EXODUS
DEATH ANGEL
2020 is set to be an unforgettable year for European thrash metalheads – three legendary pioneers of the genre have announced that they will be touring the continent throughout February and March next spring. Hitting the road will be no other than the Bay Area’s very own TESTAMENT, EXODUS and DEATH ANGEL – who have all teamed up to bring the catchily dubbed “The Bay Strikes Back” tour to European shores.
TESTAMENT’s Chuck Billy commented:
“It’s finally happening!!!! All of us have spoken over the years of how killer it would be to tour together and bring Bay Area Thrash Metal across the world and we are starting in Europe. I’m sure I can speak for all three bands in saying that we are proud of where we all came from and we are still delivering some of the best thrash metal we can to the fans. Be ready for the Bay Area Strikes Back Tour 2020.”
And Gary Holt from EXODUS:
“I am fired up to FINALLY return to Europe with EXODUS! Along with our Bay Area friends TESTAMENT and DEATH ANGEL! An epic tour for the ages! Looking forward to crushing everyone Bay Area style! See you there!!! I cannot wait!”
DEATH ANGEL’s Rob Cavestany added:
“We couldn’t be more excited to announce our upcoming tour with TESTAMENT and EXODUS! Bay Area Thrash Attack in full force! All 3 bands have been close friends for decades and our mutual respect is of the highest level. That said, we will surely push each other to go beyond expectations each and every night. This is a first – the three of us have never toured together in the same package… it’s about time! See you in the pit!”
See all dates below.
Both, TESTAMENT and EXODUS are currently working on the follow-up to their 2016 (TESTAMENT – »Brotherhood Of The Snake«) and 2014 (EXODUS – »Blood In, Blood Out«) albums, while DEATH ANGEL will be touring in support of their most recent record, »Humanicide« (2019).
THE BAY STRIKES BACK TOUR 2020
TESTAMENT | EXODUS | DEATH ANGEL
presented by: METAL HAMMER, EMP, IMPERICON, NUCLEAR BLAST & COBRA AGENCY
06.02.2020 DK Copenhagen, Amager Bio
07.02.2020 SE Stockholm, Arenan Fryshuset
10.02.2020 FI Helsinki, The Circus
11.02.2020 FI Tampere, Pakkahuone
13.02.2020 DE Hamburg, Docks
14.02.2020 DE Oberhausen, Turbinenhalle
15.02.2020 DE Wiesbaden, Schlachthof
16.02.2020 NL Utrecht, Tivoli
18.02.2020 DE Berlin, Huxleys
19.02.2020 PL Wroclaw, Orbita Hall
20.02.2020 AT Vienna, Arena
21.02.2020 DE Munich, Backstage
22.02.2020 DE Filderstadt, Filharmonie
25.02.2020 IT Milano, Live Club
27.02.2020 ES Barcelona, Razzmatazz
28.02.2020 ES Madrid, Palacio Vistalegre
29.02.2020 FR Toulouse, Bikini
01.03.2020 FR Paris, Elysee Montmartre
03.03.2020 UK Bristol, O2 Academy
04.03.2020 IE Dublin, National Stadium
06.03.2020 UK London, Forum
07.03.2020 UK Manchester, Academy
08.03.2020 UK Glasgow, Barrowland
10.03.2020 BE Brussels, AB
11.03.2020 DE Hannover, Capitol
ICYMI:
TESTAMENT – ‘The Pale King’ music video: https://youtu.be/wkHT86Ei7DY
EXODUS – ‘Blood In, Blood Out’ music video: https://youtu.be/6c69S3pD8qI
DEATH ANGEL – ‘I Came For Blood’ music video: https://youtu.be/BNuliOVJ8O8
www.testamentlegions.com
www.exodusattack.com
www.deathangel.us
www.facebook.com/testamentlegions
www.facebook.com/exodusattack
www.facebook.com/deathangel
www.nuclearblast.de/testament
www.nuclearblast.de/exodus
www.nuclearblast.de/deathangel
by Stephanie Cabral
by Bruce Getty
To celebrate their 40th anniversary, Bay Area thrash metal legends EXODUS recently unleashed a new single entitled ‘No Love (Live At Day In The Dirt 1984)’. Today the band is pleased to announce that the aforementioned single – featuring a rare demo version of ‘Death Row’ on the B-side, which is only available on this release – can now also be purchased on limited 7″ vinyl via the links below!
Green Vinyl: https://www.nuclearblast.de/de/produkte/tontraeger/vinyl/7-ep/exodus-no-love-live-at-day-in-the-dirt-1984-green-vinyl.html (limited to 200 copies worldwide; NB-exclusive!)
White Vinyl: https://www.nuclearblast.de/de/produkte/tontraeger/vinyl/7-ep/exodus-no-love-live-at-day-in-the-dirt-1984-white-vinyl.html (limited to 400 copies worldwide; NB-exclusive!)
Red Vinyl: https://www.nuclearblast.de/de/produkte/tontraeger/vinyl/7-ep/exodus-no-love-live-at-day-in-the-dirt-1984-red-vinyl.html (limited to 400 copies worldwide; NB-exclusive!)
ICYMI:
Take a trip back to that incredible time in thrash metal history with the recently unearthed live recording of ‘No Love (Live At Day In The Dirt 1984)’, and listen to the raw power of the original »Bonded By Blood« line-up of the band that started it all… EXODUS!
Check out the track stream here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYLbWpL4OJ0 (Photographs: Brian Lew)
Listen and download at http://nuclearblast.com/exodus-nolove.
Or listen to the track in the NB New Releases Playlists:
http://nblast.de/SpotifyNewReleases / http://nblast.de/AppleMusicNewReleases
The formation of the beast we now call EXODUS began in Richmond, CA in 1979, and although many started their journey as fans a few years down the line, there is no debating that the early 80’s was a time for major growth in the world of thrash metal, especially in the Bay Area of California.
Day In The Dirt was perhaps the ultimate example of the Bay Area thrash metal underground scene in 1984. A plywood stage constructed in a Berkeley, CA park where SLAYER, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and EXODUS played to a frenzied crowd of headbangers. It was also evident from this show, and others like it, why EXODUS was so influential on the Bay Area scene and thrash metal in general. With the eventual release of their first album »Bonded By Blood«, the band would take their music and their live show to new heights of insanity in the years that followed.
Take a trip back to that incredible time in thrash metal history with the recently unearthed live recording of ‘No Love (Live At Day In The Dirt 1984)’, and listen to the raw power of the original »Bonded By Blood« line-up of the band that started it all… EXODUS!
In celebration of their 40 year reign, EXODUS is proud to release the single ‘No Love (Live At Day In The Dirt 1984)’. Check out the track stream here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYLbWpL4OJ0 (Photographs: Brian Lew)
Gary Holt comments,
“Day In The Dirt was almost like the Bay Area thrash metal Woodstock, our own underground version on the legendary Day On The Green shows we all attended so many times. What happened that day at Aquatic Park in Berkeley has gone down in Bay Area lore as an epic day for the underground thrash scene. The brainchild of the late great Wes Robinson, we were fortunate to have been a key part of such a great show. It was Rick Hunolt’s second EXODUS show as well I believe!”
Listen and download at http://nuclearblast.com/exodus-nolove.
Stay tuned for more information on upcoming festivities surrounding the 40 year anniversary as well as their highly awaited eleventh album.
]]>So, this old man moves his tardy bones to the festival grounds in the company of good friends to witness thrash legends EXODUS play an afternoon gig. And what a gig it is! Zetro is in the best of spirits and it clearly enjoying himself immensely in the afternoon sun.
The thing with me and Exodus is that the two albums Pleasures of the Flesh and Fabulous Disaster are my absolute favourites. They could basically play those two albums back to back, and I’d be a happy geezer. But, needless to say, this is not what happens. The focus is on Paul Baloff era songs as well as Zetro’s own – however, a 45 minute set doesn’t allow much space. ‘Parasite’ from Pleasures and ‘Toxic Waltz’ with the customary wall of death are the only representatives from my favourite albums I get before the just as customary ‘Strike of the Beast’ concludes a rock solid set by the thrash veterans.
Exodus setlist:
1. Funeral Hymn
2. Blood In, Blood Out
3. Deliver Us To Evil
4. And Then There Were None
5. Parasite
6. A Lesson In Violence
7. Blacklist
8. Bonded By Blood
9. The Toxic Waltz
10. Strike of the Beast
AT THE GATES with Tomas ‘Tomba’ Lindberg in front are of course also veteran league. These are the guys who practically invented melo-death, and there is little to complain about during the set. I haven’t really listened to the two albums they released since their comeback, but it’s not a far cry from the Slaughter of the Soul material, that much I can tell. That’s a good thing.
I’m watching the show from the hill adjecent to the Hades stage, which means at some distance. Soundwise, this is not necessarily a clever move by yours truly, but I still enjoy ‘Blinded By Fear’, the über-classic by the Swedish crew.
I’ve never been a fan of DEFTONES‘s music, although I have good friends who adore them. My knowledge of them basically limits itself to ‘My Summer’, which is a cool track. Despite my hesitation in terms of their songs, the Deftones’ importance for nu-metal shouldn’t be underestimated, neither should their presence on a stage. Chino Moreno’s act is fabulous. He’s one of the very few artists during the festival who’s actually in real, physical contact with the audience as he climes down from the stage and positions himself on the fence between the audience and photo pit during two songs – literally leaning on the crowd. He’s also got these for metal front men slightly, let’s say, unconventional Latin moves, which are actually cool and a bit of a relief, because he breaks the norm. But one could discuss, naturally, if Deftones are metal at all. A good show it is, that’s for sure, no matter how you want to label them.
The band I’ve been looking forward to seeing the most at this festival are ALICE IN CHAINS. Why? Because I’ve been a fan since 1991 and still haven’t managed to see them live. This is the time! Finally!
Jerry Cantrell, William DuVal, Sean Kenney and Mike Inez do not disappointment. Their fashion is best described as unimpressed, even laid back, yet ultra-professional. One of my companions hopefully notes that AIC better realise that there is really no other album than Dirt, but the quartet seem to have missed this remark in the noise from the rest of the audience. Cantrell introduces the gig by simply saying ‘Alright, Copenhell’ and then launches into ‘Bleed the Freak’ from Facelift, followed by the amazing ‘Check My Brain’ from Black Gives Way to Blue, DuVal’s first album with Alice In Chains.
The sound isn’t the best on the right hand side of stage, but as we move closer to a position centre stage, this improves vastly. All is well. The relief also comes as ‘Them Bones’ and ‘Dam That River’ from the aforementioned Dirt album are aired, and later ‘Would?’ and ‘Rooster’ end the show on a high note. I’m completely happy!
Alice In Chains setlist:
1. Bleed the Freak
2. Check My Brain
3. Again
4. Them Bones
5. Dam That River
6. Hollow
7. Nutshell
8. No Excuses
9. We Die Young
10. Stone
11. It Ain’t Like That
12. Man in the Box
13. The One You Know
14. Would?
15. Rooster
German thrash masters KREATOR don’t deal in happiness. Nein, this is much more serious business – and by the way another gig I’ve been looking forward to. Last year’s Gods of Violence album is in my view their best to date, and I’ve really anticipated to hear a handful of songs from that album tonight. Again, I’m not dispappointed. Mille and his thrash hordes fire all of their cannons (without fire, of course, because that’s prohibited during the festival). The confetti guns are out!
The quality of Kreator’s songs has been so incredibly high since…well, Violent Revolution (2001), that nothing can go wrong, really. And the Essen combo doesn’t screw up at all – apart perhaps from Mille’s tendency to talk a tad too much.
My biggest concern prior to this gig is if Kreator will play the best song they ever made, namely ‘Satan Is Real’. No need to fear! The über-hit from Gods of Violence fires away at all cylindres – this old hack is close to a proverbial orgasm.
With Exodus earlier today and Kreator now, I believe most of the old thrash fans like myself ought to be content with the world situation – we’ve seen strong performances from both. Thrash metal lives, what can I say.
Kreator setlist:
1. Phantom Antichrist
2. Hail to the Hordes
3. Enemy of God
4. Satan Is Real
5. Civilization Collapse
6. Phobia
7. Gods of Violence
8. Fallen Brother
9. Hordes of Chaos (A Necrologue for the Elite)
10. Violent Revolution
11. Pleasure to Kill
Whether OZZY OSBOURNE is actually alive or not, I’m not entirely certain. Did Sharon simply put batteries into him and programmed him to say the things he’s been saying the past five decades? Yes, this is yet another farewell tour by the Ozzman, and even if he turns 70 later this year, you have to wonder if this time really is the last.
Cynicism aside, this last (?) concert is a worthy farewell, although far from flawless.
First of all, I have to say it’s amazing to see Zakk Wylde with Ozzy again. I know there are people who are religious about this, but for me, Wylde is THE Ozzy guitarist. He was the guy who made ‘Breaking all the Rules’, ‘Miracle Man’ and the rest of songs off No Rest for the Wicked, the album that was my introduction to Ozzy’s solo efforts. Due to the fact that Ozzy needs a break every now and then, there’s plenty of room for solos. Especially the instrumental medley consisting of ‘Miracle Man’, ‘Crazy Babies’, Desire’ and ‘Perry Mason’ leaves a LOT of space for Wylde and then drummer Tommy Clufetos. It’s too much, to be honest. The drum solo in particular is over the top in terms of duration. I can imagine someone backstage going ‘keep going, Tommy, Ozzy needs another five!’.
Ozzy himself does quite well vocally, although he’s not at all in tune with ‘Suicide Solution’ and ‘Road to Nowhere’. Where he would have been without the teleprompter, we can only guess, but it probably wouldn’t have been pretty. The rest of the band are on the other hand spotless. Glufetos, bassist Blasko, keyboard player Adam Wakeman and Wylde play a tight set and the sound is right on target.
Curiously, Ozzy babbles incomprehensibly between some of the songs. Between ‘Road to Nowhere’ and ‘War Pigs’, it looks as if even Wylde is wondering what the hell the old man is on about as he looks over at his boss. Even if this is an altogether enjoyable experience, one can’t help thinking that a retirement from touring is probably the best thing for the Prince of Darkness. The sooner, the better. But thank you for all the good times from all of us, Ozzy – although you sing that you don’t want to change the world, you have!
Ozzy setlist:
1. Bark at the Moon
2. Mr. Crowley
3. I Don’t Know
4. Fairies Wear Boots
5. Suicide Solution
6. No More Tears
7. Road to Nowhere
8. War Pigs
9. Miracle Man/Crazy Babies/Desire/Perry Mason
10. I Don’t Want to Change the World
11. Shot in the Dark
12. Crazy Train
Encores:
13. Mama, I’m Coming Home
14. Paranoid
This concludes my Friday at Copenhell. ENSLAVED and DANKO JONES are to close the night, but I can’t be bothered with either. Off to bed I go.
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Bay Area legends EXODUS are coming across the pond this summer to give European metalheads their well deserved dose of thrash once again! But the band won’t only be playing headline shows – appearances at some well-known festivals such as Copenhell (DK), Graspop Metal Meeting (B), Hellfest (F), and Bang Your Head!!! (D) will also be part of this upcoming EU trek.
The band commented:
“This summer! Don’t miss out on some friendly violent fun and get your tickets now!”
More info: exodusattack.com/site/tour-dates/
Routing as follows:
EXODUS – Europe 2018
05.06. F Paris – Petit Bain
06.06. D Aschaffenburg – Colos-Saal
07.06. D Mannheim – MS Connexion Complex
09.06. D Hauptmannsgrün – Chronical Moshers Open Air
10.06. PL Katowice – MegaClub
12.06. D Berlin – Lido
16.06. S Norrköping – Metallsvenskan
17.06. S Sundsvall – Club Deströyer
18.06. S Stockholm – Gröna Lund
20.06. N Halden – Tons of Rock
22.06. DK Copenhagen – Copenhell
23.06. B Dessel – Graspop Metal Meeting
24.06. F Clisson – Hellfest
26.06. F Pagney – Chez Paulette
27.06. F Lyon – CCO Villeurbanne
28.06. CH Zurich – Dynamo
30.06. I Verona – Rock the Castle
03.07. A Vienna – Szene
04.07. H Budapest – Dürer Kert
05.07. CZ Prague – Futurum
06.07. SK Revištske Podzamcie – Gothoom
07.07. D Ballenstedt – Rockharz Open Air
09.07. D Kassel – K19
10.07. NL Utrecht – Tivoli Vredenburg
12.07. D Balingen – Bang Your Head!!!
13.07. D Neukirchen-Vluyn – Dong Open Air
14.07. E Viveiro – Resurrection Fest
More EXODUS dates:
10.+11.02. J Kawasaki – Thrash Domination (w/ TESTAMENT, WARBRINGER)
»Mr. Pickles Thrashtacular« w/ MUNICIPAL WASTE
22.02. USA Seattle, WA – Neumos
23.02. USA Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
25.02. USA San Francisco, CA – The Regency Ballroom
26.02. USA Anaheim, CA – House of Blues
27.02. USA San Diego, CA – House of Blues
01.03. USA Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall
02.03. USA Denver, CO – Summit Music Hall
04.03. USA Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge
05.03. USA Pittsburgh, PA – Spirit*
06.03. USA Washington, DC – Rock & Roll Hotel
07.03. USA New York, NY – Irving Plaza
08.03. USA Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts
09.03. USA Richmond, VA – National Theater
10.03. USA Atlanta, GA – Masquerade
11.03. USA New Orleans, LA – House of Blues*
*EXODUS only
Order EXODUS‘s current record »Blood In Blood Out«, here: smarturl.it/EXODUS-BloodIn
More on »Blood In Blood Out«:
‘Blood In Blood Out’ OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c69S3pD8qI
‘Blood In Blood Out’ OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfu94oJ1so8
‘Salt The Wound’ (feat. Kirk Hammett) OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMs9yNlBp4c
]]>Sure, you can hear where this Dutch band got its inspiration and influences from, but they do it in their own original way and hit the nail on the head with this release. I doubt if there will be a heavier and more aggressive thrash album this year. On the 2009 album Depression Tank, Ralph de Boer handled the vocals, but I’m glad Tom Van Dijk has returned. Tom’s aggressive singing style sounds very familiar and similar to his younger days. Both Ronnie and Robbie play one howling, furious solo after another, and the riffs saw, shred, and scrape song after song. From start to finish, the tempo is very high, but with enough mid-tempo pieces to make the songs sound even heavier.
The album starts with the fast opener ‘Helhuizen’, named after a small place in Holland. In ‘Dühr’ you hear an example of the heavy mid tempo I mentioned earlier. After that, it is old school nasty thrash that blows you away. The only resting point is the short interlude ‘The Reformation’, after which ‘The Gates Beyond’ goes through the sound barrier. Kudos to drummer Hans Spijker for that!
I have been a Dead Head fan since their second album Dream Deceiver, which I think is still their best. However, Swine Plague comes in second for sure. Being a fan and being Dutch perhaps doesn’t make me the most objective person, but I am sure that if this record was from a thrash band from another country, I would be just as enthusiastic and blown away. Swine Plague is the heaviest thrash album I have listened to this year, and I have listened to quite a few! You don’t believe me? Buy this swine and you know I’m not talking shit.
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