THRASH–DEATH STORM

East meets West: when tireless Bay Area thrashers Testament collide with Florida death metal pioneers Obituary for a co-headlining show at Z7, a massive sonic storm will shake our rock temple to its foundations. Add German thrash legends Destruction and Brazilian thrash amazons Nervosa as openers, and the killer package is complete.

Summer 2025 brings brand-new material from Testament. Frontman Chuck Billy revealed in an interview at the end of 2024 what fans can expect from the upcoming album: “I think we’re basically sticking to the typical Testament sound. There are some very brutal lyrics and more death vocals, but in between I’ve added melodic hook lines again and again. It’s definitely still our classic sound. When you hear it, you’ll say: that’s Testament – just with a bit more octane.” Founded 42 years ago under the name Legacy and operating as Testament since 1986, the Bay Area legends remain a guarantee for highly entertaining live shows and substantial releases. In recent years, the Berkeley thrashers have kicked things up another notch, releasing outstanding albums such as Dark Roots Of The Earth (2012) and Brotherhood Of The Snake (2016). Four years later, they continued seamlessly with Titans Of Creation, an album that perfectly fuses their classic ’80s sound with modern metal. Once again, Testament achieved a near-perfect balance between everything that has always defined their sound and just the right amount of experimentation. One key reason for the band’s longevity is their ability to evolve intelligently over the decades while always staying true to themselves. As Chuck Billy puts it: “We don’t have to chase trendy sounds. I constantly hear fans saying: thanks for staying true to yourselves all these years. And that’s exactly how we want to keep it.”

Obituary:
Originally formed in 1984 under the name Executioner, Obituary are without question one of the most influential bands to emerge from the Florida death metal scene. And they keep getting better: with their latest release Dying Of Everything (2023), Obituary broke into the Top 10 in both Germany and Switzerland for the first time, powerfully proving that their songwriting is as sharp as ever. Dying Of Everything stands firmly in the tradition of early Obituary classics like Slowly We Rot and Cause Of Death, while fully embracing the crushing studio sound the band have perfected in their own studio since the monstrous Xecutioner’s Return (2007). This can be heard clearly on the lead single The Wrong Time, driven by a punishing mid-tempo groove. The title track shines with massive riffs and the unmistakable songwriting of Ken Andrews, while the album’s third single My Will To Live is an absolute crusher. Track by track, Obituary reinforce their legacy as a death metal institution and deliver some of the heaviest riffs of their entire career. Like almost every album in their extensive catalogue, Dying Of Everything sticks in your head instantly – a skill Obituary have only refined over the years. It’s rare for a band that has existed since the 1980s to be doing some of its best work in the 2020s, but Obituary have achieved exactly that through their DIY mentality and relentless worldwide touring.

Destruction:
For more than 40 years, Destruction have stood like few others for uncompromising German thrash metal. As part of the legendary Big Teutonic Four, the pioneers from Weil am Rhein rank among the most influential forces in the genre – and in 2025, they’re showing no signs of slowing down. With their new album Birth Of Malice, Schmier & Co. deliver an angry manifesto packed with merciless riffs, driving grooves and furious social criticism. Songs like Destruction, Scumbag Human Race and Cyber Warfare fuse classic old-school thrash with modern production and fresh energy – straight from hell, yet razor-sharp.
On stage, this beast comes fully alive: raw power, knife-edged guitars and guaranteed neck pain. Anyone who’s seen Destruction live knows what’s coming – and what will be left of the venue afterwards.

Nervosa:
Founded in 2010 by Prika Amaral, Nervosa have stood for uncompromising thrash metal with strong classic influences from day one. After early successes, they signed with Napalm Records in 2012 and released their debut Victim of Yourself in 2014. This was followed by Agony (2016) and Downfall of Mankind (2018), accompanied by extensive world tours and appearances at major festivals such as Rock in Rio. After several line-up changes, the highly acclaimed album Perpetual Chaos was released in 2021. Fresh momentum arrived in 2023: with new guitarist Helena Kotina and Prika stepping up as frontwoman, Seed Of Death was released. The latest album Jailbreak, also released in 2023, marks yet another milestone in the band’s career.