Thrash metal veterans Exodus are gearing up to unleash a new album that promises to be a sonic assault, with returning vocalist Rob dukes at the helm. Dukes, who rejoined the band earlier this year after a decade-long absence, has offered a glimpse into the upcoming record, describing it as “fucking heavy as fuck, man.” But fans can expect something more, a Motorhead-esque rock vibe infiltrating the thrash metal powerhouse. This departure might just push the boundaries of thrash as we know it.

In a recent interview, Dukes revealed details about the new album, highlighting the bandS commitment to pushing creative boundaries while maintaining their signature sound:

It’s 11 [tracks]. And it’s fucking heavy as fuck,man. I mean, it is indeed fucking heavy and dark and cool. But what’s surprising to me about it was there was a little bit of MOTÖRHEAD-y rock stuff going on. I’m,like,’Oh,cool,man. This is a little departure from the norm.’ It was really cool. And so I get to step outside the box a little bit,which is nice,man.It’s kind of cool. Good challenge.
Rob Dukes

Dukes emphasized the innovative aspects of the new material, suggesting it will surprise even longtime Exodus fans. The band is celebrated for raising the standards of thrash metal. Gary Holt and Tom Hunting are instrumental in keeping their music at an unbelievable level.

I really can’t compare it to anything else, but there are elements of everything, but they’ve stepped outside those elements also, and they’re doing a couple things that I’m, like, ‘Wow, that’s fucking new. All right, cool. Yeah, I’m in.’ You know what I mean? And it’ll be cool, man. And it doesn’t take away from the fucking heaviness of it or anything. It’s just a little different, but it’s fucking cool.
Rob Dukes

For U.S. fans steeped in the history of thrash metal, this fusion of styles brings to mind bands like mastodon, who have successfully integrated progressive and Southern rock elements into their metal sound. Will Exodus follow suit,creating a new subgenre of thrash? Only time will tell.

dukes’ Return: A Second Chance at Thrash Glory

Dukes’ return to Exodus is a full-circle moment for both the band and the vocalist.After an unexpected phone call, Dukes weighed the decision to rejoin, considering the life he had built outside of music. Ultimately, the lure of the stage and the camaraderie of his former bandmates proved too strong.

Dukes shared the circumstances surrounding his return, describing it as an unexpected but welcome opportunity:

It’s like a crazy thing to happen. I didn’t expect it. I didn’t know I was getting a phone call before I got it. And I had to think about it, you know what I mean? I have a whole life that I built up.so it was kind of, like, ‘all right, well, let me talk about it and think about it.’ And then I was, like, ‘all right, cool. Let’s do it, man. Let’s go have fun.’ Yeah.
Rob Dukes

He received the call around Christmas and immediately immersed himself in the band’s discography to prepare for upcoming shows. Exodus celebrated the 40th anniversary of their debut album, “Bonded by Blood,” in 2025.

The decision to part ways with previous vocalist Steve “zetro” Souza was not taken lightly, according to guitarist Gary Holt. While Holt remained tight-lipped about the specific reasons, he emphasized the importance of unity within the band.

People ask [why we fired Zetro] — everybody wants to know as we’ve chosen not to tell anybody. All I ever tell people is, marriages don’t ofen work. And just ’cause you saw a married couple out in public that seemed happy, you don’t know what’s going on at home.
Gary holt

The choice to bring Dukes back into the fold was driven by a desire for familiarity and shared history. Holt explained that the band wanted someone close to their own age, avoiding the need to “educate some young kid” on their musical preferences.

In February, Dukes explained that Lee Altus, Gary Holt, and Tom Hunting each contacted him individually to gauge his interest in rejoining the band. It was a surreal moment when these established members reached out to him. Everyone was curious where he was in his life. Dukes agreed to rejoin after some deliberation.

How it happened was Lee and Gary called me, and Tom called me, and they all spoke to me individually to kind of see where I was at. And then they asked me, and I said, ‘Sure.’
Rob Dukes

He clarified that he woudl not discuss the reasons for Souza’s departure and emphasized that the band’s decision was a surprise to him as well.

I’m not gonna talk about why they did what they did [as far as parting ways with Zetro] — that’s on them to talk about, ’cause I have no idea,” he continued. “I mean, I kind of do, but it’s not my place. So, I’ll let them handle that end.
Rob Dukes

Exodus’ Legacy: Beyond the “Big Four”

While Exodus may not have achieved the same mainstream recognition as Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax (the “Big Four” of thrash), their influence on the genre is undeniable. Their debut album, “Bonded By Blood,” remains a seminal work, inspiring countless bands, including Testament, Death Angel, and Vio-lence.

Despite not reaching mainstream success, that doesn’t undermine their importance in Thrash Metal history.

The upcoming album represents an opportunity for Exodus to solidify their legacy and introduce their brand of thrash to a new generation of fans. With rob Dukes back in the fold and a fresh creative spark, the band is poised to make a significant impact on the metal landscape.

Exodus played its first concert with Dukes in nearly 11 years on April 5 at the Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Philly at the Fillmore in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Fan-filmed video of that concert can be seen below.