Exodus

Once the kings of the Bay Area metal scene – the birthplace of thrash – Exodus were unceremoniously demoted from their post with the arrival of Los Angeles' Metallica in 1982. And while they proceeded to eke out a hit-and-miss career of their own over the next few decades, all the while influencing at least two separate generations of younger thrash bands, Exodus were ultimately fated to be the ultimate also-rans of the genre they helped spawn…

Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1979 in Richmond, California. The band has gone through numerous lineup changes, two extended hiatuses, and the deaths of two former band members. Their current lineup consists of guitarists Gary Holt and Lee Altus, bassist Jack Gibson, drummer Tom Hunting, and lead vocalist Steve "Zetro" Souza. Hunting is one of the original members, and departed from Exodus twice, in 1989 and 2004, but rejoined in 2007…

Recorded in London following an attempt on his life, Exodus shows Bob Marley mellowing a bit. Despite some powerful political tracks, Marley adopts a less fiery, more reflective approach than his previous outings…

Extensive lineup changes have caused some metal bands to fall apart creatively, while others have a way of bouncing back; it's safe to say that Exodus falls into the second category. The Bay Area thrash veterans have had their share of lineup changes over the years, but thankfully, Exodus have demonstrated that even when they stumble, one should never count them out…

It's obvious from the greasy opening blues vibe in "Exodus of Venus," the title track of Elizabeth Cook's first album in six years, that something is very different. Produced by guitarist Dexter Green, this set is heavier, darker, and harder than anything she's released before. Its 11 songs are performed by a crack band that includes bassist Willie Weeks, drummer Matt Chamberlain, keyboardist Ralph Lofton, and lap steel guitarist Jesse Aycock…

The veteran San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal legends' tenth studio album is also their first long-layer to feature the singing/screaming talents of Steve "Zetro" Souza since 2004's Tempo of the Damned – Rob Dukes, who handled vocal duties on the band's four prior outings, split with the group in the summer of 2014…

Had it been released immediately after it was recorded in 1984, Exodus' Bonded by Blood might be regarded today alongside Metallica's Kill 'em All as one of the landmark albums responsible for launching the thrash metal wave. But by the time it finally hit the streets more than a year later due to numerous record company-related difficulties, the genre the band helped spawn had evolved at an alarming rate (again, largely thanks to the unstoppable Metallica) and Exodus were left to wonder what kind of impact they may have had without these setbacks…