Review: “Goliath” by Exodus

“Are we excited for this record? That’s an understatement. We put everything we had into this record (and it’s 80 percent complete follow up, but we’ll save that conversation for another day!) and it’s one of our proudest accomplishments. Wildly collaborative, the most band centric album to date with four songs written by Lee, lyrics by Gary, Rob, Lee and Tom, and just killer all the way around. The time to let the monster loose is coming! Bow Down!” ~ Exodus

People talk about Bay Area Thrash titans Exodus in the same breath as Testament and Death Angel, Forbidden and Vio-lence as being genre pioneers and rightly so because 1985’s ground breaking “Bonded By Blood” is of legendary status but the question is, after a forty odd year career, does their twelfth studio album “Goliath” live up to their past works? Produced by the band themselves before being mixed and mastered by Mark Lewis (Whitechapel, Nile, Undeath) the album is their first with returning vocalist Rob Dukes since 2010’s “Exhibit B: The Human Condition”. It also features guest vocals from Peter Tägtgren (Hypocrisy, Pain), the irony being that he provided backing vocals on “The Sun Is My Destroyer” on that album as well…

Let’s preface this review by saying that the first album to feature Rob Dukes, 2005’s “Shovel Headed Kill Machine” is a really solid record and that given all the bad blood with the return of Steve “Zetro” Souza in 2014, his return was something no one saw coming. However, it happened in 2025 and the band have had the opportunity to tour together once more before beginning these cryptic writings. The album starts with “3111“, a track which had a banned music video censored after its release and one which is front loaded with a menacing and sinister riff before evil laughter. That slow build up makes way for a fierce opening verse as the band paint a portrait in  classic adrenalized Thrash, the intensity of the piece matching the venom of the vocals. The riffs get more frantic and frenetic with “Hostis Humani Generis“, an ode to the red mist descending and wanting to smash everything in sight. Holt and Altus demonstrate why their reputations are as they are with some dynamite leads during the Speed Thrash onslaught and it all holds together very well. Peter Tägtgren of Hypocrisy and Pain fame provides guest vocals on “The Changing Me” and after a very Machine Head or Trivium style introduction, Exodus bring it back to the low slung bass of Jack Gibson and hammering drums of Tom Hunting for the first verse. The surprise is the chorus which has this layered vocal so you get cleans and screams from at least three vocalists at the same time, not to mention a couple of almost Punk moments. It has to be said that the solo is a belter and because variety is the spice of life, this more experimental track actually works pretty well with a powerful Melodic Death Metal finale that astounds.

Its back to basics for the lethal dose of American hatred that is “Promise You This” which is Groove Thrash to the core as Duke’s incites mosh pit violence during the snarling verse before offering up a sung chorus that has Megadeth vibes. Holt is the metaphorical Dodge Charger on this one, delivering the kind of classic solo of which Dimebag Darrell himself would be proud. The energy is electric and the result is something seriously addictive, the only issue really being that Exodus have done this before elsewhere. But then again, they’re not trying to reinvent the wheel. A solo crawl through a tar pit that bursts into intricate soloing title track “Goliath” features violinist Katie Jacoby and is wonderfully malevolent. Some might argue that the soloing is too vibrant for the overall piece but it does grow on you over multiple listens and gives it a real sense of theatre. Another turbo charged Thrash blast “Beyond The Event Horizon” finds Duke’s talking about the end of mankind as the high quality groove laden riffs keep coming with alarming regularity. They’re counterbalanced nicely by a few melodic moments before Holt puts the pedal to the metal with an epic extended solo delivered with power and poise which makes for one of the albums finest. “2 Minutes Hate” throws back to the aforementioned “Shovel Headed Kill Machine” as a grimacing, Groove Thrash pit anthem, the gang chanted vocals at the end making all the difference.

If there was ever any fear that Exodus would become a cliche or a caricature of themselves then there is absolutely no evidence of that here with the rhythmic drive of “Violence Works” providing that the quintet still have the fire in their eyes and the rage to overcome. The near eight minute magnum opus “Summon Of The God Unknown” is brooding and spiteful while being packed with gun powder; the epic soloing in the final third the metaphorical icing on the cake. Flurried duelling solos usher in “The Dirtiest Of The Dozen” which sounds like the five piece are kicking back and having fun, the driving riffs and pummelling percussion that follows all very much on point. There is even time for a couple of fleeting bass solos from Gibson before the harmonised solos from Holt and Atlus as Dukes spits his venom. The speed and aggression is all there and it very much seems that the return of Rob Dukes has been the kick up the a** that Exodus needed and has brought out the best in them [8/10]

Track Listing

1. 3111
2. Hostis Humani Generis
3. The Changing Me (ft. Peter Tägtgren of Hypocrisy, Pain)
4. Promise You This
5. Goliath (ft. Katie Jacoby)
6. Beyond The Event Horizon
7. 2 Minutes Hate
8. Violence Works
9. Summon Of The God Unknown
10. The Dirtiest Of The Dozen

“Goliath” by Exodus is out 20th March 2026 via Napalm Records