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Song

3111

Artist

Exodus

Exodus backstory

Bursting out of Richmond, California in the final days of the 1970s, Exodus featured soon-to-be Metallica fret burner Kirk Hammett in their formative line-up.

Synonymous with the frenzied guitar tone of Gary Holt — an ever-present since joining the band in 1981 — the Bay Area crew cemented their reputation with Bonded By Blood (1985), Pleasures Of The Flesh (1987) and Fabulous Disaster(1989).

But like Testament, Death Angel and more, Exodus never quite kept pace with thrash metal’s Big Four and took a three-year break in 1993.

Another brief hiatus followed but since 2001 Holt and co. have been full throttle and frontman Rob Dukes appears to be relishing a second spell behind the mic.

We called 2021’s Persona Non Grata a career high for predecessor Steve Souza but Dukes is determined to rewrite his own Exodus legacy.

That starts in earnest with the brutal 3111.

In guitarist Gary Holt’s own words

“We decided to go hard with the leadoff single 3111.

“The song is about the narco killings in Juarez and 3111 is the estimated number of murders for 2010 alone.

“After making several revisions — trying to appease YouTube — they refused to release it due to its brutality and its unrelenting, realistic violence.

“We wanted to make a raw, true, real portrayal of the violence of the cartel narco wars and they threatened to remove our YouTube channel permanently.

“We’re working on two versions and the real version will be hosted off site for all of our fans to see.”

The verdict on 3111

Rob Dukes’ return to the Exodus fold at the expense of Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza 12 months ago caused quite a stir in thrash circles.

But the man who helmed the Californian crew for nine years from 2005 has wasted no time reprising a role that breathed new life into the band in the mid noughties.

And if all the metal talk last week focused on Megadeth dropping their final record then Dukes and co. might just go on to steal Dave Mustaine’s thunder.

The first taste of Exodus’s 12th studio album Goliath — due March 20 — is nothing short of ferocious.

Sonically savage and lyrically intense, it’s both a throwback to the mid 80s glory days and an explosive statement of intent for what’s to come.

Little wonder YouTube bosses ran for cover and refused to allow Exodus’s damning verdict on the toxic cartel wars any mainstream coverage.

Band leader Gary Holt — in suitably fret-melting form here — is on the case.

And he’s always struck us as the kind of guy who’ll get it sorted, whatever it takes.

What’s next for Exodus

It’s a big, big year for Holt’s thrash metal royalty with Goliath released via Napalm Records across a range of wallet-busting formats.

The band hits the road with Megadeth and Anthrax across Canada in February and March (what a triple header that is, by the way!).

And then it’s over to Europe and the UK with Kreator, Cracass and Nails — with stops off in London, Manchester and Glasgow in March.

Love your thrash metal? Check out the Best Thrash Albums of 2025 right here.