Merciless Thrash: EXODUS Aim for the Very Top with Goliath

Thrash icons EXODUS once again remind the world why their name ranks among the most respected in the entire history of extreme metal. After more than forty years on the scene, they are not looking back; instead of nostalgia, they deliver pure, unfiltered brutality. The band has unveiled a music video for the title track "Goliath," taken from their upcoming twelfth studio album, set for release on March 20, 2026 via Napalm Records.

"Goliath" marks a crucial turning point for EXODUS. It is not another frenzied thrash assault, but the slowest and perhaps the heaviest — track the band has ever recorded. Dark, drawn-out riffs, the massive drums of Tom Hunting, and a suffocating atmosphere at times push the song to the edge of doom metal. Yet the track loses none of its menacing intensity—quite the opposite. The slower tempo allows every note, every strike, and every ominous detail to resonate fully.

A prominent role is played by the string arrangements of violinist Katie Jacoby, which elevate the track into an almost cinematic realm. The band itself admits that here they captured something exceptional—pure evil gradually transforming into dark beauty. "Goliath" is not just a song; it is a monolith that rolls forward slowly but inevitably, crushing everything in its path.

The new album also marks the return of vocalist Rob Dukes, whose performance the band describes as the best of his career. Goliath is additionally the most collaborative record in EXODUS history, more members contributed to the songwriting, and guest appearances include Peter Tägtgren. The result is material that combines insane thrash speed, crushing heaviness, and epic passages without ever losing cohesion.

The album was created in an extremely creative burst the band recorded nearly two albums at once, and selecting the final ten tracks was, according to Gary Holt, literally painful. From the opening "3111," through the moshpit inferno of "Promise You This," to the eight-minute epic "Summon Of The God Unknown," it is clear that EXODUS are not a band content with maintaining the status quo after decades. On the contrary — they are pushing their own boundaries further, harder, and darker than ever before.

"Goliath" proves that EXODUS are still hungry—not for recognition, but for power, intensity, and extremity. When the monster fully awakens on March 20, one thing is certain—this will not be just another album. This will be a blow no one can sidestep.