Testament / The Bay Strikes Back Tokyo 2023 Final Night / 2CDR+1DVDR

Testament / The Bay Strikes Back Tokyo 2023 Final Night / 2CDR+1DVDR / Shades

Zepp DiverCity Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan 24th September 2023

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The ultimate thrash paradise “THE BAY STRIKES BACK” has finally been realized in Japan. Two original recordings that allow you to experience the entire scene will be released at the same time!
This double series was recorded at “Zepp DiverCity Tokyo performance on September 24, 2023.” This second work is a superb audience 3-disc set that includes a full live album of the TESTAMENT edition, which was one of the three performing bands, and a video from the same day. This visit to Japan was only 2 performances in Tokyo, but this work was recorded on the last day. Yes, you can fully experience the reenactment night of two great albums “THE NEW ORDER” and “THE LEGACY”! First, let’s take a quick look at the structure of this work.

・DISC 1: The first half of the full recording “THE NEW ORDER” part
・DISC 2: The second half of the full recording “THE LEGACY” part
・DISC 3: Full scenic video

…and it looks like this. This time we are reproducing two great records in quick succession, but it is not a “perfect” reproduction. In the first half of the show, “THE NEW ORDER”, the guitar solo “Hypnosis” and AEROSMITH’s cover “Nobody’s Fault” are omitted, and in the second half, “THE LEGACY”, the song order of “Apocalyptic City” and “Alone In The Dark” is switched. Masu.
Of course, this change was made to improve the quality of the show. In the first place, “Hypnosis” was a meaningful instrumental because it was an analog substitute, and “Nobody’s Fault” was a Botora cover that wasn’t even included in the LP version. If you try to do it live, it will only make the song longer, and the flow of “Into The Pit” → “Disciples Of The Watch” without any pause is strangely cool. Bringing “Alone In The Dark” to the end is a natural decision considering the flow of the show.

●DISC 1-2: Superb full recording that goes “like a soundboard” on the ground
It was so wonderful that I started talking about the live performance first, but the quality of this work, which conveys such a full show, is shocking. First of all, it is the main full recording, but this is the finest quality with “super”. Yes, just like the DEATH ANGEL/EXODUS edition “Shades 1863” which will be released at the same time, it is an original recording by the modern master “Western Japan’s Strongest Taper”.
Its quality is exactly like a “soundboard.” The extremely thick core is thrust in front of you without any sense of distance, and the details are also detailed. Both sharpness and thickness are important in Bay Area Crunch, and the riffs flowing from this album are razor-sharp and machete-like. Despite its strength, it also has a wonderful sense of separation, with the twins intertwining neatly, and the rhythm section creating a “wall of sound” without mixing. It is a sound that is outside the audience’s common sense, where the riffs are rushing in and out, but they do not form a lump.

●DISC 3: Experience-based full video with zero obstructions
I’m overwhelmed by just such an original recording, but the video version is also an original master only for this work. Moreover, it is an incredible scenic image. The photo was taken from the second floor seat, but the audience was looking straight ahead at the center of the stage, and there was no presence of the audience in the front row. It feels like you are sitting in the air, as if you were shooting a drone in the middle of the venue.
On the other hand, in terms of camera work, there is almost no zoom, but this is also wonderful because it creates an exquisite experience. As I have mentioned in various places, we live in an era where anyone can shoot and edit images, and multi-camera images that are impressive at a glance and create false illusions are no longer rare. On the other hand, emphasis has been placed on the “view from the special seats” and “full filming from start to finish.” In other words, there is a growing demand for an “amazing seat” experience that is not normally available. In that sense, zooming is not necessarily necessary. This is because the human eye does not have a zoom function, and the raw scene creates a realistic experience. Of course, it is an absolute requirement for stories like this to be spectacular even without zooming. This work is perfect in that respect as well.

The ultimate tour “THE BAY STRIKES BACK” brings together the three giants of Bay Area thrash. In addition to the already luxurious lineup, Tori’s TESTAMENT delivered the finishing blow with the ultimate set list of “THE NEW ORDER/THE LEGACY Reproduction.” In this work, you can enjoy the stage of such a champion with super masterful sound and super scenic images. This work itself is the definitive edition of TESTAMENT, and if you combine it with the simultaneously released DEATH ANGEL/EXODUS edition, you can fully experience a luxurious night with a master collection. It can’t be helped if it’s already in the grave, but if you’re a metal fan living on the ground, this is an absolute masterpiece that you’ll want to play without listening to this! Here you go!

★A 3-disc audience set that includes a superb recording of the “September 24, 2023 Zepp DiverCity Tokyo performance” + a full video of the spectacular scenery. A full live album of transcendent quality by West Japan’s strongest taper, and a video edition that can be seen with the naked eye with no obstructions. With two superb records, you can experience the ultimate full show that consecutively reproduces the two great albums “THE NEW ORDER” and “THE LEGACY.” Furthermore, if you combine it with the sister work “Shades 1863” of the DEATH ANGEL / EXODUS edition, you can fully experience the full show that is whispered to be the best gig at THE BAY STRIKES BACK.

遂に日本でも実現した究極のスラッシュ・パラダイス“THE BAY STRIKES BACK”。その現場を丸ごと体験できるオリジナル録音が２タイトル同時リリース決定です！
今回の２連作が記録されたのは「2023年９月24日Zepp DiverCity Tokyo公演」。第二弾の本作は、出演バンド３組のうち、トリを務めたTESTAMENT篇のフル・ライヴアルバムと同日映像をセットした極上オーディエンス３枚組です。今回の来日は東京２公演のみでしたが、本作が記録されたのは最終日の方。そう、２大名盤『THE NEW ORDER』『THE LEGACY』再現ナイトをフル体験できるのです！　まずは、そんな本作の構成をカンタンに俯瞰しておきましょう。

・DISC 1：フル録音の前半『THE NEW ORDER』パート
・DISC 2：フル録音の後半『THE LEGACY』パート
・DISC 3：フルの絶景映像

……と、このようになっています。今回は２大名盤を立て続けに再現しているわけですが「完全」再現ではありません。ショウ前半の『THE NEW ORDER』パートではギターソロ「Hypnosis」とAEROSMITHのカバー「Nobody’s Fault」が省略されており、後半『THE LEGACY』では「Apocalyptic City」「Alone In The Dark」の曲順が入れ替わっています。
もちろん、これはショウの完成度を高めるための変更。そもそも「Hypnosis」はアナログの面代わり部だからこそ意味のあるインストでしたし、「Nobody’s Fault」はLP版には収録すらされていなかったボートラ的カバー。ムリにライヴでやっても間延びするだけですし、実際間髪入れず「Into The Pit」→「Disciples Of The Watch」と畳みかける流れは異様にカッコイイ。「Alone In The Dark」を最後に持ってくるのもショウの流れを考えれば当然の判断です。

●DISC 1-2：「まるでサウンドボード」を地で行く超絶級フル録音
あまりに素晴らしくてライヴ内容の話が先になってしまいましたが、そんなフルショウを伝える本作はクオリティも衝撃的。まず、メインのフル録音ですが、これが「超」付きの極上品。そう、同時リリースとなるDEATH ANGEL／EXODUS篇『Shades 1863』と同じく、現代の名匠“西日本最強テーパー”氏のオリジナル録音なのです。
そのクオリティは、まさに「まるでサウンドボード」。極太な芯が距離感なく目の前に突きつけられ、それに伴ってディテールも詳細。ベイエリア・クランチは切れ味と厚みの両方が大切ですが、本作から流れ出すリフはカミソリのようにシャープでナタのようにぶっとい。それだけ剛力でありながらセパレート感も素晴らしく、ツインもキレイに絡み合い、リズム隊も混じり合わずに「音の壁」を編み上げていく。ギャリギャリ・ゴリゴリとリフが押し寄せつつ、塊にはならないというオーディエンスの常識外なサウンドなのです。

●DISC 3：遮蔽物ゼロの体験型フル映像
そんなオリジナル録音だけでも感無量ですが、さらに映像篇も本作だけのオリジナル・マスター。しかも、とんでもない絶景映像なのです。２階席から撮影されているのですが、ステージ中央を真っ正面に見据え、最前列なのか前方客の存在感はゼロ。まるで会場空間のド真ん中にドローンを飛ばして撮っているかのような「空中席」感覚なのです。
その一方、カメラワーク的にはズームがほとんどなかったりするのですが、これも絶妙な体験感になっているから素晴らしい。様々なところで触れておりますが、昨今は誰もが撮影・編集できる時代であり、パッと見の迫力や虚仮威し的マルチカメラは珍しくなくなってきました。その反面、重視されるようになったのが「特等席の視点」と「終始一貫のフル撮影」。つまり、普通はなかなか味わえない「スゴい席」体験が求められるようになってきたのです。その意味だとズームは必ずしも必要ではない。人間の肉眼にはズーム機能などなく、そのまま素の光景がリアルな体験感を生んでくれるからです。もちろん、こうした話はズームなしでも見応えのある光景であることが絶対条件。その点でも本作は完璧なのです。

ベイエリア・スラッシュの三巨頭が一堂に会した究極ツアー“THE BAY STRIKES BACK”。ただでさえ豪華すぎるラインナップに加え、トリのTESTAMENTは「THE NEW ORDER／THE LEGACY再現」なる究極セットリストでトドメを刺してくれました。本作は、そんな王者のステージを超絶級の名手サウンドと超絶景映像で楽しめるのです。本作自体がTESTAMENTの超・決定盤ですし、同時リリースのDEATH ANGEL／EXODUS篇と併せれば、名手コレクションで豪華すぎる一夜をフル体験できる。すでに墓の中なら仕方がありませんが、地上で息をしているメタル者なら「コレを聴かずにどうずる!?」級の絶対作。さあ、どうぞ！

★「2023年９月24日Zepp DiverCity Tokyo公演」の超極上録音＋絶景フル映像をセットしたオーディエンス３枚組。西日本最強テーパー氏による超絶クオリティのフル・ライヴアルバムと、遮蔽物ゼロながら肉眼感覚の映像篇。２つの極上記録で、２大名盤『THE NEW ORDER』『THE LEGACY』を連続再現する究極のフルショウを体験できる。さらにDEATH ANGEL／EXODUS篇の姉妹作『Shades 1863』と併せれば、THE BAY STRIKES BACKでもベスト・ギグと囁かれるフルショウを完全体験できます。

Disc:1 (36:15)
THE NEW ORDER

1. Intro
2. Eerie Inhabitants
3. The New Order
4. Trial By Fire
5. Into The Pit
6. Disciples Of The Watch
7. The Preacher
8. A Day Of Reckoning
9. Musical Death (A Dirge)

Disc:2 ((50:06)
THE LEGACY

1. Over The Wall
2. The Haunting
3. Burnt Offerings
4. Raging Waters
5. C.O.T.L.O.D.
6. First Strike Is Deadly
7. Do Or Die
8. Apocalyptic City
9. Alone In The Dark

DVD

THE NEW ORDER

1. Eerie Inhabitants
2. The New Order
3. Trial By Fire
4. Into The Pit
5. Disciples Of The Watch
6. The Preacher
7. A Day Of Reckoning
8. Musical Death (A Dirge)

THE LEGACY

9. Over The Wall
10. The Haunting
11. Burnt Offerings
12. Raging Waters
13. C.O.T.L.O.D.
14. First Strike Is Deadly
15. Do Or Die
16. Apocalyptic City
17. Alone In The Dark

COLOUR NTSC Approx.84min.

Chuck Billy – Vocals
Eric Peterson – Guitar, Vocals
Alex Skolnick – Guitar
Steve Di Giorgio – Bass
Chris Dovas – Drums

Shades 1864