EXODUS' 'Blood In Blood Out' Cracks U.S. Top 40

"Blood In Blood Out", the new album from San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal veterans EXODUS, sold around 8,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 38 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band's previous CD, "Exhibit B: The Human Condition", opened with around 4,600 units back in May 2010 to land at No. 114.

EXODUS' 2007 effort, "The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A", registered a first-week tally of 3,600 copies.

"Blood In Blood Out" was released in North America on October 14 via Nuclear Blast. The CD art was illustrated by Swedish artist Pär Olofsson, known worldwide for his incredible renderings that have graced the covers of countless heavy metal albums, including EXODUS' "Let There Be Blood".

"Blood In Blood Out" is EXODUS' first album since the departure of the band's lead singer of the past nine years, Rob Dukes, and the return of his predecessor, Steve "Zetro" Souza, who previously fronted EXODUS from 1986 to 1993 and from 2002 to 2004.

Souza states: "I'm very stoked and excited to see that EXODUS has charted at #38. This band being around over 30 years and being on our 10th album, this is truly amazing. I'm excited for our management, I'm excited for our record label, I'm excited for our booking agency, and I'm excited for everyone else in the staff. I'm mostly excited for all of our fans who have supported us over the years through thick and thin — I'm glad you're all still here. We're all very proud to have you as our fans, and when you come out to see us live, we will not disappoint you. You are truly our inspiration and we will keep doing this for as long as we can bang out heads. Thanks, everyone."

"EXODUS could not be any more excited about the awesome chart positions 'Blood In Blood Out' has achieved,” adds EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt.

"This is, in many ways, a milestone record for us, and for it to be so embraced by the metal world is quite simply amazing! We worked our asses off and people have responded in a way we only dreamed of!

"Thanks to all our fans for making this happen!"

EXODUS co-manager Maria Ferrero of Breaking Bands LLC and Adrenaline PR states: "Breaking records… breaking barriers… On behalf of Breaking Bands LLC, I am proud to see EXODUS, my longtime friends of 31 years, get the recognition that they deserve.

"To finally see Kirk Hammett record with his first band is just the icing on the cake.

"The team kicked ass. The reviews have been amazing and the fans stepping up to take action with their unwavering support speaks volumes. The fans don't lie!

"This is a great day for thrash metal.

"It is my honor to protect, promote and support such an iconic band."

EXODUS co-manager at Breaking Bands LLC and TESTAMENT vocalist Chuck Billy adds: "The Breaking Bands LLC team is very proud to be a part of the success of the new EXODUS album, 'Blood In Blood Out'.

"The band has worked very hard to deliver a monster of a record that is shaking up the metal community.

"We would like to congratulate the band and wish them continued success on their world domination. They should be very proud of their accomplishment for kicking the door down in a declining music industry.

"Great job, boys. Let the EXODUS attack begin."

"Blood In Blood Out" track listing:

01. Black 13 (featuring Dan the Automator)
02. Blood In Blood Out
03. Collateral Damage
04. Salt The Wound (featuring Kirk Hammett)
05. Body Harvest
06. BTK (featuring Chuck Billy)
07. Wrapped In The Arms Of Rage
08. My Last Nerve
09. Numb
10. Honor Killings
11. Food For The Worms

Bonus DVD includes:

* "Blood Upon The Goat" making-of footage
* Behind-the-scenes tour footage
* Footage from Kirk Hammett's Fear FestEVIL After-Party at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con

The digital version of "Blood In Blood Out" includes the digital bonus track "Angel Of Death" (ANGEL WITCH cover).

The album's Japanese edition includes the "Protect Not Dissect" bonus track featuring Rat from THE VARUKERS/DISCHARGE.

Asked what EXODUS is doing differently on "Blood In Blood Out" compared to the band's previous efforts, Souza said: "I just think it's way more brutal now. I think if you look at the production value in the albums, from 'Bonded By Blood' [1985] and even 'Impact Is Imminent' [1990] and now you look at them, from 'Tempo Of The Damned' [2004] and then 'Shovel Headed Kill Machine' [2005] and 'The Atrocity Exhibition... Exhibit A' [2007] and 'Exhibit B: The Human Condition' [2010] and now to 'Blood In, Blood Out', I just think the maturity level and knowing what you wanna sound like and knowing what you're going for and knowing what you do well. Not trying to second-guess yourself and go, 'Oh, we've gotta do this because of this.' It's not like that anymore. Now it's all about, 'Hey, we're EXODUS. We've been EXODUS for 30 years. And let's just be EXODUS.'"

EXODUS' support run with fellow metal titans SLAYER and SUICIDAL TENDENCIES launches on November 11 with two shows at the Fox Theater in Oakland, California.