Exodus

Several 80's San Francisco thrash bands had successful
careers and are fondly remembered, with Exodus being
one of the best of the bunch.
The band emerged in the early 80's, with
early lineups featuring none other than Kirk Hammett, who
was directly recruited by
Metallica
following that band's firing of Dave Mustaine.
Their debut album,
Bonded By Blood, is an undisputed
thrash classic, and one of a handful of albums that would
define American thrash for the next several years.
Switching vocalists from the volatile Paul Baloff to
Steve Sousa
(who sang for
Testament in their early days, when they went by the name Legacy),
two more fine albums were released before the end of
the decade, including 1989's
Fabulous Disaster, which narrowly gets the BNR nod as their
best album.
Riding high on their success, they were awarded a major label
contract
with Capitol Records, but by then the scene had caught up to
them.
With a flood of like-minded thrash bands competing for space,
Exodus was relegated to just another band, and their two
Capitol releases,
Impact Is Imminent
and
Force Of Habit,
failed to generate the same fervor as their early works, and
by the mid-nineties the band was done.
A brief reunion with
original vocalist Baloff
happened in 1997, long enough to record and
release the
Another Lesson In Violence live album, followed
by another break in activity.
Finally, the band became active once again in late 2001, but
just as they started gathering steam, they were struck by
a tragic blow in Paul Baloff's death in January 2002.
Former vocalist Steve Sousa returned to the fold to
continue playing live in tribute to Baloff, and after a delay
or two, the long-awaited comeback studio album,
Tempo Of The Damned, was released in 2004.
Very much a classic Exodus album, the album stays true to
their roots with just enough progression to avoid the dated
tag.
To their credit, Exodus remains as relevant to the thrash scene now
as they were back in their early days, a remarkable achievement in itself.
Current Members
Rob Dukes
vocals
(Generation Kill)
Gary Holt
guitars
Lee Altus
guitars
(Heathen)
Jack Gibson
bass
(Vile)
Tom Hunting
drums
(Angel Witch)
|
Former Members/Guests
Paul Baloff
vocals
RIP: January 31, 2002, stroke
Steve Souza
vocals
(Dublin Death Patrol, Hatriot, Tenet)
Rick Hunolt
guitars
Rob McKillop
bass
Mike Butler
bass
John Tempesta
drums
(Black Label Society, Testament, White Zombie, Rob Zombie)
Paul Bostaph
drums
(Forbidden, Slayer, Systematic, Testament)
|
Discography
Bonded By Blood
1985
Torrid
|
- Bonded By Blood
- Exodus
- And Then There Were None
- A Lesson In Violence
- Metal Command
- Piranha
- No Love
- Deliver Us To Evil
- Strike Of The Beast
|
- Paul Baloff
- Gary Holt
- Rick Hunolt
- Rob McKillop
- Tom Hunting
|
1985 BNR and Internet Top Ten album
Reviews: Metal Observer
Metal Forces
Pleasures Of The Flesh
1987
Combat
|
- Deranged
- 'Til Death Do Us Part
- Parasite
- Brain Dead
- Faster than You'll Ever Live to Be
- Pleasures of the Flesh
- 30 Seconds
- Seeds Of Hate
- Chemi-kill
- Choose Your Weapon
|
- Steve Souza
- Gary Holt
- Rick Hunolt
- Rob McKillop
- Tom Hunting
|
Reviews: Metal Observer
Fabulous Disaster
1989
Combat
|
- The Last Act of Defiance
- Fabulous Disaster
- The Toxic Waltz
- Low Rider
- Cajun Hell
- Like Father, Like Son
- Corruption
- Verbal Razors
- Open Season
- Overdose
|
- Steve Souza
- Gary Holt
- Rick Hunolt
- Rob McKillop
- Tom Hunting
|
1989 BNR and Internet Top Ten album
Reviews: Metal Observer
Impact Is Imminent
1990
Capitol
|
- Impact Is Imminent
- A.W.O.L.
- The Lunatic Parade
- Within The Walls Of Chaos
- Objection Overruled
- Only Death Decides
- Heads They Win (Tails You Lose)
- Changing Of The Guard
- Thrash Under Pressure
|
- Steve Souza
- Gary Holt
- Rick Hunolt
- Rob McKillop
- John Tempesta
|
Reviews: Metal Observer
Good Friendly Violent Fun
LIVE
1991
Combat
|
- Fabulous Disaster
- Chemi-kill
- 'Til Death Do Us Part
- Toxic Waltz
- Cajun Hell
- Corruption
- Brain Dead
- Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
|
- Steve Souza
- Gary Holt
- Rick Hunolt
- Rob McKillop
- John Tempesta
|
Lessons In Violence (compilation)
1992
Combat
|
- Bonded By Blood
- Exodus
- Chemi-Kill
- The Toxic Waltz
- A Lesson In Violence
- Piranha
- Brain Dead
- Fabulous Disaster
- Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
- And Then There Were None
|
|
Force Of Habit
1992
Capitol
|
- Thorn in My Side
- Me, Myself & I
- Force of Habit
- Bitch
- Fuel For The Fire
- One Foot in the Grave
- Count Your Blessings
- Climb Before the Fall
- Architect Of Pain
- When it Rains it Pours
- Good Day to Die
- Pump It Up
- Feeding Time at the Zoo
|
- Steve Souza
- Gary Holt
- Rick Hunolt
- Mike Butler
- John Tempesta
|
Reviews: Metal Observer
Another Lesson In Violence
LIVE
1997
Century Media
|
- Bonded by Blood
- Exodus
- Pleasures of the Flesh
- And Then There Were None
- Piranha
- Seeds of Hate
- Deliver Us to Evil
- Brain Dead
- No Love
- Lesson in Violence
- Impaler
- Strike of the Beast
|
- Paul Baloff
- Gary Holt
- Rick Hunolt
- Jack Gibson
- Tom Hunting
|
Tempo Of The Damned
2004
Nuclear Blast
|
- Scar Spangled Banner
- War is My Shepherd
- Blacklist
- Shroud Of Urine
- Forward March
- Culling The Herd
- Sealed With A Fist
- Throwing Down
- Impaler
- Tempo Of The Damned
|
- Steve Souza
- Gary Holt
- Rick Hunolt
- Jack Gibson
- Tom Hunting
|
2004 BNR and Internet Top Ten album
Reviews: Blabbermouth
Chronicles Of Chaos
Lords Of Metal
Metal Observer
Shovel Headed Kill Machine
2005
Nuclear Blast
|
- Raze
- Deathamphetamine
- Karma's Messenger
- Shudder To Think
- I Am Abomination
- Altered Boy
- Going Going Gone
- Now Thy Death Day Come
- .44 Magnum Opus
- Shovel Headed Kill Machine
|
- Rob Dukes
- Gary Holt
- Lee Altus
- Jack Gibson
- Paul Bostaph
|
2005 Internet Top Ten album
Reviews: Blabbermouth
Chronicles Of Chaos
Sea Of Tranquility
Lords Of Metal
Metal Observer
The Atrocity Exhibition ... Exhibit A
2007
Nuclear Blast
|
- A Call To Arms
- Riot Act
- Funeral Hymn
- Children Of A Worthless God
- As It Was, As It Soon Shall Be
- The Atrocity Exhibition
- Iconoclasm
- The Garden Of Bleeding
- Bedlam 123
|
- Rob Dukes
- Gary Holt
- Lee Altus
- Jack Gibson
- Tom Hunting
|
2007 Internet Top Ten album
Let There Be Blood
2008
Zaentz
|
- Bonded By Blood
- Exodus
- And Then There Were None
- A Lesson In Violence
- Metal Command
- Piranha
- No Love
- Deliver Us To Evil
- Strike Of The Beast
- Hell's Breath
|
- Rob Dukes
- Gary Holt
- Lee Altus
- Jack Gibson
- Tom Hunting
|
A re-recording of "Bonded By Blood".
Reviews: Lords Of Metal
Metal Observer
Shovel Headed Tour Machine
COMPILATION
2010
Nuclear Blast
Reviews: Lords Of Metal
Exhibit B: The Human Condition
2010
Nuclear Blast
|
- The Ballad Of Leonard And Charles
- Beyond The Pale
- Hammer And Life
- Class Dismissed (A Hate Primer)
- Downfall
- March Of The Sycophants
- Nanking
- Burn, Hollywood, Burn
- Democide
- The Sun Is My Destroyer
- A Perpetual State Of Indifference
- Good Riddance
|
- Rob Dukes
- Gary Holt
- Lee Altus
- Jack Gibson
- Tom Hunting
|
2010 Internet Top Ten album
Reviews: Blabbermouth
Lords Of Metal
Metal Underground
Metal Observer