Exodus with special guests Deicide and Misfire

For thousands of years the word EXODUS has been used to describe a massive human migration; embarking upon an epic journey and change filled with such power that the earth itself shakes upon its commencement. All such grand exploits begin with a soft awareness for what truly lies beyond, yet 4 decades ago EXODUS had no way of knowing the extent to which their band would rise, conquer, trip up, and rise again. The formation of the beast we now call EXODUS began in Richmond California 1979, and although many started their journey as fans a few years down the line, there is no debating that the early 80’s was a time for major growth in the world of Thrash Metal, especially in the Bay Area of California. Being only kids at the time, all just learning to use their instruments, Tom Hunting, Kirk Hammett, Tim Agnello, and Keith Stewart began covering classic rock, punk rock, and Iron Maiden songs at backyard birthday parties. The less technologically inclined, music sharing, tape trading ways of the 70’s were still in full force and it was this striving for the acquisition of new sound that fiercely fueled the band’s tenacity to learn, play, and eventually write.

Although Kirk Hammett famously left the band before their genre defining debut, “BONDED BY BLOOD,” Guitarist and lead writer Gary Holt had become a deep rooted foundation in the band, in 1982 EXODUS added the unparalleled, and infamous voice of the now tragically deceased Paul Baloff, solidifying their sound and putting what would become one of the most infamous Thrash albums of all time, on the map. “We were living for heavy metal, it was rad. It was a great time to be alive” remembers Gary Holt. With a new and semi-solid line up of Hunting, Holt, Baloff, Hunolt, and McKillop, “BONDED BY BLOOD” was finally released to the world in 1985. The importance of this album, and its influence on all the heavy metal composers that we have grown to love and respect today, can never be understated for both fans, and the guys in the band. “A lot of bands hit their peak a couple albums in, we busted right out the gates with this face melting, thrash masterpiece,” Holt recalls, “that first time when the shipment came in, and I opened the box, and I was holding that BONDED BY BLOOD vinyl in my hands... that’s a feeling you’ll never replicate. That’s pretty amazing.” In 1987, the release of their second full length album “Pleasures Of The Flesh” was preceded by Baloff leaving, and current lead vocalist Steve Zetro Souza joining the band and solidifying his place as the voice of EXODUS. 8 more studio albums would follow, and through more member switches, time off, family illness, and even death would try to interfere with the progression of the band, they still exist, write music, and garner respect as true royalty in today’s kingdom of heavy metal.

Now celebrating 40 years as a band, truly looking back and reflecting upon the massive history of EXODUS can reignite some wildly significant memories. “What stands out most to me was getting to play our first tour with Venom in 1985, and then going to Europe with them afterwards,” reflects founder and drummer Tom Hunting. “Being 19-20 years old with a double decker bus, traveling the world with no real concept of time or budget, we were just like ‘wow, this is awesome.’” This small town California band saw an entirely new world when they began networking and globetrotting with their idols. They came into opportunity and experience that would forever catapult their career. “Over in Europe, playing the Dynamo Festival for the first time in 1989 in front of what must have been 20,000 people watching us... that was life changing,” says Hunting.

Currently, the EXODUS lineup is comprised of: Tom Hunting on Drums, Gary Holt on Guitar, Lee Altus on Guitar, Jack Gibson on Bass, and Steve “Zetro” Souza as lead vocalist. All these years and EXODUS still boast a similar writing process to what they started out with. Although technology has made it so that the recording and mixing processes are less time consuming, the main change is really just that “[they] respect what [they] do a lot more,” states Hunting. “We’ve humbled ourselves to the journey and consider ourselves lucky to do what we do, but our creative process is still the same. Basically drums, guitar concepts; those are the starting point. After the music begins to take place we all process it and write together. When we were kids it was about the party. Now that we’re men, we’re in it more for the journey.” “To this day I still write a riff the way I did in the beginning,” explains Holt. “I write to make myself happy and I’m still always looking for that sick, brutal ass riff; it hasn’t changed. I kinda stick with my guns on how I do things.” With Holt just finishing up his world famous final run with SLAYER, the supportive network of friends and musicians that is EXODUS patiently await fully re-submerging themselves into a new record. With new ideas and riffs already in the works, not only can these masters of metal assure us upcoming new music, but an abundance of world-wide touring is inevitable. “I can’t tell you how long it’ll go on,” says Hunting, “the fuse is definitely shorter. We’re obviously closer to where it ends than where it started... but we’ll take it one record at a time. As long as we feel good about what we’re doing, there’s good things happening right now in this genre of music, and we want to be a part of that. A lot of bands want to retire but that’s not us. The potential for our next record could be career defining. We’re taking our time and not rushing any songs.”

Regardless of how us metalheads may see it, Heavy Metal will forever be one of the more niche genres in the music industry. Longevity is the key here; to have reigned for over 40 years and created 10 unique, game changing, full length albums amidst the even smaller bailiwick of Thrash Metal. EXODUS not only remain unwavering in their delivery, but in their strength and progression as a successful and unique sonic endeavour that make your every bone rattle and your blood churn in the best of ways.

Gary Holt – guitars
Steve “Zetro” Souza – vocals
Tom Hunting – drums
Lee Altus – guitars
Jack Gibson – bass

Glen Benton - Vocals, Bass
Taylor Nordberg - Guitar
Kevin Quirion - Guitar
Steve Asheim - Drums

The legendary death metal band formed in Tampa, Florida in 1987by current and surviving members, drummer/composer SteveAsheim, and bassist/vocalist/lyricist Glen Benton. The band roseto mainstream success in 1992 with their second album Legion,and is credited as the second-best-selling death metal band of theSoundscan Era. Since their debut album in 1990, Deicide hasreleased twelve studio albums, one live album, two compilationalbums and two live DVDs. In November 2003, their first twoalbums, Deicide and Legion, were ranked second and third placerespectively in best-selling death metal albums of the SoundScanera. Deicide is known for being uncompromising and craftingsome of the best, most punishing Death Metal music in their threedecade-plus of existence. The band is currently putting thefinishing touches on their thirteenth album. Expect the mostintense, brutal and savagely catchy slab of Florida Death Metal!

When drummer James Nicademus co-founded thrash metal quartet Misfire back in 2019, he wanted to bash the skins and unleash full-bore tracks that could serve as musical therapy for his band and the fans. As with any new group, there were exciting opportunities to evolve and difficult circumstances that threatened to derail them. But under James’ watchful eye and vision, Misfire survived the brutal times and arose stronger than ever.

Misfire’s renewed and reinvigorated line-up – which also includes vocalist Tim Jensen, guitarist Kostadin Kostadinov, and bassist/vocalist Dan Stapinski – is now roaring full steam ahead with their sophomore album Product of the Environment on MNRK Heavy.

This new, 12-song collection is the product of the tumultuous changes that the Joliet, Illinois foursome endured over the last three years. Misfire’s original line-up featured a different vocalist/guitarist and bassist. But in 2022, prior to a major tour supporting Warbringer, their frontman departed for personal reasons. Frontman Tim Jensen and guitarist Kostadin Kostadinov swooped in to the save the day. After a successful cross-country trek, their bassist departed to pursue audio engineering, so Misfire enlisted bassist/vocalist Dan Stapinski.

All four Misfire members have met their musical matches in each other, and their talents shine through on Product of the Environment. Jensen brings clarity and melody to his aggressive vocals, finding his sweet spot between the raspy delivery of Dave Mustaine and the bellows of Phil Anselmo. Pulling from his European background, Kosta balances aggression with melody in his six-string playing, shredding when he needs to and showing tasteful restraint at other times. Laying down his bass lines, Dan shows equal shrewdness in how he works the groove of each song.

James may pound away behind his kit, but his musical influence reverberates along the group’s front line. Like one of his idols, Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante, he also plays guitar and conjures most of the riffs that drive the band’s music. While James is Misfire’s principal wordsmith, Dan and Tim added their thoughts to some new tracks.

“Our lyrics are mostly based off of personal experiences,” Dan says. “A lot of it comes really natural.” Beyond music, he and James share a personal bond as they both lost their mother in the same year, so their world views sync up.

Whereas the group’s 2021 raging debut Sympathy For The Ignorant was a set of high energy demos that saw release through MNRK, Product of the Environment was a more polished effort. Misfire journeyed to Atlanta for 10 days to work with co-producer/engineer John Douglass and mixer Alex Parra, who also plays guitar in the band Paladin. The Illinois quartet lived and breathed the music for an intense and concentrated period of time, toiling over 12 hours a day. “Wake up, cook breakfast, and start tracking,” Tim recalls. “Kosta had the most work to do because there's two guitars – rhythms and the solos on top of that.”

The results roar for themselves. The lead single and video “We Went Through Hell” angrily addresses the near dissolution of the band following their original frontman’s departure. “Artificially Intelligent” and “Privacy” address concerns about the devious digital forces that are monitoring and shaping our lives. “Twist of Fate” allows Dan to vent about people who take advantage of others without remorse.

“A lot of lines mean a lot of things to me,” Dan stresses. “I don't write something just to make it sound like Dr. Seuss. Everything has a point of pain, a point of happiness. There's sadness.” James adds that the songs provide room for interpretation to allow listeners to inject their own experiences.

There was a little outside input too. Douglass, Parra, and Death Angel’s Rob Cavestany each provide a guest guitar solo. Thanks to Kosta’s friendship with Exodus frontman Rob Dukes, the latter agreed to appear on the song “Left For Dead,” a song that deals with hypnotism. Dukes portrays the pernicious voice placing Misfire’s frontman under his control.

While Misfire draws from 1980s thrash like Metallica and Kreator, influences such as seminal death metal icons Death and the progressive metal stylings of Dream Theater and Symphony X factor in as well. “Some of the Symphony X stuff definitely changed the way that I play guitar,” James asserts. “If I have to be a little bit more creative with something, it's pretty easy to go: What would Symphony X or Dream Theater do to make this part a little bit less thrash and a little bit less basic?”

Although the old school thrash tag certainly applies to much of Misfire’s music, the members see themselves in broader terms due to their influences. James points to the danceable grooves of “We Went Through Hell,” and he doesn’t rule out a little electronic music injection in the future. “We like a lot more than just metal music,” declares the drummer. “We're very open minded people.”

Of utmost importance to the band will always be playing raw and loud, no click tracks or Auto-Tune needed, and staying authentic to who they are. “In general, everything was written just about us, and it's just a real experience,” Dan explains. “We didn't write a story, but this is our story.”