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Album Review – Exodus / Goliath (2026)

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Emerging hungrier than ever from San Francisco, California, these Bay Area Thrash legends welcome back frontman Rob Dukes and unleash upon us ten of their most diverse, anthemic emissions to date.

Emerging hungrier than ever from the thrashing city of San Francisco, California, Bay Area Thrash Metal legends Exodus welcome back the unrelenting frontman Rob Dukes, who had previously recorded with the band the albums Shovel Headed Kill Machine (2005), The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A (2007), Let There Be Blood (2008), and Exhibit B: The Human Condition (2010), to continue their path of devastation 16 years later with the thunderous Goliath, their twelfth studio album and the follow-up to the critically acclaimed Blood In, Blood Out (2014) and Persona Non Grata (2021). Produced by the band itself, recorded by Juan Urteaga, Mark Lewis and Jesse Fioren, mixed and mastered by Mark Lewis, and displaying a classic thrashing artwork by Pär Olofsson, the newborn beast by Rob Dukes on vocals, Gary Holt and Lee Altus on the guitars, Jack Gibson on bass, and Tom Hunting on drums reinforces the band’s eternal foothold at the top of the Thrash Metal hierarchy with ten of their most diverse, anthemic emissions to date.

You know the album will be insanely dark and heavy after listening to the initial riff in 3111 (and don’t forget to check the uncensored version of the official video), with Rob delivering his trademark demented vocals, adding endless rage and violence to its already visceral lyrics (“Plazas of carnage, bloody rewards / Fields of poppies, gifts from the lord / Act with the Devil, piling dead / Ransom slaying, payment in lead”). It’s then time to open up the pit and get your position for a killer wall of death in Hostis Humani Generis, a Latin legal phrase meaning “enemy of mankind,” with Gary and Lee sounding ruthless with their scorching riffage; and featuring the iconic Peter Tägtgren (Hypocrisy, Pain) on guest vocals, Tom dictates the pace with his hammering beats and fills in The Changing Me, offering over six minutes of pure thrashing heaviness. The band then fires sheer electricity in Promise You This, perfect for some action inside the circle pit while Jack pounds his bass nonstop, followed by the title-track Goliath, just as massive as its name, with Rob once again vociferating the song’s devilish words manically (“Enormous entity / Who feeds on doubts and fears / Colossal creature / Lying dormant all these years / His slumber now disturbed / He begins to rise / He’s here to end our suffering / To see us euthanized”) while guest Katie Jacoby and her strings bring a touch of dark beauty to the overall result.

It’s then pedal to the metal in the venomous Thrash Metal onrush entitled Beyond the Event Horizon, with Tom’s rumbling beats and fills walking hand in hand with another demented riff-attack by Gary and Lee, who also fire their usual striking solos for the absolute delectation of us thrashers from all over the world. 2 Minutes Hate is another song perfect for headbanging like a metalmaniac, with Rob barking rabidly while his bandmates deliver a melodic and classic Thrash Metal extravaganza; and it’s impressive how the band can easily incorporate elements of modern heavy music into their old school Thrash Metal just like in Violence Works, with its beautiful title being complemented by the piercing and thunderous stringed attack by Gary, Lee and Jack. Summon of the God Unknown is a cadenced tune by the band offering their scathing sonority and rebellious lyrics and vibe, with its second half blending Thrash Metal with elements of Southern Rock and Metal, and let’s close the album with a massive circle pit fueled by the band’s unstoppable thrashing riffs in The Dirtiest of the Dozen, also presenting Tom’s undisputed, classic drumming and the always visceral roars by Rob until the song’s devastating ending.

In the end, Goliath beams with the explosive authenticity that has set Exodus eons apart from their peers since the release of their 1985 groundbreaking debut Bonded By Blood and, 40 years later, they’re steadfast in their refusal to settle for the safety of mediocrity, fearing nothing and no one and continuing to forge their trademark just as resolutely as they did in their fruition. I honestly don’t believe there’s a single metalhead out there who doesn’t know Exodus, but just in case don’t forget to check what those thrashers are up to on Facebook and on Instagram, to stream their masterful creations on Spotify, and to grab a copy of the colossal Goliath from BandCamp or by clicking HERE. Welcome back, Mr. Rob Dukes, and thank you for inspiring us to slam into the pit like maniacs together with Exodus. You guys are the undisputed Goliaths of Thrash Metal, no questions asked.

Best moments of the album: Hostis Humani Generis, Beyond the Event Horizon, 2 Minutes Hate and The Dirtiest of the Dozen.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2026 Napalm Records

Track listing
1. 3111 4:08
2. Hostis Humani Generis 5:21
3. The Changing Me 6:14
4. Promise You This 5:19
5. Goliath 5:04
6. Beyond the Event Horizon 5:16
7. 2 Minutes Hate 4:55
8. Violence Works 4:49
9. Summon of the God Unknown 7:54
10. The Dirtiest of the Dozen 5:09

Band members
Rob Dukes – lead vocals
Gary Holt – guitars
Lee Altus – guitars
Jack Gibson – bass, backing vocals
Tom Hunting – drums

Guest musicians
Peter Tägtgren – vocals on “The Changing Me”
Katie Jacoby – strings on “Goliath”

Album Review – Testament / Para Bellum (2025)

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Let’s prepare for war to the sound of the breathtaking fourteenth studio album by Oakland, California’s own masters of old school, crushing Thrash Metal.

“Parabellum” is the second half of the Latin phrase “si vis pacem, para bellum”, which translates to “if you want peace, prepare for war”. That’s exactly what Oakland, California’s own Thrash Metal masters Testament are offering us all now in 2025 with their infernal fourteenth studio album, titled Para Bellum, a worthy follow-up to their 2020 beast Titans of Creation. Produced by Chuck Billy and Eric Peterson alongside Juan Urteaga at Trident Studios, who also recorded vocals, bass, drums, and acoustic guitars, with guitars recorded at Dragon Lair Studio and Skol Productions Studio, mixed by Jens Bogren and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios, and showcasing an apocalyptic artwork by the majestic Eliran Kantor, the new opus by the iconic  frontman Chuck Billy, the unparalleled guitarists Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick, the ruthless bassist Steve Di Giorgio, and the beyond talented newcomer Chris Dovas (Evulsion, Unflesh, Aversed) on drums is a lecture in both old school and modern-day Thrash Metal, sounding as heavy, infuriated, intricate and explosive as a real war, leaving us absolutely disoriented after all is said and done.

Chris already showcases his welcome card in the opening beast titled For the Love of Pain while Eric and Alex hypnotized us all as expected with their undisputed riff attack, with Chuck’s ruthless roars being the icing on their thrashing cake. Their sonic devastation goes on in full force in Infanticide A.I., where Chuck’s deep, enraged gnarls walk hand in hand with the striking riffs and solos by the band’s guitar duo in a lesson in Thrash Metal, followed by Shadow People, utterly tribal, dark and heavy, a more melodic display of the band’s core sonority led once again by Eric’s and Alex’s flawless guitar work. Meant to Be follows a similar pattern as their own song “Dark Roots of Earth”, a somber, pensive ballad including some acoustic moments; whereas back to a much more ferocious, progressive and ruthless sonority we have High Noon, perfect for breaking our necks headbanging to Chris’ intricate beats and fills.

It’s time to go hunt some witches in the name of old school Thrash Metal with Witch Hunt, another avalanche of metallic riffs and blast beats for our total delight where Chuck sounds inhumane as usual on vocals; and I also love when he sounds less demented like in Nature of the Beast, delivering those raspy, deep and almost “clean” vocal lines that give the whole song an even edgier vibe, as melodic as it is groovy. Room 117 offers the band’s more contemporary sonority from their latest decade, with Steve hammering his bass mercilessly accompanied by the pounding drums by Chris; whereas Eric and Alex will crush your damned minds and souls with their electrifying axes in Havana Syndrome, an explosion of first-class Testament for the masses. Finally, ending the album we face the Stygian, imposing title-track Para Bellum, one of their most detailed, multi-layered songs of the past few years, with Chuck’s demonic growls sounding phenomenal from start to finish in an ode to war before all fades into the void.

Readiness to fight is necessary to maintain peace and defend oneself or one’s country, and the undisputed Thrash Metal blasted by Testament in Para Bellum is also necessary in the life of any decent human being. You can follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and other nice-to-know details about one of the torchbearers of classic thrash, stream their demonic creations on Spotify, and above all that, grab a copy of their incendiary newborn spawn from Nuclear Blast or by clicking HERE. In other words, it’s time to prepare for war, and there’s nothing better than Testament’s new album to inspire us all to head into the battlefield alongside one of the most important bands in the history of heavy music.

Best moments of the album: For the Love of Pain, Infanticide A.I., Witch Hunt, Nature of the Beast and Para Bellum.

Worst moments of the album: Meant to Be.

Released in 2020 Nuclear Blast

Track listing
1. For the Love of Pain 5:35
2. Infanticide A.I. 3:27
3. Shadow People 5:45
4. Meant to Be 7:33
5. High Noon 3:52
6. Witch Hunt 4:16
7. Nature of the Beast 4:28
8. Room 117 4:18
9. Havana Syndrome 4:40
10. Para Bellum 6:30

Band members
Chuck Billy – vocals
Eric Peterson – guitar
Alex Skolnick – guitar
Steve Di Giorgio – bass
Chris Dovas – drums

Guest musicians
Dave Eggar – cello, violin, viola, orchestrations, strings arrangements
Chuck Palmer – orchestrations, strings arrangements
Xavi Morató – violin

Album Review – Testament / Titans Of Creation (2020)

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The titans of Thrash Metal are back in action with another technical, melodic and absolutely pulverizing album of extreme music.

Since the release of the brilliant The Formation Of Damnation in 2008, every single time American Thrash Metal masters Testament release a new album, you can see a huge smile on the faces of all fans of our beloved Bay Area Thrash, including myself. It was like that with their following albums, those being Dark Roots Of Earth, released in 2012, Brotherhood Of The Snake, released in 2016, and now four years later the same can be said about the bold, multi-layered opus Titans Of Creation, the thirteenth studio album in their undisputed career. Produced by Jamaican musician and producer Juan Urteaga, who had recorded, engineered, mixed and mastered their previous two studio albums, mixed and mastered by Andy Sneap, and featuring a hellish artwork by their longtime friend Eliran Kantor, who coincidentally has taken care of all of their art since The Formation of Damnation, Titans Of Creation will crush you like an insect from start to finish, proving once and for all why frontman Chuck Billy, guitarists Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick, bassist Steve Di Giorgio and drummer Gene Hoglan are undoubtedly among the best, most demonic and most talented teams in the world of heavy music.

And the entire band comes ripping in the opening track Children of the Next Level, a classic avalanche of Thrash Metal with their trademark insane beats and flammable riffs, not to mention the fun and wicked lyrics vociferated by Chuck (“In trans-human state / It’s time to evacuate / Waiting for a ride to take them to the gate / Await the siren call / More phenobarbital / Pour it down the hatch, ingest it all / Children of the next level / They’re chillin’ with the Devil / Children of the next level / Here they come!”). After such demented start to the album, Gene takes the lead in the high-octane, thrilling tune WWIII, while Alex and Eric show everything they got with their sick riffs and solos. Put differently, this is old school Testament without sounding outdated at all, and needless to say Chuck is once again marvelous with his enraged roars. Then we have Dream Deceiver, more melodic and rhythmic than the previous songs, where Gene’s beats will smash your senses so intricate and precise they are, supported by the always thunderous bass lines by Steve and, therefore, keeping the album at a high level of adrenaline and rage.

The violent Night of the Witch reminds me of the early days of the band, but even more ferocious that that (if that’s something possible), bringing to our ears first-class Thrash Metal in honor of all witches of the world, with the vicious words barked by Chuck (and Eric) being the icing on the cake (“Conjuring in darkness, desecrate their will / The dead of night has taken flight, assassinate them all / Show them the face of terror / Show them the grace of Hell / Black magic of the witch / Shall never break the spell”). Slowing down things a bit but still venomous and heavy-as-hell, Testament offer us all the sinister City of Angels, alternating between more aggressive, thrashing moments and serene, dark passages, despite going on for a little too long; whereas in Ishtar’s Gate the sound of the guitars by both Eric and Alex is insanely heavy and captivating, while Steve keeps pounding his bass cords in great fashion, adding an extra metallic touch to the musicality together with Chuck’s characteristic deep roars. And showing no mercy for our necks the band blasts the excellent Symptoms, inspiring us to headbang like true metalheads. Furthermore, Gene sounds fantastic as usual, it doesn’t matter the song’s speed, and in this case we can enjoy sheer groove and heaviness flowing form his beats.

Titans Of Creation Limited Edition Boxset

Back to a more berserk and frantic sonority, Chuck and his henchmen fire the classic False Prophet, and if you love some brutal headbanging Gene offers you exactly what you need in this awesome chant, also bringing Alex and Eric’s razor-edged riffage beautifully complemented by Steve’s in-your-face bass punches, while incendiary riffs ignite the Thrash Metal party titled The Healers, presenting a mix of heavy beats and demonic growls intertwined with the complex and smashing drums by Gene and the always perfect solos by the band’s ruthless guitar duo. Then a groovy and dark bass intro by Steve quickly morphs into a demolishing hurricane of Thrash Metal by Testament entitled Code of Hammurabi, presenting the most entertaining, violent and melodic side of the band. Put differently, it’s simply impossible not to slam into the circle pit to the sound of this infernal anthem, and they still have a lot of fuel to burn in the breathtaking, pulverizing Curse of Osiris, where the Stygian backing vocals by Eric add a welcome touch of evil to the overall result. Moreover, Gene showcases once again all his dexterity and fury on drums, resulting in a lesson in devastation in the name of Bay Area Thrash full of demented solos and with endless electricity flowing from all instruments, before the cinematic and climatic outro Catacombs put an end to another bestial spawn of metal music by Testament.

You can purchase your desired version of Titans Of Creation from several different locations, such as the ass-kicking boxset (limited to 1,500 copies worldwide) from the Nuclear Blast webstore, including a 24-page booklet with exclusive band photos and liner notes, a 3D lenticular, a CD and an Earth Element Edition Vinyl, or save it on your favorite streaming service by clicking HERE. As already mentioned, Testament showed us all everything they got once again with Titans Of Creation, keeping the flames of old school Thrash Metal burning bright and, consequently, positioning them as one of the top bands of the genre hands down. In other words, if you thought Thrash Metal was dead and gone after Slayer’s retirement, here come Testament to prove you wrong and to decimate you as the merciless titans of Thrash Metal that they have always been.

Best moments of the album: WWIII, Night of the Witch, Code of Hammurabi and Curse of Osiris.

Worst moments of the album: City of Angels.

Released in 2020 Nuclear Blast

Track listing
1. Children of the Next Level 6:13
2. WWIII 4:48
3. Dream Deceiver 4:58
4. Night of the Witch 6:32
5. City of Angels 6:43
6. Ishtar’s Gate 5:09
7. Symptoms 4:37
8. False Prophet 4:54
9. The Healers 4:23
10. Code of Hammurabi 4:52
11. Curse of Osiris 3:24
12. Catacombs 2:01

Band members
Chuck Billy – vocals
Eric Peterson – guitar
Alex Skolnick – guitar
Steve Di Giorgio – bass
Gene Hoglan – drums