American thrash metal pioneers EXODUS celebrated the 40th anniversary of their iconic album Bonded By Blood with a special performance at the UC Theatre in Berkeley, California, on April 25. The show marked the first of two milestone concerts, coinciding with the birthday weekend of the band’s late original vocalist Paul Baloff. The event featured a full performance of Bonded By Blood along with other classic tracks from the Baloff era, including songs like “Hell’s Breath”, “Warlord”, and “Impaler”, plus tunes from Pleasures Of The Flesh, such as “Brain Dead” and “Pleasures of the Flesh” itself.
A major highlight of the evening was the return of two former band members: guitarist Rick Hunolt and bassist Jeff Andrews. Hunolt, a key member of EXODUS from 1985 to 2004 and co-writer of many of the band’s most famous songs like “A Lesson In Violence” and “Deliver Us To Evil”, joined the stage alongside Andrews, who played with EXODUS from 1981 to 1983.
The setlist for the concert was as follows:
- Bonded By Blood
- Exodus
- And Then There Were None
- A Lesson In Violence
- Metal Command
- Pleasures Of The Flesh
- Brain Dead (with Rick Hunolt)
- Piranha (with Rick Hunolt)
- Happy Birthday To You (in honor of Paul Baloff)
- Deliver Us To Evil (with Rick Hunolt)
- No Love
- Strike Of The Beast
Encore:
- Hell’s Breath
- Warlord (with Jeff Andrews)
- Impaler
Although EXODUS often doesn’t get as much recognition alongside the “Big Four” of 1980s thrash metal (METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER, and ANTHRAX), Bonded By Blood remains a seminal album in thrash history. It inspired numerous bands like TESTAMENT, DEATH ANGEL, and VIO-LENCE and is considered one of the most influential thrash albums ever made.
During a podcast appearance in early 2022, EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt discussed the involvement of Kirk Hammett, the band’s original guitarist who later joined METALLICA. He revealed that while there were a few riffs written while Hammett was still in the band, most of the material on Bonded By Blood was written after Hammett’s departure. “Strike of the Beast” and “No Love” were among the first songs composed post-Hammett, according to Holt.
Though Hammett went on to achieve international fame with METALLICA, he has acknowledged the significant influence of EXODUS on the thrash metal scene. In a 2014 interview, he remarked on how EXODUS’ demos may have influenced certain METALLICA songs like “Creeping Death” and “Trapped Under Ice”, while also commenting on how EXODUS’ sound was embraced by a passionate underground fanbase.
Rick Hunolt also discussed his departure from EXODUS in a 2021 interview, reflecting on the personal struggles that led to his exit. “I was a mess,” he confessed, recalling the challenging period where he battled addiction and depression, which eventually led him to leave the band after more than two decades of service.
Despite the dark times, Hunolt eventually rebuilt his life and even made a guest appearance on EXODUS’ 2021 album Persona Non Grata. The reunion concert was a powerful reminder of the lasting impact of Bonded By Blood and the enduring legacy of its creators.
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