Exodus

"Shovel Headed Killmachine"

Rating:                               

Reviewed by:

Sebastian Bullhorn

Here it is, the new Exodus. After 2004’s amazing “Tempo of the Damned” (best comeback since Al Pacino), my expectations are higher than Amsterdam on a Saturday night.

The first song, “Raze”, starts out pretty promising. Down-tuned guitars but it’s definitely Exodus the way we remember them from “Tempo…”. Then the first let-down: the new singer. He doesn’t exactly have what you’d call a one-of-a-kind voice, which, love them or hate them, was without a doubt the case with both Paul Baloff and Steve Zetro Souza. This fella sounds like a million other angry metalcore singers. Most of the riffs are trademark Gary Holt stuff, and they’d better be, considering he’s the only one left of the “real” Exodus. Kudos to the drummer, Paul Bostaph from Slayer. If I didn’t know Tom Hunting was out, I would have believed it was him beating up the kit in a heartbeat.

“Deathamphetamine” is a “Scar-spangled Banner” part 2. Just old-fashioned thrash with a little modern extra aggression. The twin guitar leads are still there, thank God! Let’s just pretend Rick Hunolt is still there. Sorry, new guy on the guitar, but I love my old Exodus and I plan to keep them. Even if it’s only in my imagination. This song kicks quite some ass, the slow parts are very catchy and dismal as fuck, and the rest is just pure thrashing madness very few bands are capable of delivering these days.

“Karma’s Messenger” reminds me A LOT of “Fabulous Disaster”, which is not necessarily a bad thing since that was one of the best songs they ever wrote. This song is the most old-school on the album so far. Take away some of the screaming and the production and you’ve got a song that would have fit perfectly on either “Fabulous Disaster” or “Impact Is Imminent”.

The next track, “Shudder To Think”, is the worst one yet. It’s a slow song which wouldn’t be too bad if it had any of the class older Exodus “ballads” had. It sounds like they’re just trying too hard to be heavy at all times. Then out of nowhere some trademark harmony guitars force me to take back my verdict, but that part only saves the song from being a complete failure, it’s still weak. Same problem with “I Am Abomination”. Not bad, but it takes a lot more for an Exodus song to be considered good enough for me than “not bad”. Definitely below par.

“Altered Boy” is a little better but still nothing to write home about. Maybe I just need to get used to the fact that the Exodus of the 21st century has lost a lot of its melodic approach, as sad as it is. With faster drumming this could almost qualify as death metal at times.

Finally it’s time for some real thrash again. “Going Gone Good” might even be the best song on here. Great verse and the anthemic mid-tempo chorus almost makes you forget it’s not 1987 anymore. Even the vocals have a distinct Zetro touch to them. I love it! Cool guitar leads top off one of the best Exodus songs since “Impact Is Imminent”. I’m even tempted to bang my head, although that’s rather ridiculous when you’re alone. Ah, fuck it, no one can see me after all, and you’re not gonna tell anyone, right?

The next song, "Now Thy Death Day Come", is as heavy as it gets, but again, it sounds to me like they’re trying too hard. There are way too many aggro-death-core bands out there already. Nothing against aggressive music, just listen to this next one instead - ''44 Magnum Opus" - the perfect soundtrack to beat innocent people to a bloody pulp, just without sounding like a band wearing masks to appear edgy and evil. Actually, this is what Slayer were probably going for with their latest record but didn’t manage to do half as good. It’s what Slayer should sound like nowadays. I’m rather proud of my discovery here. This song has “modern Slayer” written all over it. Just that it doesn’t suck, mind you.

The album closes with another brutal song, the title track “Shovel Headed Killmachine”, and the CD's weak middle songs are thus immediately forgotten. This song even has some of those cool “gang vocals” no self-respecting thrash chorus in the 80’s could ever do without, making me realize how much I missed that particular element on this record overall. Much like rock needs more cowbell, thrash needs more gang vocals, think about it!

To be honest, I was disappointed with this album at first, thinking it was nowhere near as good as its predecessor, “Tempo of the Damned”. But now that I have listened to it a few times I have to admit that it’s another great thrash record from Exodus, just slightly more modern sounding than before.

Actually, I think this could even appeal to nu-metal fans, would they give it a chance.

But that would probably require a brain.

Too bad.

Artwork used by permission of Neverland Music Inc.