 Exodus
 Shovel Headed Kill Machine
 Review by Mike Korn
Much like the bone-crushing juggernaut portrayed on this CD's cover, the thrashing beast known as Exodus continues to grind on. It sure hasn't been easy over the last few years. Original singer Paul Baloff passed away. His replacement Zetro Sousa, who for many was the voice of Exodus, left in a very acrimonious split. Founding member Rick Hunolt took his leave earlier this year and long time drummer Tom Hunting was forced to depart due to health issues. That left only Gary Holt as the core of the band. Did Holt fold up his tent and retire gracefully?
We can be thankful the answer was a resounding "hell, no!" Instead, he rebuilt the band while managing to keep its familiar style of bludgeoning thrash intact. Holt's choices for replacements were exemplary. To replace Hunting, he acquired the services of Paul Bostaph, known for tenure in another thrash band of some notoriety that you may have heard of...Slayer. You can't get much better credentials than that in the metal world. Hunolt's replacement was also spot on: Lee Altus, who played with notable Bay Area thrashers Heathen. To fill Sousa's shoes, Holt took a chance and gave the mike to an Exodus roadie named Rob Dukes. While I can't say I enjoy Dukes more than Sousa or Baloff, he certainly has the hateful sneer to his vocals necessary to accompany Exodus' brand of searing rifferama.
"Shovel Headed Kill Machine" (named after an acquaintance's pit bull puppy, so I have heard) is a flat-out steamroller that hits will all guns blazing from the get go. It lacks some of the nuances of the previous Exodus effort "Tempo of the Damned", but to make up for that, it hits with blunt force trauma. Speed, catchiness and even a dash of melody combine with a thick, punishing production to make this one of the more thunderous examples of straight up thrash metal in recent times.
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2006 Volume 1 at lulu.com/strangesound.
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