Artist: Exodus
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Release Date: 10/4/05
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Title: Shovel Headed Kill Machine Artist: Exodus Label: Nuclear Blast Records Release Date: 10/4/05 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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5 | ||
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Abyss's Review:
No this isn't the latest champion of 'Robot Wars,' it's the new album from Exodus, champions of 80s thrash. Of course, I know a lot of old-school fans find themselves irritated that this album has the Exodus moniker, due to the fact that Gary Holt is the only remaining member from the band's glory days. Without Rick Hunolt to trade guitar licks, many feel that this is a hollow offering.And that's unfortunate, because this is a really good record. In fact, I like it a great deal more than the (generally) well-received Tempo Of The Damned. I've often said that I never thought this band aged quite as well as some of their peers, but I have always liked them. And while Bonded By Blood is probably the only album of theirs that I would call a "must-own," this band always has something to offer the old-school thrash fan. This record is a great collection of riffs and mosh inducing rhythms.
"One word review: Moshworthy." Of course, not only is this album Hunolt-less, it also has to carry the burden of breaking in a new singer. Rob Dukes is the new lead throat, and seems more than up to the task. While many longtime fans will never think he could replace Souza, let alone Baloff, I actually really like what he's done here. His vocals are definitely inspired by the aforementioned anchors of the scene, but they have venom and a vitriol that instantly add to the songs. The vocals combine retro and modern elements very well, and I'm saddened by the thought that Mr. Dukes won't get a fair shake due to the shoes he's trying to fill.
This album does have some pretty big faults, however. For one, it's extremely one-dimensional, which I guess should be expected since it's basically written by one person. And while this band has never been on the forefront of experimentation, I think they would benefit greatly by throwing some more varied effects and tones throughout their future albums. Another criticism is that many of the songs seem unnecessarily long. There really isn't enough going on here to warrant songs in excess of four minutes, and a few go well over that threshold.
To close, I think this record is surprisingly good, and I'm afraid it won't get the attention it deserves. It stands up well next to the majority of work in this band's catalogue, which is quite an impressive feat considering all it had going against it. Thrash fans should definitely pick this one up. One word review: Moshworthy.
Death's Review:
"Gary Holt was right."Let me explain. I'm a huge Exodus fan, and was really stoked on their reunion studio record, Tempo of the Damned, one of my thrashy favorites of recent vintage. But with all of the recent lineup changes, including vocalist Steve "Zetro" Souza and longtime second guitarist Rick Hunolt, I was extremely skeptical about guitarist, bandleader and sole remaining original member Gary Holt's stated intention to keep the name alive. I even ran into Holt at this San Francisco Ozzfest this past summer and told him straight up how I felt. Maybe it was the alcohol talking, but I was bold enough to lay it out there, and he responded by telling me that this new record was totally killer, better than Tempo of the Damned, and promising that it was going to rip my face off when I heard it.
Thus, my opening line: "Gary Holt was right." As cool as Tempo of the Damned was, this album is probably better. It is certainly heavier, faster and more intense. Still, it is chock full of the trademarked Gary Holt riffing and headbanging that have made Exodus special since the mid-1980's. The groove is still there, the catchiness is still there, but the band is on fire, tearing up your speakers with a vengeance with something real to prove. This is no washed-up reunion record and attempt to coast off of past glories, milking the fans for those last few dollars. Shovel Headed Kill Machine is a first-rate modern metal release, which stands on its own to feet in the annals of thrash metal without needing to lean on the Exodus legacy for relevance or import.
"Gary Holt was right." Of course, this is in no small part due to the incredible lineup Mr. Holt has assembled, which features one of the greatest thrash metal drummers of all time, Mr. Paul Bostaph (ex-Slayer, ex-Testament, ex-Forbidden). Bostaph is on fire on this record, with brutal attack, huge, expressive fills, and solid Exodus groove on every track. In addition, former Heather guitarist Lee Altus replaces Hunolt, resulting in a full-on Bay Area all-star lineup that cannot be dismissed or denied. Importantly, new singer Rob Dukes does an excellent job of carrying on the Exodus vocalist tradition, simultaneously channeling the reckless fury of Paul Baloff and the catchiness of Steve Sousa while projecting his own style as well within the Exodus mold. This new version of Exodus (version 3.0? 4.0? 3.1?) is rounded out by bassist Jack Gibson, who returns from the Tempo of the Damned lineup.
In short, Shovel Headed Kill Machine is a great album, certainly the best thrash album of 2005, and probably one of the top ten metal albums overall. New tracks such as "Altered Boy" and "Going Going Gone" feature classic Holt riffing and songwriting and have taken their place among my Exodus favorites, while tracks such as opener "Raze" and the title track crush with serious brutality (the latter also featuring some early Machine Head-esque slower riffing), the likes of which Exodus has never busted out with before. Every Exodus fan must pick up this record, and I highly recommend it to everyone as the perfect antidote to those who have had enough with the saturation of metalcore and hardcore bands who are all hairstyles and little substance.
Hel's Review:
It has been my experience, when you start a project and invest a great deal of time to it, you find that you are willing to go to great lengths to keep things going, including doing the bulk of the work all alone when necessary. Damn the odds, and double-damn the naysayers; adversity, for some, is a great motivator. It seems to me that Gary Holt has been going through a similar experience these days, and it is to his credit that he has been able to both find outstanding people to work with, as well as managing to keep the creativity flowing. Gary has become the last member of Exodus standing, and through his efforts, the band is arguably as great as it has ever been.
"Shovel Headed Kill Machine is an instant thrash classic in my book." Shovel Headed Kill Machine is an instant thrash classic in my book. The new vocalist, Rob Dukes, sounds dead on and the songwriting is impressive. Production values are high and every note rings clear. Paul Bostaph’s drumming is monstrous, and the guitarwork lead by Holt and complimented by Lee Altus and Jack Gibson is the stuff thrash legends are made of. If you’re a fan of old-school thrash, you need this album.
Having seen this material performed live, I can say with some small authority that it stands up well next to the rest of the Exodus catalog. I have not one single complaint, and have enjoyed each and every spin this disc has performed in my player. Buy it. Set aside your skepticism and dig in. Have faith in the determination of those willing to see something through despite the odds and you will find yourself well rewarded.
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