Bay Area thrash legends EXODUS continue to generate massive buzz for their upcoming twelfth studio album "Goliath," due March 20 via Napalm Records, as lead single "3111" gains significant traction across streaming platforms and metal media outlets. The track, released on January 21, marks the return of vocalist Rob Dukes for the first time since 2010's "Exhibit B: The Human Condition" — his first full-length appearance with the band in 16 years.
"3111" is a massive opener that strikes dissonant chords before careening into breakneck thrash intensity. EXODUS stated the song is "about the narco killings in Juarez — 3111 is the estimated number of murders for 2010 alone." The unflinching lyrical content is matched by the track's sonic ferocity, with Gary Holt's signature razor-sharp riffing cutting through a wall of thrash aggression. The band released both a censored YouTube version and a full uncensored cut available at a dedicated website, exodus3111.com.
"Goliath" stands as the most collaborative record in the band's four-decade history, with songwriting duties shared across the entire lineup. The album also features notable guest appearances from Peter Tagtgren of HYPOCRISY and PAIN, and violinist Katie Jacoby, suggesting a willingness to push beyond traditional thrash boundaries while maintaining the bruising intensity that has defined EXODUS since their 1985 debut "Bonded by Blood."
The album was self-produced by the band and mixed and mastered by Mark Lewis, known for his work with WHITECHAPEL, NILE, and UNDEATH. Dukes' return has been one of the most talked-about developments in thrash metal circles, as his aggressive vocal style represents a distinctly different era of EXODUS compared to the Steve "Zetro" Souza years.
EXODUS are also confirmed for the KREATOR-headlined European tour launching in March, as well as SEPULTURA's farewell North American run, positioning them for maximum visibility during the album's promotional cycle. With "Goliath," EXODUS appear poised to remind the metal world why they remain one of the Bay Area's most vital thrash institutions.