Tag Archives: Gary Holt

Slayer Frontman Speaks About Recording New Album

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Photo Credit: Hillarie Jason

Photo Credit: Hillarie Jason

Slayer bassist/vocalist gave a recording update on the band’s eleventh studio album, due out later in 2015 via Nuclear Blast. The band recorded their new album over a four month period at Hollywood, CA studio Henson Studios with producer Terry Date (Pantera, Soundgarden, Korn).

“We’re in kind of the beginning stages of the finishing stages, if that makes any sense,”

“We’re doing the mixing and mastering now, but we still need to sit down and figure out the album title, the album cover, the song titles, and the song list. We’ve recorded 13 songs for it; we’ll probably put ten on there, but who knows? Maybe you’ll get lucky and we’ll put all 13 on there!”

The album will be the first without co-founder, guitarist and co-writer Jeff Hanneman, who passed away in May 2013 from alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver. Exodus guitarist Gary Holt and returning drummer Paul Bostaph (replacing Dave Lombardo) have joined the band and are recording the new album.

Said Araya:

“The whole process of this album started three years ago, when Jeff was still a part of it. There is one track on there that we recorded with him, that he did play on, which was completely done except we hadn’t finalized the vocals for it. So we were fortunate to have something that he had participated in.”

According to Araya, it’s been “just odd and strange” making the new album without Hanneman “because he’s never gonna be there again, you know?” he said. “Even when we were doing stuff without him while he was still alive, that felt strange. Yeah, I missed him during the process. But the way things turned out, I think he was definitely a part of it, even if he wasn’t there physically.”


Gary Holt (Exodus, Slayer) Hosting SiriusXM Liquid Metal Takeover

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Exodus guitarist Gary Holt will host his own SiriusXM Liquid Metal Takeover this weekend, picking out over a dozen of his favorite cuts from his bands, and tracks from bands such as Venom, Warbringer, Death Angel, Metallica, Rainbow, Heathen and more!

Tune in to SiriusXM Channel 40 – Liquid Metal
AIRING TIMES:
Thursday, March 19th @ 7pm-9pm ET
Thursday, March 19th @ 10pm-12am ET
Friday, March 20th @ 12pm-2pm ET
Saturday, March 21st @ 9am-11am ET
Sunday, March 22nd @ 5pm-7pm ET
***Also available on SiriusXM On Demand***

Holt is interviewed by SiriusXM host Jose Mangin about their upcoming appearance on the Dark Roots of Thrash II tour with Testament and Shattered Sun, their new album Blood In, Blood Out, guacamole, kids, the 49ers, health topics and more.

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Gary Holt of Exodus and Slayer To Appear On That Metal Show

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Exodus and current Slayer guitarist Gary Holt will be appearing on tonight’s episode of VH1 Classic’s That Metal Show, airing at 9/8 Central and featuring additional guest appearances by Marky Ramone, Darryl Daniels and Joel Hoekstra.

Holt will be discussing Exodus’ upcoming run on the Dark Roots of Thrash II tour with Testament and openers Shattered Sun.

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Slayer Releasing New Single “When The Stillness Comes” For Record Store Day

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Slayer will release their first new track in over a year called “When The Stillness Comes” as part of Record Store Day on April 18, 2015, as announced by Slayer and Nuclear Blast.

Slayer Side A: "When the Stillness Comes"

Slayer Side A: “When the Stillness Comes”

It is accompanied by a live recording of “Black Magic,” from the band’s 1983 album Show No Mercy and recorded live at the 2014 Wacken Open Air Festival, will be available as a limited-edition (only 5000 copies worldwide), 7-inch vinyl picture disc exclusively at all participating independent record stories worldwide.

Slayer Side B: "Black Magic"

Slayer Side B: “Black Magic”

Slayer – Tom Araya, Kerry King and Paul Bostaph – recorded “When The Stillness Comes” last year in Los Angeles with producer Terry Date. Currently, the band is in the final stages of recording what will be its first new album since 2009’s Grammy-nominated World Painted Blood, which is expected out later this year.

The five time nominated, two-time Grammy winning metal act has been named as one of “The Big Four” with Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax that defined the thrash metal genre. With songs that mirror the turmoil and aberrations of our society – God’s terrifying global genocide, the chaos of our broken political system, chemical warfare, the hideous minds of serial killers, and the way-too-close proximity of world horrors that technology has brought us, Slayer remains crushing and brutal, steadfastly refusing to cater to the Mainstream. Slayer’s founding member, guitarist Jeff Hanneman passed in 2013, and Exodus guitarist Gary Holt has been filling in since. Paul Bostaph, who was Slayer’s drummer from ’94 – ’01, has rejoined bassist/vocalist Tom Araya and guitarist Kerry King, and is back behind the kit. Slayer is currently in the studio recording a new album set for a 2015 release.

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Slayer – Suicidal Tendencies – Exodus: Live at The Palladium, Worcester, MA

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New Englanders are no strangers to low temperatures and the ever growing line of people hiding from the cold winds beside The Palladium in late November to be among the first inside showed a strong resolve. It could have also have just been plain, old idiocy but you do a lot of stupid things for people (i.e. bands) that you love. I was one of said idiots.

Exodus

First to take the stage were Exodus, fronted by Steve Zetro Sousa once again. This was only my second time seeing the band, the first was while Rob Dukes was still an active member, but they continue to put on a fantastic show for their fans. The crowd belted out the words to newer songs like ‘Blacklist’ as well as tracks like ‘Toxic Waltz,’ an Exodus classic. However, nothing ever seems to hit people quite like ‘Bonded by Blood’ does and the floor always becomes a mass of writhing bodies. Everyone knows and loves that song. Your mom loves that song. Despite line up changes, the machine that is Exodus is still going strong. Can we just take a second to talk about Gary Holt? The man has been doing this since well before I was even born and he’s just as psyched to be out on that stage as ever. He’s like a puppy made of thrash.

Suicidal Tendancies

A band that didn’t quite seem to fit the thrash themed lineup came on next; Suicidal Tendencies. I had never seen them before and I wasn’t sure what to expect since I wasn’t overly familiar with their material but I quickly learned that Mike Muir has far more rhythm than I do. We were treated to a few of my personal favorites in ‘Subliminal’ and ‘War Inside My Head’. As expected, ST performed ‘I Saw Your Mommy’ and the crowd absolutely ate it up. Michael Morgan’s bass playing was a nice surprise as well and I found myself grinning, like an idiot, to a fellow bass loving girlfriend of mine more than once. He was more than adequate in place of the recently passed away Tim “Rawbiz” Williams (RIP). I would definitely love to see them again. Uncle Mike stopped a few times in between songs to give us some life advice that can only come from someone who’s made it out to the other side in (mostly) one piece. It was a very positive experience. If you haven’t caught Suicidal yet, get out there. You’ll have a great time.

Slayer

Last, but not least, came Slayer which saw Holt back in front of the crowd for the second time that evening. The venue was smaller than the arena that they had played in last year, the prices were more reasonable, and fans came out in droves to show their support. Their set opened with ‘World Painted Blood’ and lead into a roughly two hour long performance. I got my favorite song in with ‘Dead Skin Mask’ which always just makes me want to hug the person next to me and tell them how much I love them. Just go with it. Other notable songs included ‘War Ensemble,’ ‘Seasons in the Abyss,’ ‘Disciple,’ and another feel-good favorite of mine, ‘South of Heaven’. The crowd had been moshing all night but ‘Raining Blood’ filled everyone with second, more aggressive, wind as they tore into one another again and again. Much like last year, ‘Angel of Death’ was dedicated to the fallen Jeff Hanneman. There’s been a lot of talk since Jeff’s passing and Dave Lombardo’s departure from the band but they are still worth seeing.

Slayer

I don’t think anyone walked out of The Palladium that night and was dissatisfied with how they had spent their evening. Exodus and Suicidal Tendencies are still going strong and putting on great performances. While Slayer may not be the vicious, wild animal that it was in years past they’re still more than capable of putting on one hell of a show and this perseverance is what keeps them relevant and keeps us coming back for more.

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WORDS: ALEIDA LA LLAVE

PHOTOS: HILLARIE JASON PHOTOGRAPHY


Exodus – Blood In, Blood Out

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With the Big Four of thrash metal currently mired in irrelevance and resorting to dodgy political statements, ill-advised collaborations and endlessly trading on former glories, thank the Gods for Exodus who have been cracking necks and causing mayhem in the pit ever since their barnstorming comeback album Tempo of the Damned (Nuclear Blast) breathed new life into a moribund scene back in 2004. Ten years later they sound even more alive and angry on tenth original full length Blood In, Blood Out (Nuclear Blast), a record that takes no prisoners.

Bringing back vocalist Steve “Zetro” Sousa for his third stint behind the mic has proven to be a masterstroke with his re-arrival seemingly inspiring his bandmates to up their game and play as if their lives depended on it. Over eleven vicious tracks lasting just over an hour, Sousa’s trademark screech gives the songs a sense of fatal urgency and direction. The lyrics may cover the standard war n’ gore topics as before but with Sousa sounding so utterly pissed-off, they take on a new dimension of relevance. It also helps that guitarists Gary Holt and Lee Altus have written some of the best riffs of their careers while the thunderous bass of Jack Gibson and the relentless percussion of Tom Hunting ensure everything remains at a scorching hot level throughout.

With so many stand-out tracks it’s hard to pick favourites but the relentless barrage and gang vocals of ‘Collateral Damage’, the precision chugs and catchiness of ‘Salt the Wound’ which features a guest appearance from none other than Kirk Hammett and the blistering thrash workout of ‘Numb’ all take the cake. Boosted by a great production job that makes all the instruments sound loud, thick and in-your-face, Blood In, Blood Out is a fantastic return to form and proves once again that the old dogs know best and could even teach some of the young pretenders a few new tricks.

8.0/10

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JAMES CONWAY


Exodus Premieres New Song Featuring Kirk Hammett, New Album Due Next Month

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Exodus has released the first taste of their new album, Blood In Blood Out (Nuclear Blast) due to drop on October 14th. The band is riding high on this long-anticipated new album which features the return of second Exodus front man Steve “Zetro” Souza (Hatriot/Tenet) on his first album with the band since 2004’s Tempo of The Damned. The song certainly has the bands’ trademark sound and Zetro’s unmistakable snarl. Check out the song here:

 

 

From The Press Release:

The 4-year wait is over.

RollingStone.com has exclusively debuted “Salt The Wound,” the first new song in four years by Bay Area thrash metal architects Exodus featuring a guest guitar solo by original Exodus& current METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett and lead vocal work by returning band frontman Steve “Zetro” Souza. Stream the track & watch the lyric video here:

“Having Kirk play on the new Exodus record kind of came about after I played so many shows with Metallica while touring with Slayer over the past four years,” shares guitarist & songwriter Gary Holt. “It started the same way most of these things do, as a lot of chatter while having a good time, but Kirk was more stoked to play on the new record than anyone. He never got to play on anything with Exodus since the first demo despite being a founding member, so I think it really meant a lot to him. Coming full circle so to speak. So I chose the song ‘Salt The Wound’ since I thought the rhythm section for the first lead was right in his wheelhouse, and he killed it! He came in and busted out several takes and his solo compliments mine perfectly. Then we drank beer and ate barbecue! Epic time!”

About his recent experience recording with his first heavy metal band, Hammett revealed to RollingStone.com this past July: “It felt really casual, really cool – just like it did back in 1980 when we were all just hanging out back in the day.”

Hammett is one of three special guests whose work graces Blood In, Blood Out, Exodus’ tenth studio album due out on October 14th in North America. Electronic music producer Dan the Automator (Gorillaz, Mike Patton, Deltron 3030) crafts an industrial sound bed on the intro to the album opener ‘Black 13’ and Testament frontman Chuck Billy lends his signature roar to ‘BTK.’

In other news, Gary Holt will appear as a guest judge on this week’s episode of Top Chef Duels on the Bravo network, judging a full vegan meal alongside fellow heavy metal veterans Rob Zombie and Scott Ian. The episode airs tomorrow, September 10th at 7 p.m. Pacific / 9 P.M. Central / 10 P.M. Eastern.

Produced by Andy Sneap (Accept, Kreator, Megadeth), Blood In, Blood Out can be pre-ordered from the Nuclear Blast USA Webshop in CD, digi-pak + bonus DVD, 2-LP exclusive yellow vinyl, and imported limited edition box set formats. Bundles include a t-shirt with exclusive artwork by Swedish artist Par Olofsson (Psycroptic, Abysmal Dawn, Revocation) + a poster (while supplies last).

 

Fans who pre-order Blood In, Blood Out on iTunes will receive an instant “Salt The Wound” download. Get yours here: http://geni.us/exobiboitunes

Track listing for the deluxe digi-pak + bonus DVD version of Blood In Blood Out is:

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 will include 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.

Exodus will head out with fellow metal titans Slayer and Suicidal Tendencies on a U.S. tour this November sponsored by Scion. This “destined to be legendary” tour launches on November 11th with two shows at The Fox Theater in Oakland, California. The 26-show trek includes nine headlining off-dates with additional performances to be announced soon.

Tickets are on sale now via the links on the official ExodusFacebook page.

Due to the overwhelmingly demand, Exodus VIP Experience packages are now available for the entire tour via SLOtix.com. Visit the site for tour package details.

All Exodus VIP Experience attendees will be included in a giveaway for either an autographed Gary Holt signature guitar or an Exodus guitar. At the end of the tour, Gary Holt will personally call the winner himself to announce that they’ve won!

Exodusin North America with Slayer & Suicidal Tendencies

11/11 – The Fox Theater – Oakland, CA (2nd show added!)

11/12 – The Fox Theater – Oakland, CA

11/14 – The Forum – Inglewood, CA

11/15 – Comerica Theatre – Phoenix, AZ

11/17 – Coca Cola Bricktown Events Venter – Oklahoma City, OK

11/18 – ACL Live at the Moody Theater – Austin, TX

11/19 – Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie – Grand Prairie (Dallas), TX

11/21 – Hard Rock Café/Hard Rock Live – Orlando, FL

11/22 – The Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA

11/23 – The Fillmore – Charlotte, NC (Exodus ONLY)

11/24 – Empire – North Springfield, VA (Exodus ONLY)

11/25 – Washington Avenue Armory – Albany, NY

11/26 – Sands Bethlehem Event Center – Bethlehem, PA

11/28 – The Palladium – Worcester, MA

11/29 – Wellmont Theatre – Montclair, NJ

11/30 – Tower Theater – Upper Darby (Philadelphia), PA

12/02 – Agora Theatre – Cleveland, OH

12/03 – Madison Theatre – Covington, KY (ExodusONLY)

12/04 – Egyptian Room at Old National Centre – Indianapolis, IN

12/05 – The Fillmore Detroit – Detroit, MI

12/07 – Aftershock – Merriam, KS (Exodus ONLY)

12/08 – Gothic Theatre – Denver, CO (Exodus ONLY)

12/09 – Pub Station – Billings, MT (Exodus ONLY)

12/10 – The Hop – Spokane, WA (Exodus ONLY)

12/11 – Studio Seven – Seattle, WA (Exodus ONLY)

12/12 – Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR (Exodus ONLY)

Additional shows will be announced soon.

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Tickets are on sale now via the links on the official Exodus Facebook page.


Slayer – Gojira – 4ARM: Live At The Tsongas Center, Lowell, MA

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Although Slayer has gone through a lot in the past year, they went on tour to prove that they still got it. The tour was pitched as being a bit of a throwback tour where classic tracks off of their first few albums would be played. Supporting Slayer were the French prog/death metallers Gorjia and the Australians 4ARM.

 

 

 

HillarieJason1-24ARM were the newest band on the bill and one that not many attendees knew of. The unsuspecting crowd was fairly blown away by them. They are the kind of band that is nothing, but pure metal. 4ARM crushed all with songs like ‘Submission for Liberty’ and ‘Raise a Fist’. At this point in time, the Tsongas Center was mostly empty but those on the floor were right against the stage and rocking out. Their set only lasted six songs; just enough to give the audience a taste of their potential and to make them interested.

 

 

 

 

Gojira is a name that has grown bigger over the past few years. Those who are not familiar with the music are at least familiar with the name and reputation HillarieJason1-3as a solid metal band. Although different in nature from 4ARM, Gojira much more powerful. They are less thrash and more technical. This showed in the audience’s slow headbanging to songs such as ‘L’Enfant Sauvage’ and ‘The Axe’. People continued to trickle in but no one seemed in a rush to hear them which was a bit of a disappointment for such a great and talented band.

By the time Slayer came on stage, everyone was going wild. It was disheartening to see that much of the arena was still empty. The venue had trouble selling tickets but none could seem to pinpoint whether it had to do with the venue’s location, high ticket prices, or the band lineup changes. No matter. Those faithful fans who still believe in Slayer and their music despite all that had happened over the past year found a way to be there that night.

As promised, Slayer reached back into their history and started off their set by playing the title track off of 1985’s Hell Awaits. Gary Holt and Paul Bostaph fit right in with Tom Araya and Kerry King, which comes as no surprise considering both have played with the band in the past. They had no problem playing the material they had not been a part of. Such classic tracks included: ‘Necrophiliac’, ‘The Antichrist’, ‘Die by the Sword’, ‘Seasons in the Abyss’, and of course ‘Raining Blood’. The only cover they played was Exodus’s ‘Strike of the Beast’, a nod to Holt being a member of the band. Their encore consisted of ‘South of Heaven’ and ‘Angel of Death’, where a banner commemorating Jeff Hanneman was displayed. The audience showed their love for the old music through the set by going as wildly as they could. There were even multiple instances of wheel chair bound crowd surfers! It just goes to show that true Slayer fans will always find a way to have a great time.

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Words: Melissa Campbell

Photos: Hillarie Jason Photography