Goliath is the twelfth full-length from thrash legends Exodus, marking the return of vocalist Rob Dukes. He is best known for his three (original) album and near decade run as the band’s vocalist, replacing Steve “Zetro” Souza for a second time.
Nearly 5 years have passed since Persona Non Grata with the vocalist change only happening in 2025, the band must have been inspired to make this happen with such a fast turnaround. The opening 1-2 punch of “3111” and “Hostis Humani Generis” shows off just what a Dukes fronted Exodus is capable of with barked vocals shouted over riffs and solos courtesy of the classic Lee Altus and Gary Holt combination, fat bass from Jack Gibson and a healthy Tom Hunting back on the drums.
“The Changing Me” features rare moments of melody from a band who were well known to not have been inspired by the NWOBHM bands like their Bay Area thrash contemporaries were. It’s something that still works, even with Dukes’ vocals creating a beautiful dichotomy within the context of this track, having Peter Tatgren of Hypocrisy fame on clean vocals here doesn’t hurt a bit.
Things slow down on the title track, with more of a slow headbang going on while the song lumbers around like a giant. Layers are being painstakingly added to the mix and the vocals and harmonic riffs don’t allow the song to get too fast. This time Exodus are responsible for a lesson in restraint.
“2 Minutes Hate” feels like earlier iterations of Dukes’ tenure like his excellent band debut Shovel Headed Kill Machine. This is a track that is lean enough to hang with the classic Exodus tracks, sacrificing nothing making it feel like a modern thrash banger.
“Violence Works” has a unique bouncy intro that adds an air of silliness to the already sophomoric song title. As the vocals enter the fray, you can hear the guitars going on insane runs in the background, presenting themselves with serious complexity on a song that is generally mid-paced.
“Summon Of The God Unknown” is the longest track, nearing eight minutes. Half of the song is a slow build before picking it up in the 2nd half helping to craft a solid long form opus. The album closes with the self-referential “Dirtiest Of The Dozen,” a straightforward thrasher that takes no prisoners in both classic and modern-day Exodus fashion, helping to properly blend the eras of this band before this chapter comes to a close.
After all these years for both Rob Dukes and the band it is amazing how well this all meshes. This is Dukes’ best entry with the band and an excellent return for all parties. Goliath is one of the best modern thrash albums in recent memory and one of Exodus’ best overall.
(released March 20, 2026 on Napalm Records)
Heavy Music HQ Rating:
Watch Exodus – “Goliath” Video
