Once the kings of the Bay Area metal scene (widely accepted as the birthplace of thrash), Exodus were unceremoniously demoted from their post with the arrival of Los Angeles' Metallica in 1982. Sadly, with a little more luck, the group may have occupied the role of, say, Slayer as the purest purveyors of ultra-thrash, but while they continued to be perceived as a major influence by younger bands and proceeded to carve out a career of their own over the next decade, Exodus were ultimately fated to be the ultimate also-rans of the genre they helped spawn.

Formed in 1981 by singer Paul Baloff, guitarists Gary Holt and Kirk Hammett, bassist Geoff Andrews, and drummer Tom Hunting, Exodus were heavily influenced by Motörhead and New Wave of British Heavy Metal bands like Iron Maiden and Raven, whose lessons they combined with the raw, do-it-yourself aesthetic of the prolific Bay Area punk scene to create thrash metal. Their 1982 demo, Whipping Queen and Death and Domination, became wildly popular on the all-important underground tape-trading circuit and solidified their standing as the Bay Area's first thrash champions. They lost their numero uno standing a year later, however, when core member Kirk Hammett defected to Metallica, who then raced ahead of all competitors in their mission to bring thrash to the world. Undaunted, Exodus drafted guitarist Rick Hunolt and replaced bassist Andrews with Rob McKillop before signing with Torrid Records, for whom they recorded their Bonded by Blood debut in 1984. A would-be landmark of the genre, the album languished unreleased for over a year due to business problems, and by the time it was finally released by Combat Records in 1985, its impact had been severely dulled by the quick evolution of their peers.

These hardships also led to the ousting of vocalist Baloff, who was replaced by ex-Testament singer Steve Souza in time for 1987's disappointing Pleasures of the Flesh — an inconsistent album that did nothing to advance Exodus' cause. Incessant touring served to strengthen the band's new lineup though, and 1989's meticulously conceived Fabulous Disaster was a critical triumph, bringing the group to its commercial peak. The successful world tour that followed brought another dramatic setback, however, when drummer Hunting was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat that first sidelined then forced him to quit the band at tour's end. Still, Exodus were on a roll, and their momentum led to a new contract with Capitol Records. They rushed back into the studio with former Anthrax drum tech John Tempesta to lay down tracks for 1990's Impact Is Imminent. But the absence of a competent producer and a rushed, carelessly assembled collection of songs resulted in the album's utter failure, squandering the group's recent accomplishments and pretty much finishing off its chances of greater success. Longtime bassist McKillop left soon after (replaced by Mike Butler) and despite the renewed quality of 1992's Force of Habit (their most diverse album), the members of Exodus would go their separate ways soon thereafter.

Then, ten years after his departure from the band, Paul Baloff rejoined most of the classic Bonded by Blood lineup for a series of gigs in 1997. A live album entitled Another Lesson in Violence was issued by Century Media to memorialize their homecoming show in San Francisco, and the band continued to perform sporadically over the next few years until tragedy struck. Baloff suddenly passed away on February 2, 2002, after suffering a massive stroke and slipping into a coma three days earlier. The reunion die was cast however, and after mourning their fallen friend, Exodus's "semiclassic" formation of Holt, Hunolt, Hunting, McKillop, and a returning Steve Souza began working on what would become the band's sixth studio album: 2004's Nuclear Blast-released Tempo of the Damned.

CURRENT LINE-UP:

Rob Dukes - Vocals Gary Holt - Guitars Jack Gibson - Bass (Vile) Paul Bostaph - Drums (Slayer, Systematic, Forbidden, Testament)

PAST MEMBERS:

Vocals: Tim Agnello (Blind Illusion, Outrage) (1980) Paul Baloff (R.I.P. 2002, stroke) (Piranha, Spastik Children, Heathen, Hirax) (1981-86, 93, 97-2002) Steve "Zetro" Souza (Legacy, F-Bomb, Testament) (1986-92, 2002-04) Guitar: Rick Hunolt - Guitars (1983-2003, 1997-2005) Kirk Hammett (Metallica) (1981-1983) Mike Maung (1983) Bass: Carlton Melson (Blizzard) (1980) Geoff Andrews (Possessed) (1980-1983) Rob McKillop (1983-1991) Mike Butler (1992-1993) Drums: John Tempesta (Testament, Black Label Society, White Zombie, Prong, Helmet) (1990-1992) Tom Hunting - Drums (Angel Witch, I4NI, IR8, Sexoturica) (1980-1989, 1997-2005)

1982 Demo

1.)Whipping Queen

2.)Death And Domination

3.)Warlords

Die By His Hand (Demo 1983)

1.)Die By His Hand

2.)Endor

Note: This is a live demo.

NO COVER ART AVAILABLE

Demo (1983)

1.)Bonded By Blood

2.)Death Row

3.)Hell's Breath

4.)Die By His Hand

5.)No Love

NO COVER ART AVAILABLE

A Lesson In Violence (Demo 1984)

1.)A Lesson In Violence

2.)Exodus

Note: Apparently an outtake recording taken from the recording sessions for Bonded By Blood.

NO COVER ART AVAILABLE

Turk Street Demo (1984)

1.)Bonded By Blood

2.)Exodus

3.)And Then There Were None

4.)A Lesson In Violence

5.)Piranha

6.)No Love

7.)Deliver Us To Evil

8.)Strike Of The Beast

9.)Death Row

Note: Recorded in Turk Street Studios. Only Bonded By Blood, Exodus, and A Lesson In Violence have vocals. The band ran out of money before the rest of the vocals could be finished.

Bonded By Blood (1985)

1.)Bonded By Blood

2.)Exodus

3.)And Then There Were None

4.)A Lesson In Violence

5.)Metal Command

6.)Piranha

7.)No Love

8.)Deliver Us To Evil

9.)Strike Of The Beast

Bonus tracks on remaster:

10.)And Then There Were None (Live)

11.)A Lesson In Violence (Live)

Notes: This is the original cover, the most common version now has an edited cover.

NO COVER ART AVAILABLE

Pleasures Of The Flesh Demo (1986)

1.)Pleasures Of The Flesh

2.)Seeds Of Hate

3.)Brain Dead

Note: Features Paul Baloff on vocals. His last recording before he left the band in 1986.

Pleasures Of The Flesh (1987)

1.)Deranged

2.)'Til Death Do Us Part

3.)Parasite

4.)Brain Dead

5.)Faster Than You'll Ever Live To Be

6.)Pleasures Of The Flesh

7.)30 Seconds

8.)Seeds Of Hate

9.)Chemi-Kill

10.)Choose Your Weapon

Fabulous Disaster (1989)

1.)The Last Act Of Defiance

2.)Fabulous Disaster

3.)The Toxic Waltz

4.)Low Rider

5.)Cajun Hell

6.)Like Father, Like Son

7.)Corruption

8.)Verbal Razors

9.)Open Season

10.)Overdose

Notes: Low Rider is a War cover. Overdose is an AC/DC cover, but doesn't appear on all versions of this album.

Objection Overruled (EP 1990)

1.)Objection Overruled

2.)Free For All

3.)Changing Of The Guard

Note: Free For All is a Ted Nugent cover

Impact Is Imminent (1990)

1.)Intro/Impact Is Imminent

2.)A.W.O.L.

3.)The Lunatic Parade

4.)Within The Walls Of Chaos

5.)Objection Overruled

6.)Only Death Decides

7.)Heads They Win (Tails You Lose)

8.)Changing Of The Guard

9.)Thrash Under Pressure

Good Friendly Violent Fun (Live 1991)

1.)Fabulous Disaster

2.)Chemi-Kill

3.)'Til Death Do Us Part

4.)The Toxic Waltz

5.)Cajun Hell

6.)Corruption

7.)Brain Dead

8.)Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

Note: Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap is an AC/DC cover

Thorn In My Side (Promo Single 1992)

1.)Thorn In My Side

Lessons In Violence (Compilation 1992)

1.)Bonded By Blood

2.)Exodus

3.)Chemi-Kill

4.)The Toxic Waltz

5.)A Lesson In Violence

6.)Piranha

7.)Brain Dead

8.)Fabulous Disaster

9.)Low Rider

10.)And Then There Were None (Live)

Note: On some versions Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (AC/DC) appear instead of Low Rider (War).

Force Of Habit (1992)

1.)Thorn In My Side

2.)Me, Myself, And I

3.)Force Of Habit

4.)Bitch

5.)Fuel For The Fire

6.)One Foot In The Grave

7.)Count Your Blessings

8.)Climb Before The Fall

9.)Architect Of Pain

10.)When It Rains It Pours

11.)Good Day To Die

12.)Pump It Up

13.)Feeding Time At The Zoo

Bonus tracks on Japenese version:

14.)Crawl Before You Walk

15.)Telepathic

Note: Bitch is a Rolling Stones cover, and Pump It Up is an Elvis Costello cover.

Another Lesson In Violence (Live 1997)

1.)Bonded By Blood

2.)Exodus

3.)Pleasures Of The Flesh

4.)And Then There Were None

5.)Piranha

6.)Seeds Of Hate

7.)Deliver Us To Evil

8.)Brain Dead

9.)No Love

10.)A Lesson In Violence

11.)Impaler

12.)Strike Of The Beast

Note: Impaler, performed live on here, is the only offically released Exodus song co-written by Kirk Hammett (from when he was still in the band).

War Is My Shepard (EP 2003)

1.)War Is My Shepard

2.)Sealed With A Fist

3.)Impaler

4.)Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

Note: Only available through Nuclear Blast mail order and as a concert promo from their 2003 tour.

Tempo Of The Damned (2004)

1.)Scar Spangled Banner

2.)War Is My Shepard

3.)Blacklist

4.)Shroud Of Urine

5.)Forward March

6.)Culling The Herd

7.)Sealed With A Fist

8.)Throwing Down

9.)Impaler

10.)Tempo Of The Damned

Note: Digipak version contains Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (AC/DC cover) as a bonus track and a video for War Is My Shepard.

Shovel Headed Kill Machine (2005)

1.)Raze

2.)Deathamphetamine

3.)Karma's Messenger

4.)Shudder To Think

5.)I Am Abomination

6.)Altered Boy

7.)Going Going Gone

8.)Now Thy Death Day Come

9.).44 Magnum Opus

10.)Shovel Headed Kill Machine