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SHOVEL HEADED KILL MACHINE
After all the newer trials and tribulations played out… EXODUS
regrouped finding a new singer, Rob Dukes (not a relative of Al) and a
god guitarist in the man Lee Altus that brought great crunch to my ears
while he thrashed with a great unsung band called HEATHEN. He also
played the metal guitar on the later Die Krupps records. Then mighty
FORBIDDEN and SLAYER drummer Paul Bostaph bashes out some great skin
pounding.
The day I got this it didn’t take more than minute after being
overwhelmed with happiness. I was preparing for a great Riff master
general album that hasn’t come out of the bay area in a long time.
There were so many other bands that were breaking barriers before the
mighty Metallica and this is one of those bands. They have not thrown
in the towel and bowed to recent trends in sounds. This album stays
true to the original idea but the thrashing is so on the mark and in
all honesty this new singer is less annoying than the Zetro. This is
definitely more rooted in the Baloff era and even a bit more dark
sounding vocals. This record shook the wall and just blew me away as
each song came out.
“Raze” pumps you up quick then “Deathampetamine” becomes a more in your
face pounding song that then shows you in parts that slower can be oh
so heavy. The guitar wall is so solid and clean it is amazing. “Karma’s
Messanger” has an opening riff that brought back memories of Fabulous
Disaster. That is another track that should see the mosh pit kicking up
live. “I am The Abomination” travels a tamer road but the riffing is
what I love to hear. That was one of the more mid-paced tracks here.
“Going Going Gone” serves up the more solid sides of Exodus. “Now Thy
Death Day Come” has some Slayer ear marks and will have Testament fans
bowing to the sounds they hear. This is one of the band longer tracks
hear nearing eight minutes. “44 Magnus Opus” brings you right back to
the slap happy thrashing we all know and love. The title track “Shovel
Headed Kill Machine” brings it all to a very hyper end. Take a bow boys
because you have one of the best thrash record out for these days. Old
fans must be reborn and support the metal that makes you say Why So
Heavy? Fucking Thrash till the death!!!
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