Interview by Brian McLean
Bonded
by Brotherhood
An Interview with Gary Holt and Rob Dukes of Exodus
The Exodus camp has seen band members come and go during its storied two decade career. Most tragically there was the passing of vocalist Paul Baloff in 2002 who had reunited with his former band mates in what appeared to be a promising future.
Several years later add to the list substance abuse battles with guitarist Rick Hunolt, anxiety attacks and a mental breakdown plaguing drummer Tom Hunting and Steve Souza, Baloff’s replacement who bowed out for personal reasons prior to a South American tour in September 2004 for the Tempo of the Damned album.
The incidents haven’t deterred guitarist Gary Holt, the last remaining original member. In fact it’s made him more determined to piece together a cohesive working machine.
Holt refers to the current Exodus line up with two words.
“It’s amazing.”
Holt doesn’t want to take anything away from his former band mates in their prime but he feels as if the current line up has been together 20 years. There’s a bond, a fraternal brotherhood within the band.
Sitting in the lounge of their tour bus with a cigarette in hand and an open window exposing the dry Texas heat, Holt comments on the current Exodus roster.
“It’s awesome and we’re tighter than we’ve ever been on stage and off.” He added, “Everyone here is committed.”
There are two returning members from the Tempo of the Damned line up, bassist Jack Gibson and Holt. As for the Shovel Headed Kill Machine album, there are three new faces with two having veteran metal experience on their resumes.
The most notable would be Paul Bostaph who spent time with Slayer and Testament to name a few and guitarist Lee Altus who was a member of Heathen and Angel Witch. The third would be unknown vocalist Rob Dukes who was actually a guitar tech on the Megadeth / Exodus tour in October 2004.
Dukes was aware Exodus was searching for a vocalist and was proactive by staying in contact with several members of the band following the tour.
Holt said he didn’t want to waste any time searching for a new vocalist and as for Dukes it only took a single audition to be tapped as the new front man of Exodus.
The avid New York Rangers hockey fan gratefully says, “I lucked out.”
Exodus is in the midst of wrapping up an American tour with headliners Hatebreed and four other bands. The tour marks the second time Exodus has come through Texas touring in support of Shovel Headed Kill Machine, the band’s latest album. More importantly, the tour is exposing the Exodus to the younger crowds.
Holt feels the tour package with Hatebreed is the right fit for the band.
“It’s the perfect thing for us. We can’t depend on the old school fans for our whole lives. They get married, have the white picket fence, families and their wives don’t let them come out anymore.”
With the response Holt and Dukes have been witnessing, the younger kids are taking notice even though stage time is capped at 30 minutes. That’s enough time for a classic or two, a selection from Tempo of the Damned with the remainder of the song list being pulled from Shovel Headed Kill Machine.
Holt said, “There was one kid about 11-years old last night (Corpus Christi) in the front row that Rob saw who was singing every word to “Bonded by Blood.” There were a bunch of kids, they all had shirts, they all knew the stuff and that’s what we need, the young bloods rediscovering the old stuff as well as the new stuff.”
Whether it’s Bonded by Blood, Fabulous Disaster, Tempo of the Damned or Shovel Headed Kill Machine, the sound of the riff says it all. It’s hard for Holt to say where the riffs come from but one thing is certain, when a Gary Holt riff is crunched, people know it’s coming from Exodus.
Holt modestly says, “I have my own style. It’s always worked for me. I do listen to a lot of bands and subconsciously maybe I get a little influenced but you got to love it to do it or otherwise you’re just faking it.”
He added, “When I write a really good riff. I get stoked on it. I get fired up and get all happy about it.”
Exodus has plans to return to the studio in late February or early March with a summer 2007 release completing the three album commitment with Nuclear Blast Records. Holt remained tight lipped about working titles and ideas but stated he would like to produce again and see Andy Sneap involved in the mixing process.
“I like working with Andy. We bounce ideas off each other that might not happen with one of us removed. He’s also the best engineer in the world.”
As for producing on his own with other bands Holt says, “It’s something I would like to do but I don’t have time for anything but Exodus.”
The statement is Holt’s declaration of his dedication to the brotherly bond that has been formed within the six-string shovel headed kill machine. For the five members in Exodus, they are not bonded by blood but by brotherhood.