Let There Be Blood by Exodus
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Release date : October 2008
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
Background information
Review
Background information
San Francisco, California Thrash Metal act Exodus issued inaugural album Bonded By Blood in 1985 via Torrid Records, and the full length featured the following lineup; Gary Holt and Rick Hunolt both handling guitars, Paul Baloff supplying vocals, Rob McKillop occupying bass, and Tom Hunting thumping drums. In 1986, the album was reissued by Combat Records. After years of planning and discussion, it was announced that the re-recording of Bonded By Blood had concluded by early July 2008, and a late October issue was expected via Zaentz Records. The aim was to lend the tracks the benefit of modern production, and the project had originally been projected to include Baloff upon vocals. Sadly, Baloff suffered a massive stroke on January 31st, 2002 that caused a coma. Baloff was placed upon life support at the Intensive Care Unit at Highland Hospital in Oakland, California, and in respect of the wishes of loved ones, the man was taken off life support on February 2nd. To wind the clock back to 2008, sophomore vocalist Steve “Zetro” Souza was recruited yet again (whose vocals feature on 1987's Pleasures of the Flesh, 1989's Fabulous Disaster, 1990's Impact Is Imminent, 1992's Force of Habit, and 2004's Tempo of the Damned), and left in 2005 under mysterious circumstances. Exodus eventually settled on Rob Dukes, who's supplied vocals since 2005's Shovel Headed Kill Machine.
Let There Be Blood was the chosen name for Bonded By Blood's re-recording, with production being overseen by Gary Holt. Recording occurred at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, California, and at JKZ Production Studio in San Rafael, California. At J. Rod Production Studios in New City, New York, Dukes laid down vocal parts. Written by Holt and erstwhile guitarist Kirk Hammett (Metallica), bonus number “Hell's Breath” figured amongst the group's earliest compositions, though never surfaced upon an Exodus full length until now. Let There Be Blood's recording lineup features; Dukes supplying vocals, Holt and Lee Altus strumming guitars, Jack Gibson occupying bass, and Hunting behind the drumkit once again. Designed by Par Oloffson, the re-recording's artwork was unveiled during late August. In Derbyshire, England at Backstage Studios, Andy Sneap mixed the record. In mid October, the re-recorded cuts “A Lesson In Violence” and “Metal Command” were made available for streaming via Exodus' official MySpace page, and “And Then There Were None” followed a week later.
Review
For those unfamiliar with Exodus, the group happen to be, and will always likely be, one of the greatest kept secrets within the Thrash Metal genre. Within Thrash circles, the birth of the genre is accredited to both Exodus, and Metallica, followed by such acts as Slayer, Heathen, and Testament. In this reviewer's youth, the outfit's wild burst of aggression, namely Bonded By Blood, was as great as Metal could be. Throughout the years, me as well as my friends raged (while inebriated, mostly) on many, many occasions to this classic Metal full length, giving rise to initial experiences with “the pit”. As was the case for many fanatics, it wasn't personally exciting to hear that Exodus was re-recording this legendary record, but it still piqued my curiosity.
Exodus' reunion has taught listeners one specific lesson, and that lesson is the fact that Gary Holt is as dependable a musician as any others may care to name. Following the millennium's dawn, Holt has elevated Exodus towards unbelievably loftier heights. All the while, Holt's faith still pledged allegiance to the group's heart, and this is the reason so to why Exodus' 2008 lineup commands respect. Let There Be Blood further validates this opinion. As opposed to cutting a replacement, the motive behind the Bonded By Blood's re-recording was to lend the original “the benefit of modern production”. To accentuate that concept, the album's re-recording bears a differing moniker. Designed by Par Olofsson, Let There Be Blood's cover artwork revisits the artwork upon the original.
When forging an attempt to objectively critique a re-recording, holding such fond memories regarding its original issue causes difficulty. The group has audibly vowed faith towards Bonded By Blood within the limits of reason, and that inspires affection within this reviewer's heart. Seemingly, the motives behind Let There Be Blood's existence aren't to comprise the album Holt originally envisioned in cutting Bonded By Blood, or to surpass its predecessor by way of musical changes. Sonically much the same, Let There Be Blood is nonetheless much larger, not to mention additionally pristine. A tinny quality dominates Bonded By Blood's actual sound, and the same can be said of most eighties recordings. In this specific instance though, that tinny quality is wholly absent.
Let There Be Blood obviously boasts production stylings rooted within 2008, and the title cut, “Exodus”, and “Metal Command” emerge as the main beneficiaries. To be frank, “Bonded by Blood” sounds quite insane. Despite the fact that its original rendition holds a special place in this reviewer's life, within this specific rendition, Rob Dukes more than validates his vocal worth (in all likelihood, Dukes has sung “Bonded by Blood” upon a nightly basis for a number of years). Upon this track, Dukes' vocals prove particularly great, and each lyric is meaningfully uttered. Likewise, “Exodus” maintains that emotional affinity towards the pit, and comes replete with “us against them” type lyrics, as well as hugely aggressive guitars. In this reviewer's opinion, “Metal Command” is sonically the most different, and happens to be much overlooked. Lyrically critiqued against its fellow numbers, the track is slightly more immature, yet much less violent. Resembling buzzsaws upon Bonded By Blood's re-recording, the chosen guitar sound is lent due attention. Extremely tight, it's fully evident that Exodus has performed this material for quite some time.
Irrefutable classics, each respective track warrants your attention, and that can only be said of very few albums. Let There Be Blood is almost as classic as Bonded By Blood, something that will surprise countless longtime Thrash fanatics, and one of the central reasons for this is Dukes. In the very same fashion that the late Paul Baloff drew listeners into Bonded By Blood, Dukes draws you into Let There Be Blood from the very beginning, holding you down until the moment you admit he's a rightful vocalist within Exodus. A defining moment, Let There Be Blood provides a respectful glance towards the past.
