Exodus preview

Exodus
Pearl Room, Mokena
Wednesday, May 10, 2006

In November 2004, during Megadeth’s headlining set of their Chicago Blackmail The Universe tour stop, Dave Mustaine told the Riviera crowd the Big Four (Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer) should have been called the Big Five to include the night’s opening band, Exodus. Then, the Bay Area thrash group featured three-fifths of their “classic” lineup, including guitarists Gary Holt and Rick Hunolt and drummer Tom Hunting, along with bassist Jack Gibson (who has been in the band since 1997) and fill-in vocalist Steve Esquivel of Skin Lab (long-time singer Steve Souza abruptly left the band weeks earlier).

As it would turn out, finding a new singer would be the least of Exodus’ troubles after both Hunting and Hunolt quit the band within a month of each other (Hunting in May 2005 due in part to reoccurring panic attacks and Hunolt a month later because of drug abuse). This left Holt as not only the only original member, but also the only person with more than eight years tenure in the band. Not surprisingly, many thought this was –or should have been–the end of Exodus.

Holt didn’t agree, though. He quickly regrouped, hiring ex-Heathen guitarist Lee Altus, former Slayer skinsman Paul Bostaph, and filled the vocalist position with his own guitar tech, Rob Dukes. The new Exodus released Shovel Headed Kill Machine (Nuclear Blast), which was hailed by critics and fans as one the the group’s best in years. But most impressive? The record was out by October 2005: less than five months after losing Hunting and Hunolt.

This show was originally scheduled for Joe’s in Chicago, but was moved to the Pearl Room in Mokena. Full Blown Chaos and Subzero are also on the bill.

— Trevor Fisher

Click here to stream a Real Audio sample of Exodus’ “Raze.”

Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly