Exodus
Shovel Headed Kill Machine

THE REVIEW

With the big names of metal living off their past glory both in studio and live for years now, it's undeniable that Exodus are one of the few exceptions to the rule. A legendary name in American thrash metal from the Eighties, they've never enjoyed particular recognition, often remembered more for the brief appearance of a young Kirk Hammett at the start of their career than for their actual studio efforts. While the importance of an album like "Bonded by Blood" is still recognized even thirty years after its release, the five from Frisco have never been able to aspire to the status of the usual Megadeth or Metallica. After a tumultuous decade in the Nineties, with breakups and fleeting reunions that led nowhere, Gary Holt and the band returned for good in the early 2000s, a period when old-school thrash began to make a comeback, thanks in part to new generations of metalheads who, perhaps tired of the alternative and nu-metal that had dominated for a while, began to reassess older sounds. Since luck is blind but misfortune has 20/20 vision, at a time when good fortune seemed to smile on the Americans, a staggering series of pitfalls came crashing down on them one after another. Paul Baloff, the iconic voice from their beginnings, died of a heart attack, and Steve Souza, who rejoined the group just in time, helped record "Tempo of the Damned" in 2004, one of the quintet's most beautiful albums, only to slam the door in the middle of a tour, forcing the remaining ex-colleagues to recruit last-minute replacements to honor their commitments. Meanwhile, the group, painstakingly rebuilt, literally exploded, with the legendary Tom Hunting and Rick Hunolt leaving within a few months. Where a somewhat reasonable person might have had a nervous breakdown, the good Gary Holt instead had the patience to start from scratch and put together an entirely new lineup that encapsulated the best of the San Francisco thrash scene, while also producing one of the best albums of his career, an album that would become a true symbol of 2000s thrash, "Shovel Headed Kill Machine". While the newcomers Paul Bostaph and Lee Altus are guarantees, the real bet won is that related to Rob Dukes, a former guitar tech "promoted" to singer, who manages, thanks to a scathing voice, not to look out of place alongside much more illustrious colleagues. Since analyzing individual tracks is useless, as the album, to be appreciated, should be listened to in its entirety, it's interesting to focus on the similarities and differences between this work and its immediate predecessor. If "Tempo of the Damned" was characterized by a certain attention to melodies, the current incarnation of Exodus focuses entirely on aggressiveness, with tracks like "Raze" or "Now Thy Death Day Come" that, also thanks to a top-notch rhythm section, prove to be some of the most violent from the American combo, aided by the "usual" texts by Mr. Holt, overflowing with disillusionment and cynicism. Another aspect to highlight is the structure of the tracks, long and complex, something never before seen in the group's discography, laying the groundwork for a discourse that would reach its peak in the next two studio efforts, the two "Exhibit" albums released between 2007 and 2010, with various tracks often exceeding even the eight-minute mark. As for Gary Holt's performance, there's little to say; it is truly outstanding, with the American guitarist seamlessly switching between rhythm and blazing solos, exchanged time and again with his comrade Altus. At the time of its release, this disc was hailed as a half-miracle, a masterpiece of modern metal, born moreover in far from simple conditions, showcasing a cohesive and energetic group, possibly one of the few still with something to say more than twenty years after their debut, thanks to an album that combined technique and great compositional skills. Since "Shovel Headed Kill Machine", the Exodus tank hasn't stopped, always blasting against everything and everyone. In recent weeks, the five Californians have released the new "Blood In, Blood Out", this time again with Steve Souza at the microphone, welcomed once again like a miracle, and with Exodus already ready to get their Panzer rolling across stages worldwide. And the slaughter continues.

Exodus:

• Rob Dukes, vocals
• Gary Holt, guitars
• Lee Altus, guitars
• Jack Gibson, bass
• Paul Bostaph, drums

"Shovel Headed Kill Machine":

1. Raze
2. Deathamphetamine
3. Karma's Messenger
4. Shudder to Think
5. I Am Abomination
6. Altered Boy
7. Going Going Gone
8. Now Thy Death Day Come
9. .44 Magnum Opus
10. Shovel Headed Kill Machine