"The New Order was the album that broke Testament into the thrash metal mainstream, back by its only single "Trial by Fire" which featured a music video, as did the cover of Aerosmith's "Nobody's Fault".

The album contains many songs that the band still plays live to this day including "Into the Pit", "The Preacher", "The New Order", "Disciples of the Watch", and "Trial by Fire".

[3] One of Testament's earliest songs dating back to their period as Legacy, "Reign of Terror", was reportedly recorded during the sessions of The New Order, but was left off the album.

AllMusic's Alex Henderson awards the album four-and-a-half stars out of five, and claims that Testament "delivered its best offering ever" and describes it as "every bit as brutally forceful as The Legacy."

[17] This was followed by a summer U.S. tour, which featured support from Vio-Lence, Forbidden, Voivod, Sanctuary, Destruction, Overkill, Nuclear Assault, Carnivore, Death Angel, Atheist and Potential Threat.