Bay Area thrash metal veterans EXODUS have released "War Eternal," the ferocious second single from their upcoming thirteenth studio album "Goliath," due March 20 via Napalm Records, with whom the band signed in 2023. The track follows the brutal and well-received lead single "3111" and doubles down on the band's signature blend of breakneck thrash riffing and socially charged lyrical fury, while also showcasing the return of vocalist Rob Dukes, who fronts EXODUS for the first time since 2010's "Exhibit B: The Human Condition."
Dukes departed EXODUS in 2014 amid lineup changes and was replaced by the returning Steve "Zetro" Souza, who recorded 2021's "Persona Non Grata" before the band once again parted ways with their classic-era frontman. Dukes' return has been met with considerable enthusiasm from a significant portion of the EXODUS fanbase, who appreciate his raw, aggressive vocal delivery and physically commanding stage presence that brought a different but equally valid energy to the band's material compared to Souza's approach.
Guitarist Gary Holt, the band's primary songwriter and sole remaining founding member who also served as SLAYER's touring and studio guitarist for a decade, has stated in multiple interviews that "Goliath" features some of the most diverse and ambitious material EXODUS has ever committed to tape. The accompanying music video for "War Eternal" was directed by Scott Hansen and features visceral performance footage intercut with dystopian imagery that complements the song's themes of perpetual conflict and social decay.
"Goliath" marks EXODUS' most collaborative record in their four-decade-plus history, with songs co-written by multiple band members including guitarist Lee Altus, bassist Jack Gibson, and drummer Tom Hunting, who has battled through serious health challenges in recent years. The album also features notable guest appearances from Peter Tagtgren of HYPOCRISY and PAIN, who contributes vocals to one track, and violinist Katie Jacoby, known for her work with THE WHO. The album was produced by the band, recorded by Juan Urteaga and Jesse Fioren, and mixed and mastered by Mark Lewis, with photography by Jim Louvau and Lisa Holt.