When people talk about the Big Four of the genre that Metallica invented (yes, they did), the conversation invariably moves on to who would be the fifth band on the list of Thrash Metal titans. Testament? Overkill? Violence? Dark Angel? Nuclear Assault? Death Angel? All great bands, of course, but this scribe’s choice will always be Bay Area bangers Exodus.
Exodus – Goliath
Release Date: 20 March 2026
Words: Kenny Kendrick
I genuinely believe that if their debut LP, Bonded By Blood, was released in 1984 when it was ready, instead of 1985 due to business and creative setbacks, we would be talking about Exodus in way more revered terms than we do.
I have been fortunate to witness the band a few times over the last ten years or so (with the now departed vocalist Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza), and I have been blown away by the band’s power in a live setting. The band’s previous two LPs, Blood In, Blood Out (2014) and Persona Non Grata (2021), were on heavy rotation in Kendrick towers, absolute Thrash Metal bangers.
I have been eager to devour the latest LP, appropriately titled Goliath, since it was announced that ex-vocalist Rob Dukes was back in the fray.
In Goliath, we have ten tracks of ferociousness that prove that Exodus are as relevant now as they have ever been. Dukes is like a man possessed. His guttural screams and barking vocal style fit the monstrous riffs and blistering drumming perfectly. The guitar duo of part-time Slayer shredder and Exodus founder Gary Holt with Lee Altus is something to behold. The riffs just keep coming.
From the intensity of the opening track 3111, the album keeps climbing like Alex Honnold [Google him, kids]. Hostis Humani Generis does not give you a chance to draw breath, and while we are on the subject of elite athletes, can we all take a moment and salute drummer Tom Hunting, please? For a man who has been fighting cancer, his performance is astonishing. A true legend of Thrash Metal drumming. Stay well, Tom.
The Changing Me is a mid-tempo headbanging beast of a track with a catchy (yes, I know!) chorus. Promise You This is a guaranteed mosh pit opener with its swirling riff.
The album’s title track is the closest Exodus has ever come to Doom Metal. I am getting Cathedral/Candlemass vibes. Fantastic stuff. We even get a string section courtesy of Katie Jacoby, and it works perfectly.
Beyond The Event Horizon gets us firmly back in the Thrash lane, holy crap, this stuff is awesome. I also love THAT bass sound that you only tend to hear in the Thrash genre. Jack Gibson is as solid as a solid thing. Superb.
2 Minutes Hate stabs and crunches along, another great track. Violence Works has an almost funk feel to it. Yes, I know, it does, honestly! It is also super-heavy at the same time. Do not panic, thrashers.
Summon Of The God Unknown takes us back to familiar ground with a super crunchy riff, complemented by Duke’s spitting out of the lyrics. Final track The Dirtiest Of The Dozen (great title!) has some Maiden-esque twin lead work before we get stamped on by the relentless riffing. It really is powerful stuff.
As you probably gathered, I love this record. The only gripe I have is that the production is missing the Andy Sneap touch. Sneap’s masterful production has been a mainstay since the 2007 album, The Atrocity Exhibition…Exhibit A.
Do not get me wrong. Mark Lewis has done a sterling job with Goliath. It is just missing that Sneap magic dust.
As Paul Hutchings said in his MetalTalk interview with Gary Holt, “the new album is killer, one of their best for some time.” Spot on.
Exodus are currently on the road with Megadeth and Anthrax in the States. They hit UK shores with Kreator and Carcass towards the end of March.
Goliath will be released on 20 March 2026 via Napalm Records. It is available on all formats. Pre-orders are available from lnk.to/Exodus-Goliath/napalmrecords.
