Exodus - Fabulous Disaster
1989 Combat

Track Listing:
1.  The Last Act Of Defiance
2.  Fabulous Disaster
3.  The Toxic Waltz
4.  Low Rider
5.  Cajun Hell
6.  Like Father Like Son
7.  Corruption
8.  Verbal Razors
9.  Open Season
10. Overdose

Line-Up:
Vocals:  Steve De Souza
Guitars:  Gary Holt, Rick Hunolt
Bass:  Rob McKillop
Drums:  Tom Hunting

Website:  www.exodusattack.com

Horatio's Rating:  A
Average Album Rating:  A

Also be sure to read:
Exodus - Bonded By Blood Review by Scoots
Exodus - Shovel Headed Kill Machine Review by Horatio & Shev

Horatio's Review:
With Exodus' excellent new album 'Tempo Of The Damned' due out shortly, what better time to revisit one of thrash's most memorable moments courtesy Steve and co?  Exodus without Paul Baloff was a hard pill to swallow for die hards, and even 1987's devastating comeback 'Pleasures Of The Flesh' with De Souza on vocals and classics like 'Deranged' and 'Faster Than You'll Ever Live To Be' wasn't enough.  Exodus were reaping slight commercial benefits by this point, 'Pleasures' reaching Billboard's Top 100, mainly on the strength of the thrash movement highlighted by the big four.  Of all the second tier thrash acts Exodus were undoubtedly the best, and with more luck might have made the elite.

'Fabulous Disaster' continued to expand Exodus' preference for ruthless thrash aggression, 'Last Act Of Defiance' especially, mixed with quirkier moments like 'Cajun Hell', and covers like War's 'Low Rider' and AC/DC's 'Overdose', De Souza a Bon Scott sound alike at all times anyway.  This album more than most evokes the spirit of the late 80's thrash movement in the LA area, all tight jean and huge basketball boot wearing youths stage diving and headbanging, a scene witnessed in the 'Toxic Waltz' video.  Hunolt and Holt further established themselves as one of metals premier guitar tandems, up there with Hanneman/King, Hetfield/Hammett and Mustaine/You..., while De Souza's identifiable vocal delivery to my ears is more pleasing than Baloff's, the man a minor legend.  Timeless stuff and something the likes of Testament, Overkill and Forbidden weren't coming close to in 89.  Amazingly, the new album sounds like a replica of this era, a feat one would have thought impossible.  It shows inevitably who was for real at the time.

Song summaries include...

1. The Last Act Of Defiance - The subject matter of this track deals with the horrific 1980 New Mexico Prison riot, the worst in US Penal history.  Various highlights included 33 killings including decapitation by shovel, faces and private parts melted with blow torches, various hangings, prisoners thrown from third story tiers and 200 rapes.  Suitably Exodus' retelling of this grim affair is as twisted and sadistic as the riot itself, a constant thrash battering featuring the band's excellent backing harmonies and some distorted soloing from the 'H Squad'.  What prompted Exodus to write about this I would like to know, but the results equal Slayer's most vicious work, a landmark of the genre.  A+
2. Fabulous Disaster - Every thrash band concerned themselves with nuclear destruction at some point and Exodus were no different, this becoming one of their more well known tracks, another piece of contemporary thrash made for order in 89'.  A
3. The Toxic Waltz - A cornball ode to moshing, or 'toxic waltzing' as Exodus would brand it I assume.  That's the thing that separates Exodus from most metal acts, the thin line between humour and more serious topics, something they were comfortable with I assume (up until 92 anyway), unlike Anthrax eventually.  Superior anthem.  A
4. Low Rider - Unlikely cover maybe, but handled with Exodus' trademark sound in a way that almost makes the song theirs.  I recall when Korn covered this on 'Life Is Peachy' and Ian Winwood stated their version was far better than Exodus' and if this is what the future of metal sounded like then it was in good hands.  Asslicking stiff.  B+
5. Cajun Hell - In the 80's there were seemingly endless films made about backward hillbillies terrorizing city folk unwittingly encroaching on their turf.  Who can forget such films like 'Hunters Blood', 'Snake Eater' and that one with Henry Silva in it?  Exodus' attempt to create their own version, a solid piece of comedy metal with harmonicas and Cajun imagery.  Harmless and while not thrash is good for a laugh.  B
6. Like Father Like Son - The disturbing trend of child abuse handed down by generations is the latest topic, although the music taking a more serious turn, reverting back to thrash.  The most enduring memory of this is De Souza wailing 'please daddy, no more!'  B
7. Corruption - Now it's the turn of politicians on the take, T.V. evangelist frauds and drug dealers to suffer Exodus' wrath.  Set to some heady thrash, Exodus always brilliant backing vocals are in full swing, especially when the band yell 'shove it up your ass'.  Happily, plenty of such moments heard in the new album.  It's good to see the band know where their strengths lie.  A
8. Verbal Razors - Yet more angry lyrics, highlighted by 'you said your father was in Vietnam, but you're a bastard son with a whore for a mom!'  Shades of Megadeth's 'Liar' in the overall tone, although this primarily concerns a burned out drug addicted loser, rumoured to be Dave Mustaine.  B+
9. Open Season - This track deals with some nut on a shooting spree, and again Exodus provide the musical equivalent as a backdrop.  Some nice lyrical touches, namely the 'hunting knife that will complete the task'.  A
10. Overdose - Exodus cover 'Dirty Deeds' on the new album, something they supposedly covered in the 80' as well.  This was their other AC/DC tribute, the track first appearing on AC/DC's 'Let There Be Rock'.  De Souza is such a Bon Scott replica that he could be hired for the band in case Brian Johnson dies tomorrow.  I'd rather hear them cover 'Landslide' or 'Playing With The Girls'.  As an aside anyone hoping for a review of 'Tempo Of The Damned' might be waiting a while.  After e-mailing both Exodus' management and label for a month for a review copy I have been met by silence.  I guess my name isn't Borijov Krigin.  They don't need a loser like me for publicity.  So to you bastards, fuck off.  B 
    (Note:  At the time I added this review to the site, Horatio was granted a copy of the new Exodus album to review.  I kept this in here simply because Horatio asked it stayed, and I thought it was pretty damn funny. -- Shev)

Horatio's Rating:  A

Discography (last updated 12.22.05):
Bonded By Blood - 1985
Pleasure Of The Flesh - 1987
Fabulous Disaster - 1989
Impact Is Imminent - 1990
Good Friendly Violent Fun live - 1991
Force Of Habit - 1992
Lessons In Violence compilation - 1992
Another Lesson In Violence live - 1997
Tempo Of The Damned - 2004
Shovel Headed Kill Machine - 2005