EXODUS · Persona Non Grata | PICTURE 2LP

Double Picture-Vinyl in gatefold sleeve.

Background information about 'Persona Non Grata'

When the godfathers of Bay Area thrash return after a seven-year studio silence, you better believe the pit is about to get absolutely unhinged. Exodus have done it again — and then some. Persona Non Grata isn't just an album; it's a full-throttle declaration of war on everything weak, fake, and disposable in modern metal. From the moment the title track kicks in with that menacing, slow-burn riffage before exploding into a tornado of razor-sharp guitar work, you know you're in for one of the most vicious thrash experiences of the decade.

Gary Holt and Lee Altus weave dueling guitar lines that feel like a masterclass in controlled chaos — part old-school Bay Area crunch, part modern precision, all venom. Tom Hunting's drumming is nothing short of phenomenal, especially given his health battles leading up to the recording. The man plays like he's got something to prove, and boy, does he prove it. Steve "Zetro" Souza sounds more unhinged than ever, spitting lyrical venom at political hypocrisy, social media toxicity, and the slow death of critical thinking with that unmistakable snarl that's been his trademark since the late 80s. Tracks like R.E.M.F. and Clickbait are pure, undiluted Exodus — breakneck tempos, mosh-pit anthems that'll leave you gasping for air. But it's the epic scope of The Years Of Death And Dying that shows just how much depth this band still has in the tank, a nearly nine-minute crusher that shifts through doom-laden passages and blistering thrash with stunning fluidity.

The production is crisp, punchy, and refuses to sand down the band's raw edges. This is thrash metal the way it was meant to be played: dangerous, intelligent, and utterly relentless. Persona Non Grata sits comfortably alongside Tempo of the Damned and Blood In, Blood Out as proof that these veterans aren't just coasting on legacy — they're actively shaping the genre's present. If you thought thrash's golden era was locked in the 80s, this album will happily disabuse you of that notion with a baseball bat to the skull.

For fans of:
Testament, Death Angel, Kreator, Overkill, Municipal Waste

Other Versions

ELECTRIC BLUE/BLACK DLP · Sold out BLACK DLP · Sold out CD+BLURAY DCD · 19,99 € CLEAR/GOLD/BLACK/TURQUOISE SPLATTER 2LP · 36,99 €

Track listing

LP 1:
A1. Persona Non Grata
A2. R.E.M.F
A3. Slipping Into Madness
B1. Elitist
B2. Prescribing Horror
B3. The Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves)

LP 2:
C1. The Years Of Death And Dying
C2. Clickbait
C3. The Fires Of Division
D1. Cosa Del Pantano
D2. Lunatic-Liar-Lord
D3. Antiseed

Manufacturer: Warner Music Group Germany Holding GmbH, Alter Wandrahm 14, 20457 Hamburg, Germany, Contact: www.nuclearblast.com