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tgitcband

Twitter: https://x.com/tgitcband

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegloominthecornvr/

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegloominthecorner

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thegloominthecorner6049

Merch: https://sharptonerecords.co/collections/the-gloom-in-the-corner?srsltid=AfmBOorkXZ08sbyL0CIENqaU-n0Xx6mutgIJLZXOwdQjV32IrWR835Vy

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4dJTtqdQ6GlgNr8TNkzh65?si=EXKF_moOSW6SJaUxhUsAkA

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-gloom-in-the-corner/1163152336

Check out our sponsor: DarkFusion Systems!

Use code "CPPOD" for $100 off of your computer build!

https://darkfusionsystems.com

Follow us on social media!

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/chordprogressionpodcast

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/cppodofficial

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/chordprogressionpodcast/

YouTube:

https://youtube.com/channel/UCqRKZCDMcFHIYbJaLQMfDbQ

Chord Progression Podcast (Spotify):

https://open.spotify.com/show/53XWPGrIUvgavKF5Fm6SLk

Chord Progression Podcast (Apple Podcast):

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chord-progression-podcast-the-gateway-to-new-rock-and-metal-music/id1454876657

Chord Progression Podcast (Amazon): https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b8dad803-444c-4a73-8aa5-67b4fc43f4ba

Chord Progression Podcast (iHeart Radio):

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-chord-progression-70632531/

Podcast Webpage:

https://mysongoftheday.com/my-song-of-the-day-rock-2000-today/chord-progression-podcast/

Welcome: (0:00)

Mikey is Back: (1:41)

Recapping the Growth since 2023: (3:43)

The Continued Story of Royal Discordance: (6:17)

Writing Difference of Trinity to Royal Discordance: (11:00)

Sonic Influence of Royal Discordance: (13:58)

The Non-Singles We Want to Highlight: (23:54)

That's Life (Carry Me Home): (34:00)

Making A Statement Live: (40:41)

What Else in 2026?: (45:19)

New Artists to Check Out: (46:46)

Kevin's Final Thought;...