Exodus - The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A

The Exhibition is open, so come on in and get in the pit! Limited edition import and numbered. 2007. Album Description

steve's and paul's revenge

Not on board with this album.It's not true to form.ToTD was a awesome thrashed out return.SHKM was different maybe not quite as good but still very thrashy with memorable songs,great riffs and pounding drums.This last effort falls flat for me.Yes this is yet another change in the line-up and another change in the sound.Maybe its overengineered.perhaps too many knobs turned all the way up.The riffs for me are too distorted/dark/atmospheric and too difficult to distinguish from the drums and bass.Now before anyone dismisses this review.Please keep in mind that I'm a huge Exodus fan and bought this album as the LIMITED EDITION Germany only BLOODPACK . ps... Sneap strikes out again August 16, 2008

Awesome riffs, lyrically weak

The Exodus I loved was the Exodus that was firmly rooted in the real world - singing about social injustice on a serious and intelligent level. They lost it with Tempo, picked it up again with Shovel HKM, but here, completely descended into anti religious childishness.

Juvenile and sad is all I can say for the lyrics of this album. But hey, maybe you are a fan of that sort of stuff. I dug Exodus because, while 90% of other metal bands seemed to be lost in the esoterics or religion bashing, they were firmly rooted in reality. Not any more, unfortunately. Its as if the kids at school teased them so much they had to try and prove they can be as 'heavy' as the rest - a bit like what happened to Anthrax after "I'm the Man" came out. Why bother guys?? You were already the best!! You should have stayed innovators!

Aside from this perspective, riff-wise, they are powerful as ever, and any metal fan will hardly be disapponted with the ear bleeding sonic assaults offered here. Aggressive, powerful with excellent production values - but not one tune got the hairs on the back of my neck up and a put irresistable smile on my face, as happened with "Toxic Waltz", "I am Abomination" or "Sealed with a Fist" off their previous albums. Overall, a bit of a disappointment to this fan.

July 11, 2008

Another Blistering, Rapid, Thrash Attack from Exodus

Bay Area thrash metal legends Exodus has returned once again with another thrash metal masterpiece in the books with 2007's "The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A". This album is just simply amazingly brilliant, and not to mention it's also one of the best thrash metal albums of 2007 as well. This is an absolute savage, blistering, unrelenting, rapid, thrash metal assault on your senses that takes absolutely no prisoners. This album is an excellent follow up the awesome "Shovel Headed Kill Machine", and it also marks the return of Exodus's original drummer Tom Hunting. I listen to this album practically almost every week, and it also has already become one of my favorite thrash metal cds to listen to these days. Every song on here is just awesome, addicting, and fun to bang your head while doing air guitar. Andy Sneap's production never fails whatsover, and let's not forget about the musicianship which is absolutely brilliant as well. Rob Dukes just absolutely rips on this album just like he did on SHKM. His vocals are just angry, vicious, spewing, and commanding. Gary Holt and Lee Altus's twin dual guitarwork is just amazing, and I love the guitar tone on here, it's just vicious, and razor-sharp sounding. The riffs are very intense, and the solos are just wailing and wicked throughout. Jack Gibson's basslines are heavy and extremely audible, and of course Tom Hunting's drumming is just fast, sick, punishing and intense, and he just slaughters and demolishes on this album just like Paul Bostaph did on SHKM.

The album starts off with a short yet melodic instrumental "Call To Arms" which slowly builds and builds up momentum and before we know it, we're immediately thrusted into the second track "Riot Act" (my personal favorite song on here) which features fast, slamming skin pounding, intense, razor sharp thrashing riffs, aggressive commanding vocals, a catchy mosh pit worthy chorus, and a pair of killer blistering solos to boot. Track three "Funeral Hymn" is another blistering thrasher that is highlighted by more awesome thrashing riffage, four wild dualing solos, and fast intense drumwork, while track four "Children of a Worthless God" is a more mid-tempo thrasher that is highlighted by some great melodic singing from Rob in the sub-chorus, as well as some catchy headbanging riffs, and a groovy, head-bobbing double bass drum beat, and a pair of nice, wailing melodic solos. The title track is a 10+ minute epic monster that features awesome tempo changes (some that are wickedly fast, and some slow, yet heavy grinding), brutal, savage drum parts, wild thrashing riffs, and completely mad spewing screams. I love Lee's guitar solo over the fast drum parts around the 6:57 mark as well. Track seven "Iconoclasm" is another scorching, savage thrasher that features vicious, rapid, blow torch riffs, wicked, pummeling drum blasts, and more mad spewing screaming vocals from Rob. "Bedlam 1-2-3" is a brilliant album closer which starts off with a slow yet heavy riff that just keeps building and building up momentum, and before you know it, the song goes directly into high gear with fast, menacing thrash induced riffing, fast, wild, slamming drumwork, and visceral vocals that will get the mosh pits going like crazy and kill everything in it's path. There's also six wild dualing solos as well.
Jeremy's song ratings:
1. Call to Arms - 4/5
2. Riot Act - 5/5
3. Funeral Hymn - 5/5
4. Children of a Worthless God - 5/5
5. As It Was, As It Soon Shall Be - 5/5
6. The Atrocity Exhibition - 5/5
7. Iconoclasm - 5/5
8. The Garden of Bleeding - 5/5
9. Bedlam 1-2-3 - 5/5

Overall, if you're looking for one of the best thrash metal albums of 2007, then you my friends don't have to look no any further than Exodus's The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A. If you enjoy pure heavy, fast, savage, unadulterated thrash metal, you'll definately love this. If you enjoyed both "Tempo of the Damned" and "Shovel Headed Kill Machine, you'll enjoy this even more as well, it's just as great as those two albums combined. Buy this album now. Thrash Metal Lives ON!! June 8, 2008

the benchmark of thrash metal

The majority of music I listen to is thrash metal, Machine Head, Soilwork, Testament, FFDP, The Haunted, Hurtlocker, Sworn Enemy, Etc..... I remember hearing of Exodus before I started really getting into thrash metal. They've been around since Metallica, but I never heard their songs before. I listened to the samples from this album on Amazon.com but I wasn't hooked right off the bat, but I decided to give it a shot and bought this album anyway. That decision upset me. It upset me because I couldn't believe I went so long without listening to these guys. This is honestly, the first time I wished my car stereo went louder. These guys are unbelievable!! I have to lower the ratings on my other albums because like the title of this review says, this album is THE benchmark to which all other thrash metal bands should hope to achieve. There isn't one bad song on it. If you consider yourself a fan of thrash metal and you haven't heard this album, then you do not know what thrash metal is. I now know. I've been fooling myself all this time. Trust me when I say there is no other album that even comes close to this. 6 out of 5 stars. June 7, 2008

WOW - SLAMMIN !!!

Best CD I bought in a long time. I was most impressed.
Not only is eXodus awesome, but the production is incredible.
The entire album is great from start to finish.
If you like METAL, BUY THIS ALBUM! May 13, 2008

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