Bay Area thrash metal veterans EXODUS are building anticipation for their thirteenth studio album "Goliath," set for release March 20 via Napalm Records. The album marks the notable return of vocalist Rob Dukes, who last appeared on 2010's "Exhibit B: The Human Condition" before being replaced by Steve "Zetro" Souza for 2014's "Blood In Blood Out" and 2021's "Persona Non Grata." Sources close to the band indicate an official announcement with a lead single is imminent.
"Goliath" is reportedly the most collaborative record in EXODUS's four-decade history, with guitarist Gary Holt inviting longtime friends and admirers into the creative process. Guest appearances include Peter Tagtgren of HYPOCRISY and PAIN, who contributes vocals and production elements to one track, and classically trained violinist Katie Jacoby, known for her work with THE WHO, who adds orchestral textures to the album's most experimental passages.
The recording sessions took place at Holt's home studio in the San Francisco Bay Area, with Tom Hunting returning behind the drum kit after his successful battle with cancer. Hunting's presence on the album carries enormous emotional weight for both the band and their fanbase, as his 2021 diagnosis and subsequent recovery became a rallying point for the thrash community.
EXODUS will road-test the new material immediately, joining MEGADETH and ANTHRAX for a 12-date Canadian run starting February 15 in Victoria, BC. The tour provides a perfect platform to build momentum ahead of the "Goliath" release, placing EXODUS in front of large arena audiences alongside two of the Big Four's most iconic acts. Holt has promised that the new songs will translate ferociously in a live setting.