Origin: San Francisco, California, USA  
Genres: Thrash Metal
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Last update/review: June 7, 2024

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 Souza (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. Souza 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, signalling the true rebirth of the band. Another vocalist switched ensued, with newcomer Rob Dukes at the mic, and Exodus charged forward, with a more intense, modern take on thrash metal. A third reunion with Souza at first seemed out of the question, but eventually he did return to the band yet again, in time to record 2014's Blood In, Blood Out.

Current Members

Steve Souza

vocals (Dublin Death Patrol, ex-Hatriot, ex-Tenet)

Gary Holt

guitars (Slayer)

Lee Altus

guitars (ex-Die Krupps, Heathen)

Jack Gibson

bass (Category 7, Vile)

Tom Hunting

drums (ex-Angel Witch)

Former Members/Guests

Paul Baloff

vocals RIP: January 31, 2002, stroke, age 41

Rob Dukes

vocals (Generation Kill)

Rick Hunolt

guitars

Rob McKillop

bass

Mike Butler

bass

John Tempesta

drums (ex-Black Label Society, Motor Sister, ex-Testament, ex-White Zombie, ex-Rob Zombie)

Paul Bostaph

drums (ex-Forbidden, Impellitteri, Kerry King, Slayer, ex-Systematic, ex-Testament)



Discography



Bonded By Blood  
1985 Torrid
  1. Bonded By Blood
  2. Exodus
  3. And Then There Were None
  4. A Lesson In Violence
  5. Metal Command
  6. Piranha
  7. No Love
  8. Deliver Us To Evil
  9. Strike Of The Beast
  • Paul Baloff
  • Gary Holt
  • Rick Hunolt
  • Rob McKillop
  • Tom Hunting
1985 Readers' Album #2





Pleasures Of The Flesh  
1987 Combat
  1. Deranged
  2. 'Til Death Do Us Part
  3. Parasite
  4. Brain Dead
  5. Faster than You'll Ever Live to Be
  6. Pleasures of the Flesh
  7. 30 Seconds
  8. Seeds Of Hate
  9. Chemi-kill
  10. Choose Your Weapon
  • Steve Souza
  • Gary Holt
  • Rick Hunolt
  • Rob McKillop
  • Tom Hunting



Fabulous Disaster  
1989 Combat
  1. The Last Act of Defiance
  2. Fabulous Disaster
  3. The Toxic Waltz
  4. Low Rider
  5. Cajun Hell
  6. Like Father, Like Son
  7. Corruption
  8. Verbal Razors
  9. Open Season
  10. Overdose
  • Steve Souza
  • Gary Holt
  • Rick Hunolt
  • Rob McKillop
  • Tom Hunting
1989 Readers' Album #3





Impact Is Imminent  
1990 Capitol
  1. Impact Is Imminent
  2. A.W.O.L.
  3. The Lunatic Parade
  4. Within The Walls Of Chaos
  5. Objection Overruled
  6. Only Death Decides
  7. Heads They Win (Tails You Lose)
  8. Changing Of The Guard
  9. Thrash Under Pressure
  • Steve Souza
  • Gary Holt
  • Rick Hunolt
  • Rob McKillop
  • John Tempesta
1990 Readers' Album #40




Good Friendly Violent Fun  LIVE
1991 Combat
  1. Fabulous Disaster
  2. Chemi-kill
  3. 'Til Death Do Us Part
  4. Toxic Waltz
  5. Cajun Hell
  6. Corruption
  7. Brain Dead
  8. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
  • Steve Souza
  • Gary Holt
  • Rick Hunolt
  • Rob McKillop
  • John Tempesta



Lessons In Violence  COMPILATION
1992 Combat
  1. Bonded By Blood
  2. Exodus
  3. Chemi-Kill
  4. The Toxic Waltz
  5. A Lesson In Violence
  6. Piranha
  7. Brain Dead
  8. Fabulous Disaster
  9. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
  10. And Then There Were None



Force Of Habit  
1992 Capitol
  1. Thorn in My Side
  2. Me, Myself & I
  3. Force of Habit
  4. Bitch
  5. Fuel For The Fire
  6. One Foot in the Grave
  7. Count Your Blessings
  8. Climb Before the Fall
  9. Architect Of Pain
  10. When it Rains it Pours
  11. Good Day to Die
  12. Pump It Up
  13. Feeding Time at the Zoo
  • Steve Souza
  • Gary Holt
  • Rick Hunolt
  • Mike Butler
  • John Tempesta
1992 Readers' Album #36




Another Lesson In Violence  LIVE
1997 Century Media
  1. Bonded by Blood
  2. Exodus
  3. Pleasures of the Flesh
  4. And Then There Were None
  5. Piranha
  6. Seeds of Hate
  7. Deliver Us to Evil
  8. Brain Dead
  9. No Love
  10. Lesson in Violence
  11. Impaler
  12. Strike of the Beast
  • Paul Baloff
  • Gary Holt
  • Rick Hunolt
  • Jack Gibson
  • Tom Hunting
1997 Readers' Album #74




Tempo Of The Damned  
2004 Nuclear Blast
  1. Scar Spangled Banner
  2. War is My Shepherd
  3. Blacklist
  4. Shroud Of Urine
  5. Forward March
  6. Culling The Herd
  7. Sealed With A Fist
  8. Throwing Down
  9. Impaler
  10. Tempo Of The Damned
  • Steve Souza
  • Gary Holt
  • Rick Hunolt
  • Jack Gibson
  • Tom Hunting
2004 Readers' Album #2




Shovel Headed Kill Machine  
2005 Nuclear Blast
  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
  • Rob Dukes
  • Gary Holt
  • Lee Altus
  • Jack Gibson
  • Paul Bostaph
2005 Readers' Album #4




The Atrocity Exhibition ... Exhibit A  
2007 Nuclear Blast
  1. A Call To Arms
  2. Riot Act
  3. Funeral Hymn
  4. Children Of A Worthless God
  5. As It Was, As It Soon Shall Be
  6. The Atrocity Exhibition
  7. Iconoclasm
  8. The Garden Of Bleeding
  9. Bedlam 123
  • Rob Dukes
  • Gary Holt
  • Lee Altus
  • Jack Gibson
  • Tom Hunting
2007 Readers' Album #3




Let There Be Blood  
2008 Zaentz
  1. Bonded By Blood
  2. Exodus
  3. And Then There Were None
  4. A Lesson In Violence
  5. Metal Command
  6. Piranha
  7. No Love
  8. Deliver Us To Evil
  9. Strike Of The Beast
  10. Hell's Breath
  • Rob Dukes
  • Gary Holt
  • Lee Altus
  • Jack Gibson
  • Tom Hunting
A re recording of "Bonded By Blood". 2008 Readers' Album #18




Shovel Headed Tour Machine  COMPILATION
2010 Nuclear Blast



Exhibit B: The Human Condition  
2010 Nuclear Blast
  1. The Ballad Of Leonard And Charles
  2. Beyond The Pale
  3. Hammer And Life
  4. Class Dismissed (A Hate Primer)
  5. Downfall
  6. March Of The Sycophants
  7. Nanking
  8. Burn, Hollywood, Burn
  9. Democide
  10. The Sun Is My Destroyer
  11. A Perpetual State Of Indifference
  12. Good Riddance
  • Rob Dukes
  • Gary Holt
  • Lee Altus
  • Jack Gibson
  • Tom Hunting
2010 Readers' Album #4




Blood In, Blood Out  
2014 Nuclear Blast
  1. Black 13
  2. Blood In, Blood Out
  3. Collateral Damage
  4. Salt In The Wound
  5. Body Harvest
  6. BTK
  7. Wrapped In The Arms Of Rage
  8. My Last Nerve
  9. Numb
  10. Honor Killings
  11. Food For The Worms
  • Steve Souza
  • Gary Holt
  • Lee Altus
  • Jack Gibson
  • Tom Hunting
2014 Readers' Album #1





Persona Non Grata  
2021 Nuclear Blast
  1. Persona Non Grata
  2. R.E.M.F.
  3. Slipping into Madness
  4. Elitist
  5. Prescribing Horror
  6. The Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves)
  7. The Years of Death and Dying
  8. Clickbait
  9. Cosa del Pantano
  10. Lunatic-Liar-Lord
  11. The Fires of Division
  12. Antiseed
  • Steve Souza
  • Gary Holt
  • Lee Altus
  • Jack Gibson
  • Tom Hunting



British Disaster: The Battle Of '89 (Live At The Astoria)  LIVE
2024 Nuclear Blast
  1. The Last Act of Defiance
  2. Fabulous Disaster
  3. 'Til Death Do Us Part
  4. Corruption
  5. The Toxic Waltz
  6. A Lesson in Violence
  7. Chemi-Kill
  8. Piranha
  9. Like Father, Like Son
  10. Deliver Us to Evil
  11. Parasite
  12. And Then There Were None
  13. Verbal Razors
  14. Brain Dead
  15. Strike of the Beast
  • Steve Souza
  • Gary Holt
  • Rick Hunolt
  • Rob McKillop
  • Tom Hunting




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