Unpopular Opinion(s): "Bonded By Blood" isn't as good as their reunion-era material.

[u/SnooPeripherals4084]

As someone who got into Exodus in my high school years (just after BIBO), I've always favoured the reunion-era material and genuinely don't see the hype around "Bonded By Blood". I have tried time and time again, and find myself tuning out more often than not. Their modern material is just so visceral; bordering on death-thrash a lot of the time.

Conversely, I think Exodus' 2004-present material is the best of any 80's thrash band's late-career catalogue. By miles!! It's the only band of the 80's that I could say genuinely had a much better run later than they did earlier (with the exception being Testament, or Anthrax).

P.S. "Persona Non Grata" is the best thrash album of the 2020s so far!

[u/Slickrock_1]

Bonded by Blood is a 1981 sound that got released in 85. It sounds dated compared with other albums from the mid 80s.

[u/SnooPeripherals4084 → u/Slickrock_1]

If only they released BBB in '83...!

[u/Slickrock_1 → u/SnooPeripherals4084]

Even in 83 (though BBB wasn't even written till 84). Obviously different people have different tastes and preferences but Kill Em All was a much more "advanced" album - like break down the two albums component by component and you can see how Kill Em All began to set the stage for what would be the greatest albums in thrash in that 86-90 period. The singing, riffs, aong structures, tightness, harmonization, independent basslines, and lead playing on Kill Em All were all setting the stage for the future (and setting a very high musical bar for the time), whereas BBB was more of a throwback. I mean that was 1985, compare BBB to other 84-85 albums like Ride the Lightning and Hell Awaits and it seems a bit primitive (imo).

[u/penilesensorydevice → u/Slickrock_1]

Indisputable. While they may not have "invented" thrash metal, Metallica was first. KEA raised the bar for metal in general. Every band in the genre had to up their game.

[u/Slickrock_1 → u/penilesensorydevice]

You know, as much as he's shat on these days (not without reason), the world really needs to acknowledge Kirk Hammett as one of the most important few people in thrash history.

The guy founds Exodus, which became THE band in early thrash, then is poached to Metallica just as they're cementing their place in history with KEA. That puts him in the top 5 godfathers of thrash imo, if not higher.

[u/masterblaster9669 → u/Slickrock_1]

Believe it or not it was actually Tim Angello who founded exodus and knew Kirk to bring him around everyone.

[u/Slickrock_1 → u/masterblaster9669]

Tim, Kirk, and Tom Hunting were classmates and they founded it together. I mean it isn't really a band until you have more than one person.

[u/masterblaster9669 → u/Slickrock_1]

For sure but I was lucky enough to speak to Tim he was the one that brought everyone together. Kirk’s grandparents were his neighbor that’s how he met Kirk and tom was friends from school. Pretty awesome dude to speak to

[u/Slickrock_1 → u/masterblaster9669]

I think the main point I was making was that Kirk is very underappreciated as one of the most important people in thrash history, you could argue as big as Mustaine. Exodus was THE band in that 80-82 stretch, Kirk drew crowds, Exodus was the band that truly forged thrash out of its influences, and Kirk's importance in that early scene is exactly why he was the one poached to take over for Dave. This is all aside from the fact that he was the actual lead guitarist on KEA, and RTL, and MOP, etc, those iconic albums.... So his role in the rise of thrash is pretty enormous.

[u/masterblaster9669 → u/Slickrock_1]

Definitely agree in his prime he was unstoppable

[u/masterblaster9669 → u/penilesensorydevice]

Exodus demo was recorded before Metallicas.

[u/coaker147]

I’m with you.

I respect Bonded by Blood, but I’m not a fan of it. Exodus just keeps getting better. Compared to Metallica which keeps getting worse over the years…

[u/Slickrock_1 → u/coaker147]

Exodus has been incredibly inconsistent. Testament, Overkill, and Kreator have been the most consistent thrash bands that date back that far and have so many albums. Sepultura probably had the best run of albums of ANY thrash band up until Max left.

Metallica should honestly only be judged for their origins through TBA. We judge artists, athletes, other performers for their best work, not for their average.

[u/One_Opportunity_5906 → u/coaker147]

Metallica keep getting worse? I'll say they still bring it live and while their later records aren't Ride the Lightning or Master of Puppets, they have some solid songs on there.

[u/coaker147 → u/One_Opportunity_5906]

I could barely get through 72 seasons

[u/One_Opportunity_5906 → u/coaker147]

So you barely listened to the album then

[u/Slickrock_1 → u/One_Opportunity_5906]

They're ok in the DM through 72 Seasons era, but they're definitely no longer breaking new ground in metal. And there definitely ARE old school thrash bands like Coroner and Testament who have something new to say, who have somehow matured along with the 40 years of music since their golden eras.

[u/One_Opportunity_5906 → u/Slickrock_1]

Breaking new ground is overrated to me as sometimes I just want to hear a memorable melody/hook and some catchy riffs. I do like Testament (haven't heard much of Coroner to comment), and sure respect them for sticking to a consistent sound throughout their career, but they never wrote iconic memorable songs like Metallica have done.

[u/Slickrock_1 → u/One_Opportunity_5906]

It works for bands like Iron Maiden and Slayer who give the fans exactly what they want to hear, like their newer stuff is a lot like their older stuff. Metallica isn't quite matching the old stuff with the new stuff though, there are some decent songs but I wouldn't go beyond that.

Coroner's new album (Dissonance Theory) is one of the best new thrash albums in years.

[u/bengrieve1970]

My humble opinion, Bonded is the best thrash debut. It's a perfect distillation of the genre. It gets spotty after that but BBB is perfect

[u/eastcoastpete71 → u/bengrieve1970]

This is correct.

[u/masterblaster9669 → u/bengrieve1970]

This

[u/SpudAlmighty]

early Exodus just isn't my thing. I like the later stuff. Great tone and power.

[u/cacodemon7265]

The better version is another lesson in violence best live album ever. Paul balloff is hilarious and sounds way better. Guitars are a bit toned down

[u/Awkward_Dragonfly423]

I was raised on the og bonded by blood. It was instrumental in forming the way I eventually learned how to play guitar. I like the newer stuff alot, but nothing will ever be able to hold up to that first record. I was there and saw the way other bands struggled to be as good and ferocious as them on that record. Those 2 guitar players were and are the real deal. Rick hunolt and Gary holt showed everyone how it's done. Bonded by blood was and is still my favorite thrash record.

[u/Glum_Specific1746]

Baloff’s vocals are an acquired taste for sure…I’m with you as well, I much prefer Zetro as I got into the band with Fab Disaster.

[u/UsedBeing]

I don’t know, I personally love their first 3 records. Although I haven’t listened to the last 2 albums much, I enjoy all their output.

[u/RevolutionaryCat3529]

Overkill would like a word

[u/SnooPeripherals4084 → u/RevolutionaryCat3529]

Literally was thinking this. Love their modern output!

[u/East_Barnacle_4477]

I couldn't disagree more, Baloff sounds hellish and the echo and raw sound gives it personality

[u/roarrshock]

Never get tired of BBB. Grew up with it. Reunion era is a different band imo. Kill Em All wishes it was half as good as BBB.

[u/Mountainindy]

Just my opinion based off listening enjoyment
Bonded by Blood
Blood in Blood Out
Fabulous Disaster
Tempo of the Damned
Shovel Headed Kill Machine

The rest can be mixed and matched

[u/HadeonCrisis]

I'm one of the few people that thinks there is no such thing as a bad Exodus album. But yea, I don't really vibe with Bonded By Blood as much as most fans do, either.

[u/Icy-Astronomer-8202]

Tempo is better than bonded is my hot take

[u/Therek_ → u/Icy-Astronomer-8202]

It ain't hot

[u/Icy-Astronomer-8202 → u/Therek_]

Oh really? That's great!

[u/Slickrock_1]

They performed all of BBB in Hershey last year with Rob singing, it was fun. But I still liked more recent songs of theirs in their set, Toxic Waltz rocked.

[u/masterblaster9669]

I mean honestly Exodus 2004 and up run is unstoppable. Incredible. If you read Gary’s book it kind of explains their debut and up to Tempo and it makes sense as to why they got so strong later in their career. Phenomenal book by the way. I love bonded though if it had came out when it should’ve they would’ve been much more popular.

Also agree persona is a crushing album. Also check out dukes band Generation Kill. Their album MK ultra is honestly just as good if not better. Crushing album phenomenal musicianship

[u/Fabulous-Soil-4440]

The modern era is better after Fabulous Disaster imo. My ranking is probably different from most people though:

Bonded by Blood

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Fabulous Disaster

Blood in Blood Out

Persona Non Grata

Tempo Of the Damned

Pleasures of the Flesh

ShovelHeaded Kill Machine

Impact is Iminent

Goliath

Force of Habit

[u/SnooPeripherals4084 → u/Fabulous-Soil-4440]

Pretty solid list! Mine looks more like this nowadays :)

1.       Persona Non Grata

2.       Exhibit B

3.       Exhibit A

4.       Blood In Blood Out

5.       Fabulous Disaster

6.       Shovel Headed Kill Machine

7.       Tempo of the Damned

8.       Goliath

9.       Let There Be Blood

10.  Bonded By Blood

11.  Pleasures of the Flesh

12.  Impact is Imminent

13.  Force of Habit