It came as something of a shock to realise that “Goliath” is only Exodus’ tenth album, because it feels like they’ve been part of the furniture of thrash forever. One of the best to ever do it – and, like Testament, better than at least two of the bands in the so‑called Big 4 – they’ve never really dealt in half‑measures, and this doesn’t start now.
The headline this time round is the latest turn in the vocal hokey‑cokey. Rob Dukes – who in 2015 said he was satisfied he never had to talk to “those guys” again – is back in the fold and sounds like he’s been storing up venom for the occasion. If there was any worry that age or time away might have mellowed Exodus, opener “3111” sorts that out quickly, an unsettling, nasty slab of thrash with razor‑sharp riffs that feel designed to take skin off.
“Hostis Humani Generis” is ready‑made for a moshpit in a morgue, all spite and swagger and absolutely no compromise. When Dukes spits “I couldn’t give a fuck how I act, my actions and their impact,” it rings uncomfortably true if you’ve followed some of his past utterances, but it also underlines how committed he is to the bile that fuels this record. “The Changing Me” brings in Peter Tägtgren, his vocals an icy blast across a song that already feels like a mid‑winter storm, and the contrast only makes it hit harder.
Exodus have always had a knack for hooks, and “Promise You This” might be the moment where that gift shines brightest here. Gary Holt and Lee Altus are superb throughout, but on this one they absolutely excel, threading riffs and leads together into something that feels like an instant live staple. The title track “Goliath” does exactly what it says on the tin – it crushes – and the string embellishments are a genuine treat that give it a twisted grandeur rather than softening the blow.
“Beyond The Event Horizon” plays with mood and space, its more measured feel setting up the contrast with what follows. “2 Minutes Hate” might clock in closer to five, but it’s a masterclass in how to keep that time taut, the solo tearing out of nowhere to remind you that this band can still shock. “Violence Works” is a late‑career gamble that pays off, grooving harder than you might expect from Exodus but carrying a lyrical idea – that the threat of a good kicking is never far away – which fits them all too well.
“Summon Of The God Unknown” takes a slower, more vicious swing at religion, dragging its target into the dirt with riffs to match. Closer “The Dirtiest Of The Dozen” feels like it might be at least partly autobiographical: “It’s not about the fortune, even less about the fame,” they insist, and whether or not it is, what it’s really about is magnificent thrash played by a band where everyone, right down to Jack Gibson’s bass, is bang on the money.
“We’ll do this till we die, till we breathe no more,” they proclaim, and you believe every word. Over four decades in, Exodus aren’t just still here; with “Goliath” they sound like they’re still fighting to prove something, and that fire runs deep.
Rating: 9/10
