EXODUS

My relationship with heavy music developed in such a way that after hard rock (which is where I started my audiophile journey somewhere in the early '80s of the last century), I jumped straight into death, doom, and other flesh-and-blood heaviness in the '90s. I won't go into the objective and subjective reasons for this, but it so happened that the enormous thrash (and, to be precise, heavy metal) stratum of heavy music remained unexplored for me. That, however, didn't prevent me from getting into it at the start of the new century. Who knows, maybe that's exactly why I'm irritated by all those musical snobs who regularly proclaim that thrash (heavy, death, doom, black) metal is dead. Look at the grim faces of the tough guys in the booklet photo — there isn't a hint of creative fatigue in them, but there is a precise understanding of how and what needs to be done to achieve the best musical result. Put on the record, appreciate the punchy, driving guitar parts, the tight and confident rhythmic structure, the angrily hoarse vocals, and you'll understand that the style isn't dead — it lives and thrives in the hearts of musicians and listeners. And even though, I'll concede, the golden years of thrash metal are behind us — so be it — it continues to put out strong shoots and bear juicy, delicious fruit.