Kev Rowland It took me a long time to get into Exodus, probably not listening to them properly until the turn of the century, and for a long time thought of them just as the band which Kirk Hammett left to join Metallica. This probably was not helped by some seriously naff album covers such as for ‘Bonded By Blood’ and ‘Impact Is Imminent”, but over the years I have started to enjoy what they produce even though they have had a somewhat interchangeable line-up. However, they have managed to calm that down over the years and since singer Steve Souza returned in 2014 the line-up has been constant, and the last truly new person to join was guitarist Lee Altus in 2001. Although not a founder member, Gary Holt has been the one constant since his arrival in 1982, and alongside drummer Tom Hunting are the only two which played on their debut some 35 years ago. This is their 12th studio album, but their first since 2014’s ‘Blood In, Blood Out’, so what is it like?

Although the production is modern, and there is more bottom end than there would have been back in the day, what we have here is a thrash band who have been around for 40 years and see no reason whatsoever to change their style. Some bands have progressed into different areas, some have regressed into a shadow of their former selves (even though they have made millions), while there are others who have just kept pushing along in the same vein, and that is very much the case with Exodus. The guitars crunch, we get pounding drums, shredding solos, a singer who sounds like he has bene gargling with whisky who is not shy of going up the register, a bassist often playing as if he is on a third guitar linked with the melody, and it is a load of fun. There is nothing new in what they are doing, but Exodus are not attempting to start a new thrash movement, they haven’t finished with the last one yet! An important part of the story at the very beginning, they are still going as if it is still the Eighties, and there will be many metalheads who will happily lose dandruff to this album.

UMUR "Persona Non Grata" is the 12th full-length studio album by US thrash metal act Exodus. The album was released through Nuclear Blast in November 2021. It´s the successor to "Blood In, Blood Out" from October 2014, so it´s been 7 years between the two album releases. Exodus have kept busy with touring though and various members have also been working on other project and with other artists. Guitarist and main composer Gary Holt have been busy touring with Slayer until November 2019 and guitarist Lee Altus found time for his other band Heathen and recorded and released the 2020 album "Empire of the Blind" with them. Writing for the album began in 2017 but Gary Holt´s commitments playing on Slayer´s farewell tour, the COVID-19 pandemic, and drummer Tom Hunting´s cancer diagnose and treatment, were some of the things delaying the release of "Persona Non Grata".

Stylistically very little have changed in the Exodus camp as "Persona Non Grata" is exactly what you´d expect it to be. Sharp thrashy riffs and energetic rhythms, blistering solos, and Steve "Zetro" Souza raw screaming vocals in front. A couple of harmony guitar runs and a slight traditional heavy metal influence have sneaked in, but only occur very few times during the playing time. The songwriting is overall solid, but "Persona Non Grata" is not an album leaving me with the impression that it´s loaded with catchy and memorable tracks. I´m hearing a few standout tracks and quite a few more standard quality tracks, that I don´t really remember after the album is over. 12 tracks and a total playing time of 60:18 minutes is also a bit too long for this type of release, and the songs could often have prospered from a culling (remove a vers or a chorus, and maybe experiment with song structures to create more variation).

Exodus are as always a well playing unit with a unique sound and playing style, and even when the band deliver something a little mediocre in the songwriting department, they are able to lift the material to a higher level because of how skilled and distinct sounding they are. You always know right away, that it´s Exodus playing. The riff style, the drumming tyle and of course the vocals by Souza. The sound production is sharp and provides the material with the perfect platform to shine, so that´s also a positive.

Upon conclusion "Persona Non Grata" is another solid release by Exodus, but to my ears it´s not a standout album in their discography. It´s pretty much on par with the quality of "Blood In, Blood Out" (2014) and a continuation of the sound and style of that release. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.