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Holy Hell!!! This
is a real thrash holocaust. I've
decided to save us some time and space,
cutting to the chase right away. I
know how boring a large text seems,
especially when it has nothing to
offer, other than biographical notes
and historical references in its two
third's. You know things like,
"Exodus is a great 80's
band, 13 albums, one of the most….bla
bla bla… and now let's
go to the music…". Sucks!!!
This happens when people just don't
know what to write. I, myself use
this technique quite often and I admit
that if I am to do it again, this
is the right moment. I really don't
know what to write!!! Most of you
must have already read many reviews
on "Shovel…" and
have a solid opinion about how good
or bad (I would say excellent), this
album is. So I'll simply line-up
my conclusions, after listening to
it many times, and you can use them
as you please.
As far as I'm
concerned "Shovel Headed Kill
Machine" is a modern thrash
metal monument!!! Does it sound far-fetched
to you? I won't argue. In fact
I said the same thing one year ago
when Giannis Hatzis played me "Tempo
of the Damned" and told me more
or less the same thing. While I was
the thrash metal fanatic, he was so
excited with "Tempo…"
that I simply couldn't get it.
Not that I didn't like the album,
quite the opposite, but I was suspicious.
Exodus had made a sweeping comeback,
but I wanted to see what their next
step would be. Zetro's departure
seemed to prove me true for a while,
but Exodus had some aces up their
sleeves, talking about Gary Holt and
Rob Dukes, who is obviously talented
and ambitious, but I didn't
find his vocal delivery fit at first.
He has a neo-thrash aggressive style,
distant to my likings. After 3-4 repetitions
though, the "vocals' problem"
suddenly disappeared. It was covered
by the storming riffs, the aggressive
rhythms, the menacing tempo and the
bombastic battery, that is handled
by the mighty Paul Bostaph. All of
them form a fresh thrash constitution,
an uplifting masterpiece, a wicked
creation and most of all a "Shovel
Headed Kill Machine" that crashes
everything in its path.
I really can pick
out any songs. From the opening "Raze"
to "Deathamphetamine"
to "Shudder to think"
and "I am Abomination"
and all the way down, all are furious,
aggressive, sinister, simply brilliant.
Exodus are here to stay!!! They are
the new thrash metal Masters!!! As
far as I'm concerned no thrash
metal album of the 21st century can
match "Shovel Headed Kill Machine",
yet. |
