EXODUS Bonded by Blood is the debut album from these California Thrashers. Musically this is a really good albums but I’ve got to admit I’ve never really given these lads the fair listen that they really deserve. It’s one of those things where there’s only “X” amount of hours in the day and while I don’t mind these dudes at all, they never made it into my conciousness.
This is a really good album. The guitar work is excellent and the musicianship is top tier thrash. I sometimes wonder why this band didn’t become bigger than they did, but as in many of the cases in this website its the first bands to get the albums out in a genre that tend to take the limelight, and by the time this came out, Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax had all released albums (Megadeth’s debut came out around the same time but not sure if it beat Exodus’ debut into shops) they got the glory. This is despite Exodus forming before Metallica and releasing at least one demo around the same time. One other thing I find a bit harsh on the ears is Paul Baloff’s vocals. Not to say he’s bad, he’s actually quite good but there’s something about it that doesn’t gel well with me.
Music wise this is some angry stuff, the riffs are harsh and very “angular” for lack of a better word and there’s virtually no let up. This is one angry album from start to finish, pure thrash. The more I think about it this might be why the band didn’t break into that upper level of thrash, they were certainly good enough, but say Metallica or Megadeth had some easier going tracks which appeal to non-thrash heads where as there’s absolutely no compromise here. I do find the vocals give this a but of a punk edge and make the music seem more violent over all.
I have to say this is a very cool album, my favourite song would have to the “Bonded by Blood” with murder in the front row chorus. But generally its the riffs that on this that really appeal to me, some of the fastest stuff ever committed to tape, especially up until this point. I will have to give these guys more of a chance as listening to them again after so long has got me a lot more fired up about them!
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Exodus delivered a harsher take on thrash