Tempo of the Damned

Tempo of the Damned represents a pivotal moment in thrash metal history, marking Exodus's triumphant return after a twelve-year studio silence. Produced by Andy Sneap, the album set a new gold standard for modern metal production, characterized by its 'Sneap-style' surgical precision and massive drum sound. It features the classic 'H-Team' guitar duo of Gary Holt and Rick Hunolt, delivering some of their most technical and aggressive work. The album is notable for being the final studio outing with vocalist Steve 'Zetro' Souza for a decade, and his performance here is widely considered some of his most venomous. Lyrically, the album moves away from the horror themes of the band's youth toward biting political and social critiques, particularly on tracks like 'Scar Spangled Banner.' It also bridges the band's history by including 'Impaler,' a song co-written by founding member Kirk Hammett during the band's earliest days.