Metal Underground.com

Column

Thrashback Thursday: Exodus - Toxic Waltz

Band Photo: Exodus (?)

This week in Thrashback Thursday, we're more than living up to the column's name with a look back at one of America's greatest thrash metal bands and possibly best American metal bands in general; Exodus. Exodus were legends in the Bay Area of California before they even released an album, earning a fierce live reputation thanks not only to the break neck speed of their music but their bombastic lead singer Paul Baloff. In 1983, founding guitarist Kirk Hammett left to replace Dave Mustaine in Metallica and bandmate Gary Holt (also guitarist) took creative control of the group, eventually settling on Rick Hunolt as Hammett's replacement. After their legendary debut album, "Bonded By Blood," they parted ways with Paul Baloff and brought in Steve "Zetro" Souza, formerly of Legacy, now known as Testament.

The prospect of replacing Baloff was a daunting one but Souza proved his worth on the band's sophomore album, "Pleasures of the Flesh," which was not met with much critical or commercial fanfare, but then with "Fabulous Disaster" in 1989, thanks largely to the single, "Toxic Waltz." "Toxic Waltz" sums up not only the appeal of Exodus, but of thrash metal as a whole.

It begins with a slam and a catchy riff, leading into a frenzied assault of sonic madness, yet structured enough to make every part of the track memorable. The lyrics are corny, but fun in the most 80s of ways and delivered perfectly by Souza in his inimitable shriek, accompanied by gang vocals and one of the catchiest chouruses in the history of thrash metal and subsequently, one of its greatest songs.

Ollie Hynes has been a writer for Metal Underground.com for four years and has been a metal fan for ten years, going so far as to travel abroad for metal shows.