Testament Frontman Chuck Billy Reveals Metallica’s James Hetfield Remains His Primary Songwriting Influence

The bond between the giants of the Bay Area thrash metal scene remains unbreakable more than four decades after the genre’s inception. In a recent interview, Testament vocalist Chuck Billy opened up about the enduring impact of his peers, specifically citing Metallica frontman James Hetfield as a critical touchstone for his own creative process.

Despite Testament carving out their own legendary path with seminal albums like The Legacy and The New Order, Billy admitted that he still looks to Hetfield for guidance when crafting lyrics and vocal patterns.

“James has always been a huge influence on me as a songwriter and for his style in the stories he tells,” Billy told Blabbermouth. “Whenever I still write, I say, ‘What would James do?’ I like his style of metal and his style of singing.”

This influence recently came full circle when Testament recorded a cover of Metallica‘s anthem “Seek & Destroy” for the tribute compilation No Life ‘Til Leather – A Tribute To Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All.

Billy‘s comments come amidst a busy period for Testament, who released their fourteenth studio album, Para Bellum, in October via Nuclear Blast. The record represents a rejuvenated chapter for the band, largely fueled by the arrival of their new drummer, Chris Dovas.

Dovas, a 26-year-old Berklee College of Music graduate, joined the band in 2023 following the departure of Dave Lombardo. His youthful energy and technical prowess proved vital during the writing sessions for Para Bellum. According to Billy, Dovas spent extensive time working one-on-one with guitarist Eric Peterson, pushing the band into heavier and more varied territories.

“He may have inspired Eric to write and push himself to do something more aggressive,” Billy noted in the same interview regarding the new album. “They let it flow, and Eric came from all directions.”

The result is an album that balances the band’s signature groove with surprising elements, including black metal-inspired riffing on tracks like “For The Love Of Pain” and an epic, orchestrated ballad titled “Meant To Be.”

“It came down to Eric and Chris putting a lot of time and effort into the music of this record and the variety of songs,” Billy added. “They weren’t stuck in one pattern, one theme.”