fter years of silence, Exodus returned to the metal scene with 2004’s highly acclaimed “Tempo of the Damned”. Near the completion of Tempo’s touring cycle Steve Souza, who provided vocals for the album, decided to part ways with the rest of the band. After plunging into the uncomfortable hell of leaderless bands, Rob Dukes became the new front man and performed vocals on Tempo’s follow up “Shovel Headed Kill Machine”, another pulsing thrash metal onslaught that made everyone raise an eyebrow or two.

Now, if Dukes’ performance on “Shovel Headed Kill Machine” didn’t make you forget all about Steve Souza, then I guarantee you “The Atrocity Exhibition…Exhibit A” will.

This album is not only an improvement on the already impressive previous two albums; it’s also one of the finest, most polished and heaviest thrash metal albums in the last ten years. With speed and technicality being the stand out factors on the album, this album stays grounded and leveled through Dukes’ performance which is his best with this band. It’s a real treat to hear him sing in a high pitched voice without being annoying or dated; he also isn’t afraid to harmonize every now and then.

“A Call to Arms” is a short intro to the album that gives way to “Riot Act”; a fast and nasty cut with razor sharp riffs, a great hook when it reaches the chorus and Dukes’ manic singing. After this song the band gives us two mammoths of songs with “Funeral Hymn” and “Children of a Worthless God”. Two thrash suites that are heavy, fast, and intricate and that paint an impressive and wide musical landscape with their many different facets. Both songs are also inked with Exodus lyrics, which needless to say are satirical and critical of our society. After these two great songs the band gives us “As It Was, As It Soon Shall Be”, a Pantera-esque song with a great groove and a chugging riff that is both fist pumping and an adrenaline rush.

Pretty much the rest of the album follows the same path without ever becoming repetitive or boring, trust me, there are no fillers to be found here. Exodus has found a great singer in Rob Dukes and with drummer Tom Hunting once again returning to the band, it seems as if finally they have found the stability and cohesiveness to write great music and above all, some chest ripping thrash metal that won’t be soon forgotten.