Given up for dead over a decade earlier, the mighty
Exodus
-- the original kings of
thrash
metal
-- made an unexpected but long-rumored return in 2004 with the release of their sixth studio album,
Tempo of the Damned
. But what had been intended as a long-awaited reunion of their seminal
Bonded by Blood
lineup was tragically thwarted with the sudden death of vocalist
Paul Baloff
in early 2002. Fittingly,
Baloff
was duly supplanted by none other than
Steve "Zetro" Souza
, the man who'd replaced him in the first place and who had gone on to sing on every
album thereafter, including their mid-period
classic
Fabulous Disaster
. Of course the fact that
Souza
was clearly the better and more reliable vocalist (albeit not as fun a character as
) should not be overlooked, and with the welcome involvement of long-gone founding drummer
Tom Hunting
,
still serves as quite the family reunion. It also doesn't disappoint musically, picking up the pieces right where the band's star-crossed career had fallen apart 11 years earlier with the underrated
Force of Habit
, and turning in a performance that is, at once, vintage
and mindful of modern recording standards as well. All of the old, much loved
hallmarks are here: lyrics filled with biting, sarcastic social commentary; no-fuss, jagged
thrash metal
; and unparalleled technical precision.
As has always been the case, it's the dazzling six-string tag team of
Rick Hunolt
and
Gary Holt
(quite simply the tightest rhythm guitar duo in the history of
--
Slayer
included) that truly drives the
bullet train over lightning runs like
"Scar Spangled Banner"
and the wonderfully retro-named
"Impaler."
Their solos are as musical as the riffing is not, and, as heard on excellent examples like
"Shroud of Urine"
"Forward March,"
always typified by inventiveness without excess pyrotechnics. About the only deviation from the band's tried and true formula of old comes in the shape of
's more varied vocal styles, including a less whiny, wholly uncharacteristic full-throated death roar for the standout
"War Is My Shepherd."
's second half isn't quite as memorable, the likes of
"Sealed with a Fist"
"Throwing Down"
suffering from the same sort of aimless riffage that had mired disappointing earlier efforts like
Pleasures of the Flesh
Impact Is Imminent
, but
"Culling the Herd"
manages to buck this trend with plenty of fireworks, and the title track still moshes with a vengeance. Taken as a whole,
successfully resurrects
as the potent and formidable
machine of old. The fact that they are well aware of their strengths, and content to stick with them to the end, is what makes this such a welcome release for the band's loyal followers, as well as younger fans looking to understand what got
heavy metal
where it is today. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia