Exodus
Exhibit B: The Human Condition

Try to think of the musicians you listen to as friends. Take a moment to reflect on this, then start outlining the characters of each one, starting with those closest to you. You'll notice that all the bands you listen to, and consequently the music they create, have their own character. Well, as you surely know, it often happens to lose sight of friends, perhaps not even knowing why, only to run into them on the street years later and enjoy a nice reunion.

That's what happened to me with Exodus. I was browsing my records, looking for something to listen to when I came across "Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A" and listened to it again. Deciding it was a damn masterpiece, I wondered if, three years after its release, maybe Exodus had released an "Exhibit B."

And there it is, among the other Metal records now, next to its predecessor, its musical twin. After listening to "The Human Condition" once in streaming, I was really pleased, so much so that I bought it. What made me so happy?

For starters, this album is a punch, especially for someone who's been listening to Fleet Foxes and Mumford & Sons. A punch not one of those that kills you, mind you. This is a more subtle punch. This is a punch that at the moment doesn't feel like much, then, after over 70 minutes of music, it leaves you with a terrible headache and bleeding ears.

This time, Exodus doesn't even bother with an epic intro like last time. Nah. This time, nothing more than half a minute of guitar arpeggio and then BAM!, you're in trouble. Oh yes, because the first song of "Exhibit B" is not there by mistake. It's a warning. Be careful, we're not joking here; there's still time to run away. "The Ballad Of Leonard And Charles" indeed perfectly represents the entire album: compactness, heaviness, and viciousness are the watchwords. No compromises, we're not Metallica. And the violent display continues, with a slight slowdown in the middle part of the album where the more "catchy" or otherwise good live chorus sections make their space. The lengthy "The Sun Is My Destroyer", a direct offspring of "Children Of A Worthless God" from the previous album, is remarkable. "A Perpetual State Of Indifference", an amusing instrumental that's a bit too calm, introduces us to the final, violently splendid "Good Riddance", a worthy concluding chapter of this atrocity exhibition.

Conclusion? If you like Exodus and you liked "Exhibit A" (which might be slightly superior), get this record, a worthy continuation of a remarkable return of the great Metal names like Overkill and Fear Factory. Special mention to the amazing cover art.

Rating: 4+