Blood In, Blood Out

Blood In, Blood Out is a powerful work on which Exodus, with angular riffs and merciless rhythm, again foregrounds thrash metal’s aggression. A record on which the flagship singer Steve “Zetro” Souza returned to the band again after very long years. The songs, while running at high speed, always keep a sure tension by placing deft riff switches and heavy, effective breaks in places. Zetro’s return was a long-awaited event for fans. From the opener “Black 13” and the powerful title track “Blood In, Blood Out” to the aggression of “Collateral Damage,” every song is engaging, while cuts like “Salt the Wound” and “Body Harvest” convey the work’s fullness. That Metallica’s Kirk Hammett guests on “Salt the Wound” also drew great attention. Not only rough momentum, but the sure precision of the playing and the precise construction of the songs seize the ear. A record that, while firmly inheriting the old rough spirit, sounds bitingly with a modern, thicker, more powerful sound. With Zetro’s rough vocals back, the band’s native ferocious appeal powerfully revives. A powerful, engaging, fulfilling work showing Exodus’s sure vigor — a record announcing the band’s full revival.