UMUR "Tempo of the Damned" is the 6th full-length studio album by US, California based thrash metal act Exodus. The album was released through Nuclear Blast Records in February 2004. It´s the successor to "Force of Habit" from 1992 and quite a few things have happened in the 12 years between the two releases. Exodus disbanded in 1994 but reunited shortly in 1997 with original lead vocalist Paul Baloff to play some shows, which produced the "Another Lesson in Violence" live album in 1997, but they folded again in 1998. The untimely death of Baloff in 2002 paved the way for a reunion with lead vocalist Steve "Zetro" Souza. There have been a couple of other lineup changes since the predecessor as drummer John Tempesta has been replaced by returning original drummer Tom Hunting and bassist Mike Butler has been replaced by Jack Gibson. Gary Holt and Rick Hunolt as always handle the guitars.

One of the first things you notice when listening to "Tempo of the Damned" is how sharp and powerful sounding the production is. This is an Andy Sneap production which suits the material perfectly. Exodus had a couple of releases in the past which featured sub par production jobs, but that´s certainly not the case with "Tempo of the Damned", which ranks among their best produced albums. The sound production provides the already powerful tracks with an extra boost and makes them even more powerful sounding than they already are.

So the sound production gives the band the best possible conditions to shine, and shine they do. "Tempo of the Damned" not only features high level musicianship on all posts but there are many well written, catchy, and raw thrash metal songs featured on the album. "Scar Spangled Banner" is a perfect way to open an album, and it´s Exodus at full force with a raw screaming Souza in front. It´s almost impossible to think of a better way to make your return to the scene. The following trio of tracks "War Is My Shepherd", "Blacklist", and "Shroud of Urine" continue the strong opening of the album. The album then continues with more great tracks like "Culling the Herd" and "Sealed With a Fist", and even the AC/DC cover "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" is delivered in great style. The groove laden Pantera influenced "Throwing Down" is quite different from anything I´ve hear from Exodus before and wasn´t initially a favorite, but it´s grown on me since. It may not be the most remarkable track on the album, but it´s still a good quality track.

The basic vers/chorus structure of the tracks are a minor issue to my ears, as it does become a little structurally formulaic and just slightly more creative song structures could have made the overall listening experience a little more rewarding. On the other hand there is also come comfort in vers/chorus structures, and when the material are as well written and powerful as it is on this release, my minor issue with the formulaic song structures becomes less important. "Tempo of the Damned" is through and through a high quality release and a 4 - 4.5 star (85%) rating is deserved.

Vim Fuego Bands reforming years after a split, riding short-lived waves of nostalgia are sad. Generally, it's all for the money. An old singer or guitar player gets wheeled out on stage, surrounded by faceless session musicians to fill in for band members too arthritic or comatose to perform. Tired, bloated old hacks go through the motions of a greatest hits package with none of the enthusiasm of their youth, counting the minutes until they can jam more cocaine up their noses. Deep Purple, the Sex Pistols, Black Sabbath...

Can we add Exodus to this list?

No fucking way. This is Exodus. This is the band whose debut "Bonded By Blood" blitzed the debut of every other Bay Area thrash band, bar none. From the first few notes of "Scar Spangled Banner", it's only a matter of seconds before the memory of the relatively poor "Force Of Habit" is completely banished. This is the band which recorded "A Lesson In Violence". This is the band famous for "The Toxic Waltz". This IS Exodus.

The famous dual guitar attack of Gary Holt and Rick Hunolt is as potent as it ever was, thundering through riff after riff. The pair show great restraint during the numerous solos. The over-the-top Kerry King histrionics of their early career are long gone, in favour of a more classic metal style. Check the Maiden-esque twin lead on "Shroud Of Urine", and the impressive interplay on "Culling The Herd".

The riffs on "Impaler" might sound a little familiar. Apparently, they were written by Kirk Hammett in 1982 (and he gets a writing credit for the song), and first appeared in a slightly altered form on Metallica's "Ride The Lightning". The late Paul Baloff penned the lyrics, in his own distinctive ultraviolent style.

Steve Souza's voice seems to have picked up a rougher edge in the 12 years since "Force Of Habit", but at the same time has widened his vocal register. A criticism levelled at 1990s "Impact Is Imminent" was Souza's voice was too monotonous. The 2004 version still has the same vehement bark he always possessed, but a deeper Chuck Billy style growl and a Chuck Schuldiner screech also appear.

Exodus' political sensibilities have always been sharper than most thrash bands, and the behaviour of the world's only remaining superpower provides lyrical ammo aplenty. "Scar Spangled Banner" and "War Is My Shepherd" vent at the warmongering and right wing gun culture which seems prevalent in the United States.

No single track stands head and shoulders above the others, but neither are there any duds. This is Exodus' most consistent album since their debut. There really isn't anything stunningly new on show, but the adage if it's not broken, don't fix it applies. Exodus is a band with nothing left to prove.

Kingcrimsonprog After a huge absence from the music business, a failed reunion and the death of original singer Paul Baloff, Exodus returned with all guns blazing and ready to recapture lost ground. When I heard about this album, I never believed that it would or indeed could be a pure and true classic thrash album but, as weird as it sounded at the time before the current Thrash revival truly gained a grip, it actually was. Tempo Of The Damned was bay area thrash through and through.

This album is utterly fantastic, and sounds almost as if it was written and recorded right after ‘Fabulous Disaster,’ but with all the benefits of modern recording technology. Ignoring the trends, Exodus soldier on like its 1989 and unleash some of the best riffs and catchy thrash tunes ever, something of an anomaly (if not miracle) at the time of its release. Songs like the incredible ‘Shroud of Urine,’the semi-epic ‘Culling the Herd,’ and the now classic ‘Blacklist,’ are 100% Exodus, with riffs and grooves as great as anything from their 80′s albums.

There is one modern sounding song on the album, the very catchy ‘War is My Shepard,’ but it is such a fantastic song it is bound to convert even the most nitpicking Thrash purist. The song, along with ‘Impaler,’ serves almost as a warm up to the style the band would develop on their incredible Dukes/Atlus albums.

Yes, the cover artwork is stupid but so was Exodus cover. Some people criticize the production but again, all their 80′s albums had production flaws and this just helps to justify my claims that Tempo Of The Damned is utter classic Exodus. To an Exodus fan, Tempo’ is a perfect way to bridge the new era with the old, the farewell performance of Zetro is a career highlight and this is also the final album which can use the term ‘the H-team,’ for the guitarists who similarly down awesome performances.

The album is a worthy addition to your collection for curiosity and historical significance alone, but it really gets by on its own merits too, this is just a great album and I can’t recommend it enough.