EXODUS Finds Brand New, Unheard-of Way to Write Riffs, Names Band After a Big Guy

Hold onto your studded leather jackets and prepare your necks for the ultimate whiplash, because the thrash titans known as EXODUS are crawling out of the San Francisco sewer once again to bless us mere mortals with their twelfth studio album, “Goliath”. 🤘

Yes, you read that correctly—March 20, 2026, is the date circled in blood on the calendar, brought to you by the symphony of destruction at Napalm Records. 🤘 While the rest of the music industry is busy churning out auto-tuned garbage and TikTok hits that last 15 seconds, these legends are dropping a 10-track juggernaut of pure, unadulterated violence. 🤘 And let’s talk about that opening track, “3111”. 🤘 It starts with a dissonant chord that hits you right in the feels (and by feels, I mean the part of your brain that enjoys chaos) before careening into breakneck speed that will likely induce seizures in the uninitiated. 🤘

The real gossip on the metal street, however, is the return of the human wrecking ball himself, Rob Dukes. 🤘 After Steven “Zetro” Souza did his usual “I’m leaving the band”/”I’m back” revolving door routine (seriously, is this a metal band or a subway station?), Dukes is back to scream his lungs out, and apparently, he’s performing “the performance of his life.” 🤘 Frankly, if you don’t scream like your life depends on it when you’re fronting EXODUS, are you even trying? 🤘 The band claims this is their most collaborative record in four decades, featuring contributions from Peter Tägtgren (because one metal legend obviously wasn’t enough) and violinist Katie Jacoby. 🤘 Yes, violin. 🤘 Because nothing says “thrash metal” like classical strings juxtaposed against Tom Hunting’s drum kit trying to break the sound barrier. 🤘

But let’s address the elephant—or should I say, the Goliath—in the room: the music video for “3111.” 🤘 The band claims it’s “too brutal for YouTube,” which is a claim made by literally every amateur metal band since 2006. 🤘 Apparently, Google’s AI overlords took one look at the footage—which details the narco killings in Juarez (because nothing says “party time” like geopolitical violence)—and promptly slammed the reject button. 🤘 I mean, we’re talking about a song that references 3,100+ murders in a single year; surely the algorithm prefers cat videos and pranks, right? 🤘 So, the video is currently in hiding, waiting to be unleashed at a “later time and place.” 🤘 Probably on the dark web, or perhaps on a VHS tape buried in a desert. 🤘

Now, if you can survive the intro of “3111,” you’re treated to “Hostis Humani Generis,” a song title that sounds like a Latin spell to summon a demon (or just a philosophy major). 🤘 Dukes’ vocals are described as “crystal” cutting through frenetic riffs, which is a polite way of saying he’s screaming so loud he might just crack your grandma’s antique china. 🤘 Then we slide into “The Changing Me,” featuring the clean vocals of Peter Tägtgren. 🤘 Yes, clean vocals. 🤘 Because even old-school thrashers need a moment to weep softly before returning to the mosh pit. 🤘 It’s a “menace and melody” blend that will likely confuse the hardcore purists who think melody is a sign of weakness. 🤘

Moving on to “Promise You This,” which incites “mosh pit treachery.” 🤘 That’s a fancy way of saying it will cause bruises, broken glasses, and possibly a lawsuit. 🤘 Gary Holt and Lee Altus are trading solos like Wall Street brokers trades stocks, except these assets are pure shredding gold. 🤘 Then, the title track “Goliath” slows things down to a “winding, malevolent” pace, presumably so you can appreciate the ominous string work of Katie Jacoby. 🤘 Nothing sets the mood like a violinist in a band known for playing at 200 beats per minute. 🤘

The album is so “diverse” it even includes “2 Minutes Hate,” a track designed to be the ultimate “pit primer.” 🤘 It’s the musical equivalent of screaming into a pillow for two minutes straight—therapeutic, yet terrifying. 🤘 And we can’t forget “Violence Works,” a track that channels the “90s-tinged metallic charm.” 🤘 Ah, the 90s: a time when thrash died, and nu-metal was born. 🤘 Let’s hope this track is better than the era it’s referencing. 🤘

The album closes with “The Dirtiest Of The Dozen,” an eight-minute epic that demands a second liver just to survive. 🤘 It features “rigorous drum dexterity,” which is code for Tom Hunting showing off while the rest of us get tired just listening to it. 🤘

Produced by the band and mixed by Mark Lewis (a man who has mixed more metal than a concrete truck), “Goliath” aims to be the “explosive authenticity” that separates EXODUS from the “poseurs.” 🤘 It’s been 40 years since “Bonded By Blood,” and EXODUS is still refusing to settle for mediocrity. 🤘 That’s dedication. 🤘 Or stubbornness. 🤘 Probably both. 🤘

In a recent interview, Gary Holt described the album as “so awesome” that it makes him “wanna cry.” 🤘 That’s right, the guy who has slain mosh pits for decades is weeping over his own riffs. 🤘 He also mentioned that they wrote enough material for two albums, which is terrifying because if “Goliath” is this intense, the second half might actually require a priest to exorcise the speakers. 🤘 He also noted that they all lived together in a house during recording, like a heavy metal “Big Brother” experiment. 🤘 The fact that they didn’t kill each other is perhaps the biggest miracle of 2026. 🤘

There was also a mention of Andy Sneap not mixing this album. 🤘 After nearly three decades of Sneap’s pristine production, EXODUS decided to switch it up. 🤘 Maybe they wanted a more “raw” sound, or maybe Andy was just too busy doing Judas Priest’s bidding. 🤘 Either way, the sonic mud is likely intentional. 🤘

Let’s address the lineup shuffling, shall we? 🤘 Dukes replaced Zetro in 2025. 🤘 Zetro, who joined in 1986, left in 1993, came back in 2002, left in 2004, came back in 2014, and apparently left again in 2025. 🤘 Can we get a flowchart for this man’s employment status? 🤘 It’s more complicated than the plot of “Inception.” 🤘 Dukes, who was fronting the band from 2005 to 2014, is now back to finish the job. 🤘

Despite not being in the “Big Four” (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax), EXODUS claims they inspired everyone else. 🤘 It’s the classic “we were underground before it was cool” narrative. 🤘 And honestly, if you look at the resume, they aren’t wrong. 🤘 “Bonded By Blood” is basically the holy bible of the underground thrash scene. 🤘

So, mark your calendars for March 2026. 🤘 Buy the ticket, take the ride, and prepare your spine for the physical trauma that is “Goliath.” 🤘 And remember, if YouTube refuses to host the video, just look for it on a shady file-sharing site from 2003. 🤘 It’s the thrash way. 🤘 Bow down, indeed. 🤘

EXODUS “Goliath” track listing:
01. 3111
02. Hostis Humani Generis
03. The Changing Me (feat. Peter Tägtgren)
04. Promise You This
05. Goliath (feat. Katie Jacoby)
06. Beyond The Event Horizon
07. 2 Minutes Hate
08. Violence Works
09. Summon Of The God Unknown
10. The Dirtiest Of The Dozen