Tom Hunting, Kirk Hammett and Gary Holt founded EXODUS in 1982, shortly after selecting an appropriate singer the band, Paul Baloff, who completed the line up perfectly and brought the dream to fruition. Within the following year EXODUS gained huge attention in the international underground scene, evolving from an insiders’ tip of the tape trading community to a highly popular act. Innovative song writing and explosive live shows made the difference; EXODUS brought Bay Area Thrash to the world and inspired many bands, among them METALLICA, TESTAMENT, DEATH ANGEL and VIO-LENCE (respectively MACHINE HEAD).
In 1983 Kirk Hammet left the band to join METALLICA, and was replaced by Rick Hunolt. Soon after Rob McKillop complemented the mix. The debut “Bonded By Blood” was released two years later and became a timeless thrash classic still appreciated today. A vast tour with SLAYER and VENOM preceded next, thus the name EXODUS spread more and more. Shortly before the second album “Pleasures Of The Flesh” showed up in 1987, Baloff left the band due to personal and musical differences and got replaced by Steve “Zetro” Souza (ex-LEGACY).
The line-up and chemistry was working for the creativity and the subsequent success of the band. With studio records like “Fabulous Disaster”, “Impact Is Imminent” and “Force Of Habit” as well as the live album “Good Friendly Violent Fun” and the compilation “Lessons In Violence” EXODUS kept on improving their style and promoted their music with a large number of gigs including tours with PANTERA, ANTHRAX, MOTÖRHEAD, BLACK SABBATH, METALLICA, MEGADETH and many others.
1992 saw the split of EXODUS, affected by stress and personal problems. A short reunion happened 1996 (with their “old” singer Paul Baloff) with a tour through Europe and North America and the release of the second live record “Another Lesson In Violence”. Another break took place until September 2001 when EXODUS attended the “Thrash Of The Titans” benefit show featuring LEGACY, ANTHRAX, S.O.D. and DEATH ANGEL.
Afterwards the band started writing new material but got adjourned abruptly: Paul Baloff suffered a stroke on 2nd February 2002 and sadly passed away. Back with Souza at the microphone EXODUS continued working and finally finished the recording sessions for the new, ultimate comeback album “Tempo Of The Damned” in 2004. The success was incredible, but still EXODUS had some serious line up problems: Zetro, Rick Hunolt and Tom Hunting were replaced by former roadie Rob Dukes, Lee Altus (HEATHEN) and Paul Bostaph (ex-SLAYER).
With this line up, EXODUS recorded the amazing “Shovel Headed Kill Machine” – another lesson in violence for sure! In the meantime, Tom Hunting was back in the saddle, after he solved his personal issues that led to his departure from the band.
” Our goal in EXODUS is just basically to defy time, to defy age, to have every album just get more furious and more angry and more intense. A lot of people will ask me things like, ‘EXODUS is achieving a lot of popularity again, do you think it’s due to thrash metal coming back?`and I say, ‘No. I think thrash metal’s coming back because of EXODUS.’” The goal now, he says, is to remain “the most dangerous animal in the jungle.” GARY HOLT, Exodus
