Quite possibly the most seminal piece of news in the thrash metal universe last year was Steve 'Zetro' Souza reclaiming his position once again as vocalist for Bay Area thrash metal legends Exodus. Tonight's London show is the first of two stops thrashers are making in the capital and although guitarist Gary Holt is absent from this tour due to playing for Slayer, the anticipation of an Exodus show with Souza behind the microphone could not be higher. In spite of strikes on the Channel Tunnel, the band is delayed yet manages to still make it to the show.
Support tonight comes from English Dogs, handpicked by Exodus themselves. With some punk and some heavy metal albums that are labelled either punk or crossover thrash, it is not hard to see how this band was an influence on the headliners. Understandably, their set deals with the metal side of the discography, musically speaking fairly standard songs with no particular highlights or offensive moments. Nonetheless, the attendees appear to appreciate these punks even if their music does lack the intensity and heaviness that Exodus emanate.
There is a half hour delay before Exodus hitting the stage but before too long the band erupts into 'Black 13' from new album 'Blood In, Blood Out', instantly commanding a ferocious mosh pit that dominates the venue. Initially, the sound is far from perfect with the current focal point of the line up Steve Souza getting drowned in the mix. Fortunately, as the sound improves as the set blasts on although never quite secures perfection. The first four tracks concern themselves exclusively with songs from Exodus' later output with the new album's title track, 'Children of a Worthless God' and 'Iconoclasm' (the latter preceded by the signature guitar riff of Slayer's 'Raining Blood' to explain Gary Holt's absence and introduce his substitute Kragen Lum from Heathen) portraying Exodus' modern thrash metal sound that is still imitated by countless younger thrash bands.
Yet the fans are undeniably baying for older selections and sure enough, Exodus start injection selections from their highly lauded thrash metal debut 'Bonded By Blood' into the set, with the insistent 'Piranha' the first song from the album aired out, modernised with the current guitar sound the band employs. Mosh pits become more aggressive and waves of crowdsurfers make sure the security is kept busy in the compact venue. Souza voices his support for the carnage and makes space as bodies land on the stage. His vocals handling the Paul Baloff and Rob Dukes-era material is effortless with his voice akin to a thrash metal version of AC/DC's Brian Johnson. 'Pleasures of the Flesh' and 'Blacklist' are two songs played that Souza recorded vocals on and sound sublime, buoying the enthusiasm of the sweat-drenched crowd. But the closing one-two punch of 'A Lesson in Violence' and 'Bonded by Blood' with its defining '80s thrash metal vigour sends the audience over the edge.
After a short break, Exodus triumphantly return for an encore. Beginning with 'War is My Shepherd' from 'Tempo of the Damned', securing a dramatic response from the audience. What follows is one of the Americans' most loved crowd pleasers 'Toxic Waltz' complete with a formidable mosh pit that envelops the stage. The final song of the night is also the closing song off 'Bonded By Blood' namely 'Strike of the Beast', punctuating a night of inspiring thrash metal that those in attendance thoroughly enjoyed and the die-hard fanatics would witness again the following night at the second show.
FUTURE GIGS
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