TESTAMENT Continues To Bring The Head On New Single “Shadow People”

The gods of Bay Area thrash are back. Testament will return this autumn with Para Bellum, their fourteenth studio album and first since 2020’s Titans of Creation. Due October 10 via Nuclear Blast, the record channels the turbulence of our modern age, tackling humanity’s fractured relationship with technology and the disconnection it breeds.

“Para Bellum is both a war cry and a warning,” the band said in a statement. “It’s about staring into the chaos around us and refusing to look away.”

The latest single, Shadow People, is a grooving, sinister cut that laces Testament‘s trademark riff assault with an eerie undercurrent. The lyrics conjure the creeping dread of unseen watchers, while Freakshot Films’ animated video amplifies the paranoia into nightmare territory. Also, Chris Dovas fucking shreds on drums.

Frontman Chuck Billy shared: “The new album Para Bellum consists of some fast, heavy and melodic tunes. Once again Peterson has found a way to keep the songwriting fresh and modern sounding. It’s gonna be hard to choose what songs to play live because there are too many to choose from.”

Guitarist Eric Peterson added: “It’s been five years since our last record Titans of Creation was released. Since then, we all waited to get back to it and we all did in a big way! Now our long-overdue new record Para Bellum is upon us and about to be released in October. We are super stoked and excited to release new blood and fury to you all! With our first single ‘Infanticide A.I.’ we’re coming out swinging! But with new velocities of fury, while maintaining a balance that we all love and know from a Testament track – enjoy!”

Para Bellum was recorded with Juan Urteaga, mixed by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios, and mastered by Tony Lindgren. The album’s artwork, created by longtime collaborator Eliran Kantor, resists the flood of AI-generated imagery in favor of a vivid hand-painted vision: a serene angel built from missiles, an explosion for a halo, and shovel-bearing cultists with books strapped to their faces. It captures the album’s essence perfectly – beauty and brutality colliding in surreal harmony.

The album will be available in multiple formats, including a CD jewel case with 20-page booklet, gold cassette (band/King’s Road exclusive, limited), 2LP gatefold with 16-page booklet, and a range of exclusive vinyl colorways across the U.S. and Europe. A special Para Bellum t-shirt will also be available. Pre-orders for Para Bellum are available here.