Metal command

If you were a teenage metalhead circa 1985-1990, chances are you or your brother were into Exodus, the progenitors of thrash metal. Originally led by the fiery pipes of Paul Baloff, later replaced by Steve “Zetro” Souza, Exodus has now reformed, and is claiming its rightful place on the metal map. This Saturday night, Exodus makes the trek from its Bay Area home to play the Roadhouse in Del Paso Heights.

I was 16 when I got my first taste of Exodus. Bonded By Blood, originally released on Torrid/Combat Records, depicted two vampiric nubiles joined at the back on the cover, apparently upset about their unfortunate birthright; it contained perhaps the most ferocious form of music I’d ever heard. Exodus, along with death metal’s finest band ever, Possessed, hosted a heavy metal soirée at the Petaluma Veterans Hall that is considered by many metalheads to be one of the greatest bills of all time. At the time, Baloff and guitarists Gary Holt and Rick Hunolt, drummer Tom Hunting and bassist Rob McKillop made up the band.

Fifteen years later, Holt, who wrote the bulk of Exodus’ material, can still recall the glory days of one of the Bay Area’s greatest bands ever, alongside such company as Metallica—that group’s Kirk Hammett originally played with Exodus—Death Angel, Vio-Lence, Forbidden and more. Except for its bass player—McKillop has been replaced by Jack Gibson—Exodus now features all original members.

During its heyday, Exodus co-headlined tours with Anthrax, supported Black Sabbath during its Ronnie James Dio-fronted era, and even landed a European and U.S. tour with fellow necrophiliac ensembles Slayer and Venom. “That was the best tour of all of ’em,” Holt muses. “There was also a great Headbanger’s Ball tour with Helloween [the German power metal group] and Anthrax that was pretty cool.”

Baloff, the band’s original vocalist, only sang on Exodus’ first album, subsequent albums with Steve “Zetro” Souza were much larger commercial successes. However, Baloff returning to the helm marks a return to the real Exodus sound. “He’s like a Jim Jones handing out the Kool-Aid,” remarks Holt, referring to the 5-foot-4-inch singer who maniacally rules the stage like a crazed, homicidal maniac.

Exodus has been active around the Bay Area—there was a lengthy hiatus after a pseudo-reunion—since its inclusion on the now infamous “Thrash of the Titans” cancer-awareness concert, a benefit for the ailing frontman of Testament, Chuck Billy, and Death’s Chuck Schuldiner, who has since passed away. The band has been selling out every Bay Area show just like the old days, but is playing such considerably smaller 200-300 capacity rooms.

“I like playing smaller venues, ‘cause it’s really awful and sweaty,” says Holt, now a single father of two children. “Furthermore, we can’t afford to tour, since we don’t have tour support.” Which is to say that Exodus currently is without a major label whose bankroll will cover such road expenses as hotel, buses, hookers, tramps and miscellaneous acts of debauchery.

With a pending package tour in the works dubbed “The Bay Area Invasion,” which will feature buddies Death Angel, Forbidden and Vio-Lence, it would seem Exodus’ prospects are looking up. For the moment, Holt remains at ease working his 9-to-5 day job, opting to take care of his children and lead a stress-free life. He and the rest of Exodus can find solace knowing there are still a bunch of us who recognize their enormous contribution to metal. In the immortal words of Baloff: “Turn to look at Baphomet from below and not above / Welcome to my sacrifice / Tonight there’ll be no love."