 |
|
Exodus Exhibit B: The Human Condition Nuclear Blast It’s all-out old school thrash baby! The
10th full length studio release from bay area thrash veterans Exodus
is a bold reclamation of their roots and quite possibly their most remarkable
and unified work to date. Complete with power riffs and angst ridden vocal
yells, Exhibit B: The Human Condition is a
melting pot of metal aggression with absolutely no room for any compromise. At first spin of this phenomenal new
offering a couple of thoughts hit hard right away. First the stellar production
delivered by acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap (Megadeth, Arch Enemy, Kreator) puts the band in a new light by which
they have never been experienced before. Secondly the bands newest frontman Rob
Dukes, who has actually handled vocal duties since 2005 has finally come into
his own and re-defined the sound of Exodus today. Earlier work with this
band found him leaning a little too much on the hardcore vibe for my tastes.
Beyond the obvious intensions of delivering a pure thrash masterpiece, Exhibit
B: The Human Condition is crammed full of monster
riffs and a thoroughly driven hatred for the various atrocities that have
plagued the human race for a millennia. Covering everything from doing time in
a scholastic system that cared more about personal comforts than protecting its
students “Class Dismissed (A Hate Primer)” to abhorrence for religion “March Of The Sycophants” (a tired
argument at best) and the ultimate embracing of the end “Good Riddance”, not to
mention insights of political, social and philosophical unrest, all of which
are sure to get the blood of fans a boiling.
I am utterly impressed this time
around with what the boys in Exodus have imparted to us and truly
believe it to be a milestone in their career. Having been at the game now for a
span of three decades, the guys show utterly no sign of wearing down anytime
within the near future. A class act all the way Exodus and their new baby - Exhibit
B: The Human Condition are a tremendous asset to
the thrash metal world. -Priest |
