Testament Are Getting Into…Cryptocurrency?

The dudes in Testament have always been smart about expanding their brand. Not only have they worked their asses off touring and promoting since their triumphant return to the forefront of thrash with 2008’s The Formation of Damnation, but they’ve also pursued unique non-musical endeavors, like vocalist Chuck Billy’s vaporizer line.

Now, Testament has partnered with PRiVCY, “a POW/POS privacy coin project, utilizing several security elements to protect the anonymity of PRiVCY users”, to host a contest with prizes that feel far more tangible than cryptocurrency.

Here’s the official statement and the prize tiers:

 “On November 14 at 14:00 UTC (7:00 AM PST), the three fans with the largest amount of purchased PRIV in their registered PRiVCY desktop or web wallet will win the three contest prizes.
The three winners will be announced on November 15 at 14:00 UTC, giving the first prize winner at least two weeks to make travel arrangements to the Decibel Metal & Beer Fest on December 1 and 2, if they live outside of the Los Angeles area. The winners will be announced at https://testamentlegions.com/privcy and through all TESTAMENT and PRiVCY social media channels.

PRIZES:
First Prize Package (for the winner AND their guest)

1. Free meet-and-greet and photos with all five members of TESTAMENT and a pre-show dinner with Chuck Billy and Eric Peterson
2. Two (2) free tickets for both festival days and includes free beer tasting ($300.00 retail value)
3. Two (2) special commemorative TESTAMENT/PRiVCY jackets featuring a unique TESTAMENT/PRiVCY graphic design
4. Two (2) special VIP backstage passes
5. The winner and their guest will watch the TESTAMENT show from a special VIP area
6. $100.00 worth of beer tickets to sample the many awesome craft beers on sale

Second Prize
A one-of-a-kind 20 x 10 foot (6 x 3 meters) autographed TESTAMENT show banner of The Formation of Damnation album cover that was used on tour with TESTAMENT around the world. Many hardcore fans and collectors of TESTAMENT memorabilia will covet this second prize more than the huge first prize.

Third Prize
A collection of autographed TESTAMENT CDs, vinyl and DVDs from their incredible 35-year discography.

You can learn about the full contest details here.

Okay, full disclosure: I know nothing about cryptocurrency. I know Mastodon sold their new album using Bitcoin, and that Silicon Valley used Napalm Death to make a Bitcoin joke, and that’s it. All I know is that it’s portrayed as a risky investment and the way of the future by others. So I can’t say whether or not Testament are doing something forward-thinking or just jumping on a popular trend here. Either way, it’s probably good marketing.

What I CAN say, from my grizzled headbanger perspective, is that this feels coooorny. Testament are a Bay Area thrash band, and this company feels like the kind of business depicted on the cover of a Bay Area thrash record, its executives smiling in their bunker while watching a video of a mushroom cloud turning a poor neighborhood into a hive of ravenous mutants. But again: I am ignorant of the realities of cryptocurrency, so I could be, and probably am, wrong.

Anyway: good luck to anyone entering Testament’s contest. If you want to know more about PRiVCY, go here. And if you want to gain access to the Decibel Metal & Beer Fest the old-fashioned way, go here.

Glasses raised to Maria Ferrero.