• facebook
  • twitter
  • rss

EXODUS Frontman Checks In From The Road

August 9, 2008

Vocalist Rob Dukes of the veteran San Francisco Bay Area metallers EXODUS has sent the following update to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"Wacken 2008... I came from behind the curtain to see before me 75,000 people with their hands in the air. And screaming. It was fucking surreal. I was overwhelmed by the whole experience. Honestly, I don't remember much of anything in particular except seeing 5 to 10,000 people going into the pit and killing each other almost made me forget to sing; it was crazy.

"Three years ago I was just a guitar tech, not even trying to be in a band. I was happy surfing and just living. Now my life is just crazy, making records and touring the world and getting to play shows like Wacken. I truly am grateful for that has befallen on me, good and bad.

"I'm in Spain right now playing a festival with OVERKILL and CRADLE OF FILTH and looking forward to killing this crowd tonight. I just spent two days on the beach in Spain and I feel completely rejuvenated.

"Thanks to all the fans that make all the noise and a special thanks to all the crazy fuckers in the pits around the world."

EXODUS has just completed work on a re-recording of its classic 1985 debut album, "Bonded by Blood". Produced by guitarist Gary Holt, the new CD — entitled "Let there be Blood" — was recorded at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, California; JKZ Production Studio in San Rafael, California; with vocal tracks recorded at J. Rod Production Studios in New City, New York. Andy Sneap mixed the CD at his Backstage studio in Derbyshire, England. An October 2008 release through Zaentz Records is expected.

Rob Dukes had the following to say regarding the band's decision to re-record "Bonded by Blood":

"Paul [Baloff, former EXODUS vocalist who passed away in 2002] was rad, totally original. He was not like [METALLICA's James] Hetfield or [SLAYER's Tom] Araya. I think at times he wanted to be but he was simply himself. He had a really cool way of going up with his voice in the weirdest spots. I, myself, find it cool and original.

"I have been singing these songs regularly for three years now and I have totally made them my own but with all the nuances that Paul threw in. I have a different voice than Paul, so it would be kinda stupid to just mimic him, but I definitely bite his style but try to remain myself.

"This record is a total homage to him with modern technology and for fun. If he was around, which it is unfortunate that he not, he would be doing this record.

"My life is cool now, but it was cool before I joined EXODUS; I made good money had a great apartment in L.A. and I traveled everywhere and surfed regularly.

'Honestly, I would rather hear Paul re-record this.

"I will give these songs all the venom and hate I can give, and it's all for the love I have for these songs and this band. If those out there don't like it, and think it's not good, listen to the original — it will always stand the test of time."

Fan-filmed video footage of EXODUS' July 5, 2008 performance at the Tidal Wave Festival at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in San Francisco's McLaren Park can be viewed below (clip uploaded by YouTube user "evildead420").

Find more on
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • reddit
  • email

Comments Disclaimer And Information

BLABBERMOUTH.NET uses the Facebook Comments plugin to let people comment on content on the site using their Facebook account. The comments reside on Facebook servers and are not stored on BLABBERMOUTH.NET. To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. User comments or postings do not reflect the viewpoint of BLABBERMOUTH.NET and BLABBERMOUTH.NET does not endorse, or guarantee the accuracy of, any user comment. To report spam or any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws, use the "Report to Facebook" and "Mark as spam" links that appear next to the comments themselves. To do so, click the downward arrow on the top-right corner of the Facebook comment (the arrow is invisible until you roll over it) and select the appropriate action. You can also send an e-mail to blabbermouthinbox(@)gmail.com with pertinent details. BLABBERMOUTH.NET reserves the right to "hide" comments that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate and to "ban" users that violate the site's Terms Of Service. Hidden comments will still appear to the user and to the user's Facebook friends. If a new comment is published from a "banned" user or contains a blacklisted word, this comment will automatically have limited visibility (the "banned" user's comments will only be visible to the user and the user's Facebook friends).