GTAForums Music in Review

[ToyMachine]

 

Band: Exodus

Album: Shovel Headed Kill Machine

Label: Nuclear Blast

Release date: 10/4/2005

Genre: Thrash Metal

 

Exodus is one of those bands that has been pumping out solid music since the early 80’s. Some of you might know them as the band that gave Metallica Kirk Hammet, but they are much more than that. In my opinion, they have accomplished much more in the genre of thrash than the legendary ‘tallica and they keep making raw, ass kicking thrash till this day. Many of their older albums such as Bonded by Blood and Fabulous Disaster are thrash metal classics. More than half of the band left the band after 2004’s great comeback album Tempo of the Damned. The remaining members’ determination got the band together by recruiting vocalist Rob Dukes, guitarist Lee Altus (Heathen) and drummer Paul Bostaph ( Slayer, Forbidden, Testament). And the band sounds as good as ever.

 

The Good

One of the amazing things about Exodus is the fact that they went through 3 vocalist changes and all of these vocalists have had a voice so similar, the casual listener could mistake them for one person. The vocals on Shovel Headed Kill Machine are the same way Exodus always sounded, raspy and screechy. The guitars and solos sound as tight as ever. Not to mention might perhaps have the coolest album cover ever.

 

The Bad(ass)

Tracklist

 

1. Raze-Good song, nothing bad about it. I found myself listening to this song when I was pissed off 3 times. Go figure.

 

2. Deathamphetamine-Seems like every metal album nowdays has to have a song about drug addiction. When you think about thrash, this should be the riff that comes to your mind.

 

3. Kharma‘s Messenger-Amazing solo in this song.

 

4. Shudder to think-This might be the slowest song on the album and it’s not slow at all. Sort of has a Panteresque trodding characteristic to it.

 

5. I am abomination-Filler track to me.

 

6. Altered Boy- Worst song on the album. Very repetitive.

 

7. Going Going Gone-This song reminds me a lot of Fabulous Disaster. Similar riff and a nice catchy chorus. This is my favorite song on the album, maybe because Fabulous Disaster is my favorite Exodus song.

 

8. Now thy death day come-Yet another filler. Not bad, doesn’t stand out.

 

9. .44 Magnum Opus-Great song. Pure and simple. One of the best tracks.

 

10. Shovel Headed Kill Machine-Good, short ending track.

 

Best tracks: Deathamphetamine, Kharma’s Messenger, Going Going Gone, .44 Magnum Opus

 

The Ugly

This is not a bad album by far, but it is definitely not perfect. Exodus followed the usual, safe path for a good album. All the songs are verse-chorus-verse-bridge-solo. It is Exodus and it sounds like Exodus. The guitars are very much Exodus and the singing is Exodus. I wish Exodus could’ve expanded a little more and experimented. The songs are a bit repetitive. And the songs are also…too long. Previous to listening to this album, I thought the length of the song couldn’t make the song bad. Boy was I wrong. A lot of the songs on this album could’ve been shortened and nothing would’ve been gone from the experience.

 

Conclusion

This album was a great follow up to Tempo of the Damned. Although there were major member changes in the band, everyone seems to fit and play their part perfectly. The musicians are sharp and the music is top notch quality. This was one of the best albums that I’ve heard in 2005. Yes, it was way up there with Opeth and Nevermore. If you get this album, but don’t enjoy it, I think you need to re-evaluate why you listen to thrash because this is what thrash should sound like.

 

4 out of 5 discs.

Edited February 24, 2006 by ToyMachine

[Paco]

Well I'll be damned, thats some sexy cover art.

 

But anyways, nice review Toy, I might go check these guys out. Always been a fan of thrash, and your review made it seem like a good band to pick up on.

[Sir Smoke-A-Lot]

Honestly, I don't think this album is very good. The new vocalist isn't too bad, but I don't think he's as good as Steve Souza. The production sounds way too over-produced too. The riffs are decent in the fast, thrashy sections, but at times they go mid-paced with some weird pantera-groove crap that leaves me wondering what the hell they were thinking. The only songs I found myself enjoying were 'Deathamphetamine' and 'Raze.' I honestly think the band lost it after Fabulous Disaster.

 

 

 

But that's just my two cents.

[Digital Murders]

I probably would've given this album a 3. Yeah, it's a good effort, but there's only so much Exodus I can take sometimes. And frankly, some of this stuff just seems really recycled. I can't put my tongue on it, but this album just doesn't shake my arm right.

[Groovy]

I pretty much agree with you about Altered By being the worst song, and I Am Abomination and Now Thy Death Day Come being filler tracks. I also wish they would have had .44 Magnum Opus or Deathamphetamine as the first single/video off of the album. And one other thing. I wish they would have stuck with that version of the cover art, because the flaming logo really sticks out like a sore thumb.

 

But yeah, otherwise a badass album.

[President Paul]

This review is extremlly acurate. Although I didn't find most of the album to be that fast at all I thought it was more a moderate tempo (In terms of thrash).