Exodus guitarist Gary Holt has lifted the lid on the band’s next chapter, confirming the release date for their new album and by the sounds of it, he’s feeling everything all at once.
Speaking backstage at San Antonio Fear Fest, Holt didn’t hold back on his excitement over the band’s follow up to 2021’s Persona Non Grata.
“It’s fucking awesome… it’ll be out next March, I think, March 20 and it’s fucking awesome,” he told Robbs MetalWorks.
“We’re so proud of this record.”
Exodus didn’t just write an album, they ended up with nearly two. Holt explained that “80 percent of the follow-up… is done already”, the result of locking themselves away in their usual full immersion style, living together and writing constantly.
Longtime guitarist Lee Altus wrote four of the album’s 10 tracks, with Holt describing the atmosphere like a metalhead’s dream retreat, heavy riffs, shared space, and zero downtime.
Rob Dukes return
The return of vocalist Rob Dukes has injected even more fire into the band’s rebirth.
“It’s fucking been amazing,” Holt said. “When you hear [Rob’s] vocals on this new record, you’re gonna shit your pants.” And according to both Holt and drummer Tom Hunting, the emotional charge behind these new tracks is overwhelming.
“When I listen to it, it makes me wanna cry, it’s so good,” Holt admitted. “We made something special.”
The record is expected to dive through the full spectrum of the Exodus sound, from manic thrash to crushing slow sections, topped with Dukes’ most commanding performance yet.
The album is mixed by Mark Lewis, marking the band’s first departure from longtime collaborator Andy Sneap in nearly three decades.
Dukes himself has already dubbed the new material his strongest work with the band, pushing beyond what he delivered on Exhibit B while staying true to Exodus’ feral core. With more songs on the way and a second release already halfway complete, the band’s next era is shaping up to be one of their biggest since Bonded By Blood reshaped thrash history.
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