An Evening with Testament

5/25/2025 - House of Blues - San Diego, California.

An Evening with Testament – San Diego, House of Blues

San Diego got absolutely wrecked in the best way possible by thrash metal legends Testament as they closed out their tour with a sold-out banger at the House of Blues. No openers, no filler, just two straight hours of pure Testament madness. The venue's pit tucked below ground level gave the whole show an underground energy that felt gritty and real. The mood was set for chaos as fog machines were working overtime and lights were exploding from every angle.

From the second the band hit the stage to Ozzy’s “No More Tears,” the crowd was already pumped. As soon as they launched into “Practice What You Preach,” I could not tell you how intense the energy was from the crowd. Mosh pits broke out instantly. Crowd surfers flew overhead like it was 1989 all over again. Every single person in that room whether they were rocking battle vests or there with their metalhead parents, was screaming every word back at the band.

They played the entire Practice What You Preach album front to back. And honestly? It ruled. After the first few tracks, Chuck Billy paused to chat with the crowd. He told stories of the early days: scraping by as young musicians, partying too hard, and the moment they realized they could finally survive on music alone. It wasn’t just a set, it felt like a hangout with old friends who had wild stories to tell. One of those friends? None other than Jose Mangin, who hopped on stage to share how his first-ever radio interview was with Testament. It was a sweet, nostalgic moment that somehow fit perfectly into the mayhem.

After ripping through the album, they dropped something unexpected: an acoustic set. The vibe shifted but never slowed. Chuck joked about how weird it felt, saying it was like “playing with your ballsack out.” The crowd laughed, but everyone still leaned in for the stripped-down versions.

Then came the deep cuts. “Rise Up,” “Native Blood,” “Return to Serenity.” Every track hit hard. Even when Chuck messed up the lyrics to “The Legacy,” the crowd just cheered louder. They let fans vote between “Formation of Damnation” and “D.N.R.” and when “D.N.R.” won out the place went nuclear.

Chuck shredded the air guitar like a frontman possessed while Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick tore through riffs like machines. Steve Di Giorgio on bass and drummer Chris Dovas kept the whole thing locked down tight.

It wasn’t just a concert, it was a celebration of survival, power, and lifelong friendship. Testament didn’t just end the tour, they buried it six feet deep and San Diego was there for the funeral.