|
EXODUS ‘Shovel Headed Kill Machine’ Nuclear Blast (2005)
It looks like the ten year gap between 1992 and 2001, when they decided to re-group for the “Thrash of the Titans” benefit show, did Exodus more good than anyone would ever have imagined. Only a year after the release of the highly acclaimed “Tempo of the Damned”, the legendary Thrash Metal outfit is back with another explosive release that’s entitled “Shovel Headed Kill Machine” – an album, though, that is a product of a totally different team of musicians from the one that recorded the band’s previous release.
I am sure that I was not the only one who was excited to see Steve “Zetro” Souza back in his natural position as the frontman a year ago, but it seems that his old differences with Gary Holt soon re-appeared, and poisoned their relationship. A few months after the end of a very successful tour, the ex-Legacy frontman was once again out of the picture, and with him followed Tom Hunting (health reasons) and Rick Hunolt (family reasons). With three members out of the band, what is it that you think Gary Holt decided to do? Exactly - he set out to find the right musicians that will help Exodus continue along the same musical direction as in “Tempo of the Damned”. I cannot see how anyone could disagree that Paul Bostaph (ex-Slayer, Ex-Forbidden) and Lee Altus (Heathen) were the best choices for filling the positions of the drummer and guitarist respectively, but the real surprise came from Rob Dukes – the band’s new singer, whose voice bares elements from both Baloff’s and Souza’s and makes him the ideal frontman for the band.
The first thing that I noticed with great satisfaction is that the changes in the band’s line up did not have any major effect on the band’s sound, to the point that you could easily think that none of the above mentioned changes ever took place. Gary Holt was always the leading personality within the band, but especially since he was now the only remaining founding member from the 1982 line up, he is the one that needs to be praised for all the amazing guitar riffs and melodies that you will come across on this album.
Once again, Exodus have had an equal interest in creating both fast and mid-tempo compositions, and in avoiding adding compositions such as “Throwing Down”, which was the only weak point of the band’s previous release. Seeing as I love fast Thrash riffs, I became immediately drawn by the raw power of songs like “Raze”, “Deathamphetamine” (my personal favourite) and “44 Magnum Opus” whose blazing riffs will set the metal world on fire. On the other hand, Exodus are renowned for their mid-tempo shredding riffs, so do check songs like “Karma’s Messenger”, “Shudder to Think” and the Testamentesque “Altered Boy” – I can guarantee that you will not be disappointed. The band sounds quite tight, Rob Duke’s performance gives extra strength to the already explosive compositions, and the good quality production that was once again achieved by Andy Sneap makes “Shovel Headed Kill Machine” the ideal purchase for all Thrash Metal fans, and admirers of extreme metal music in general.
If one was to ask me to compare and eventually choose between the band’s latest two releases, I will find this a very difficult. “Shovel Headed Kill Machine” may not have compositions that would easily stand out in the same way as on “Tempo of the Damned” (“War is my Sheppard”, “Forward March”), but its continuous exhibition of powerful riffs and great energy makes it irresistible. It is not an easy job to cope with so many changes and still be able to record such a powerful album in one year, but Exodus is not an ordinary band – don’t you agree?
****½
Review by John Stefanis
|
