yeah, it is, but i started listening to metal in '90-91, so this was the 1st record i've heard from them, and i found it brilliant back then. i consider the gathering and the ritual way better records, though. the gathering is a devastating beast of an album with murphy, lombardo and digiorgio on bass. the ritual is like load for metallica: not typical testament at all, slower, softer, more melodic, but songwriting is top notch. also, skolnick delivers his best solos on ritual.