Blood In, Blood Out (Exodus album)

Asked in June 2012 if Exodus had plans to record a tenth studio album, bassist Jack Gibson stated that the band was "way overdue to do it." Then he added, "I know that Gary has songs, and Lee has some stuff — they've been coming up with stuff — [but] we just really haven't had the time to sit down and hammer it all out and then record it. That takes a few months together to make that happen, and we just haven't had the time, basically. But there is gonna be another album, for sure."{{cite web|title=Exodus Bassist On Randy Blythe Concert Incident: 'If You Come On Stage, You're Trespassing'|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/exodus-bassist-on-randy-blythe-concert-incident-if-you-come-on-stage-you-re-trespassing/|work=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=August 19, 2014|date=June 29, 2012}} Vocalist Rob Dukes stated that the album was going to be "fast and short", and added, "everybody fucking complained about how long the last one was, we're, like, 'Fuck 'em! We'll give them about a fucking 38-minute record. I don't know. I'm just talking shit. I don't know what we're gonna do. We've got no plan. We're just going with what feels right. If we end up with another 74-minute record, so be it." Dukes was also asked who would end up producing the album, and his response was, "I don't know yet. There are a couple of people on the table. I think Andy [Sneap, producer of Exhibit B: The Human Condition] is taking some time off; I don't know if he's gonna do it with us again."{{cite web|title=Exodus Frontman Talks Next Album|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/exodus-frontman-talks-next-album-video/|work=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=August 19, 2014|date=September 21, 2012}}

In an October 2013 interview with The Washington Times, guitarist Gary Holt stated that he would take a break from touring with Slayer until April to focus on finishing the new Exodus album.{{cite web|title=Gary Holt Will 'Probably' Record Solos On Next Slayer Studio Album|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gary-holt-will-probably-record-solos-on-next-slayer-studio-album/|work=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=August 19, 2014|date=October 19, 2013}} He also announced that the band would start recording the album in February.{{cite web|title=Exodus To Enter Studio In February, Says Gary Holt|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/exodus-to-enter-studio-in-february-says-gary-holt/|work=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=August 19, 2014|date=November 1, 2013}}{{cite web|title=Gary Holt Wants To Make Sure Next Exodus Album Is 'As Good As It Needs To Be'|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/gary-holt-wants-to-make-sure-next-exodus-album-is-as-good-as-it-needs-to-be/|work=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=August 19, 2014|date=November 2, 2013}} Asked about the progress of the songwriting sessions for drummer Tom Hunting replied, "It's a pretty old-school process, actually. Gary will put some riffs on a CD, or even a cassette, depending on which vehicle I'm driving. He feeds the riff to me, and then I put a beat to it, and we work it all out, and then we come together as a band and arrange it. Rob is really not in the room for the musical process. We're gonna probably do some more pre-production for this one, 'cause our bass player now knows about Pro Tools and is really computer savvy. None of the rest of us are, really. It's a fun process. I love the process of recording; it's my favorite thing. It's like construction; you're taking raw wood and building something. Gary likes to say he makes moonshine and Lee makes fine wine, 'cause Lee will dissect his own parts and rebuild it here, change something there, add an overdub there, or whatever...But it's a fun process; I love it. You're building something, and it's yours."{{cite web|title=Exodus Drummer On Songwriting For Next Album: 'It's A Pretty Old-School Process'|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/exodus-drummer-on-songwriting-for-next-album-its-a-pretty-old-school-process/|work=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=August 19, 2014|date=December 14, 2013}}

Gibson indeed ended up being responsible for engineering the guitar and vocal tracks; he has been working with Pro Tools for other projects and eventually took a course on how to operate the software himself. Come recording time, the busy schedule of Andy Sneap prevented the band from relying on Sneap for tracking, and Gibson stepped up as the engineer.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btusQYvASoQ EXODUS - Blood In, Blood Out: PART 4 - Making of Album]

By March 2014, Exodus had begun recording their tenth album at Goats 'R Us Ranch & Studios in San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California. Holt commented that they were "well into drum tracks; everything is going super smooth and Tom is just killing it! Best drum sound this band has ever laid down — sounds just simply pummeling!" He also stated that the band had "only one more song left to lay down and some B-sides to go."{{cite web|title=Exodus On New Album: 'This Is Gonna Be So Goddamned Heavy, It Ain't Even Funny'|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/exodus-on-new-album-this-is-gonna-be-so-goddamned-heavy-it-aint-even-funny/|work=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=August 19, 2014|date=March 27, 2014}} Asked about the musical direction of the album, Dukes replied, "This album is very fast and has more of a punk rock feel to it, whereas I think the last few Exodus albums were metal epics, with longer songs. These songs are shorter and a little faster. It has a really different feel to it. It sounds great."{{cite web|title=Exodus Singer Rob Dukes Says Next Album Will Be 'Very Fast' And Will Have 'More Of A Punk Rock Feel'|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/exodus-singer-rob-dukes-says-next-album-will-be-very-fast-and-will-have-more-of-a-punk-rock-feel/|work=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=August 19, 2014|date=April 24, 2014}}

On June 8, 2014, it was announced that Dukes had been fired from the band, and was replaced by his predecessor Steve "Zetro" Souza.{{cite web|title=Exodus Parts Ways With Singer Rob Dukes, Welcomes Back Steve 'Zetro' Souza|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/exodus-parts-ways-with-singer-rob-dukes/|work=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=August 19, 2014|date=June 8, 2014}}{{cite web|title=It's Official: Singer Steve 'Zetro' Souza Is Back In Exodus|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/its-official-singer-steve-zetro-souza-is-back-in-exodus/|work=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=August 19, 2014|date=June 8, 2014}}{{cite web|title=ROB DUKES Is 'Bummed' About His Split With Exodus But 'Grateful' For Last Nine Years|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/rob-dukes-is-bummed-about-his-split-with-exodus-but-grateful-for-last-nine-years/|work=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=August 19, 2014|date=June 9, 2014}} On the day after, Holt announced that Souza would start recording vocals on the new album.{{cite web|title=Steve 'Zetro' Souza To Begin Recording Vocals For New Exodus Album This Week|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/steve-zetro-souza-to-begin-recording-vocals-for-new-exodus-album-this-week/|work=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=August 19, 2014|date=June 9, 2014}} Souza co-wrote at least one song on the album with bassist Jack Gibson and guitarist Lee Altus,{{cite web|title=Steve 'Zetro' Souza Says He Has 'Basically Finished' Recording His Parts For Next Exodus Album|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/steve-zetro-souza-says-he-has-basically-finished-recording-his-parts-for-next-exodus-album/|work=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=August 19, 2014|date=June 8, 2014}} now known as "Body Harvest".

The album features an industrial hip hop tinged intro on the opening track "Black 13" produced by Dan the Automator; Holt explained the intro was done in a short period of time using the casual acquaintance Holt and Dan built up over the years.{{cite web|title=EXODUS: 'Blood In Blood Out' Special Guests, Bonus Tracks Revealed|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/exodus-blood-in-blood-out-guest-musicians-bonus-tracks-revealed/|work=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=October 16, 2014|date=September 3, 2014}}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Monger |first=James Christopher |url={{AllMusic|class=album |id=blood-in-blood-out-mw0002718494 |pure_url=yes}} |title=Allmusic review |publisher=Allmusic.com |date=October 13, 2014 |accessdate=October 12, 2014}}

| rev2 = All About the Rock

| rev2score = 8/10{{cite web | url = http://allabouttherock.co.uk/exodus-blood-in-blood-out/ | last = Reed | first = Joe | title = Exodus - Blood In, Blood Out | accessdate = October 16, 2014}}

| rev3 = Blabbermouth.net

| rev3score = 9/10{{cite web | url = http://www.blabbermouth.net/cdreviews/blood-in-blood-out/ | last = Van Horn | first = Ray Jr.| title = EXODUS - "Blood In, Blood Out " | accessdate = October 1, 2014}}

| rev4 = Classic Rock

| rev4score = {{rating|4|5}}November 2014, p. 94

| rev5 = Exclaim!

| rev5score = 8/10{{cite web | url = http://exclaim.ca/music/article/exodus-blood_in_blood_out | last = Zorgdrager | first = Bradley | title = Exodus Blood In, Blood Out | accessdate = January 11, 2019}}

| rev6 = The Guardian

| rev6score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/09/exodus-blood-in-blood-out-review | last = Lawson | first = Dom | title = Exodus: Blood In, Blood Out review – feral energy and refined catchiness | accessdate = January 11, 2019}}

| rev7 = Kerrang!

| rev7score = {{rating|3|5}}October 11, 2014, p. 53

| rev8 = Punknews.org (staff)

| rev8score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web | url = https://www.punknews.org/review/12984/exodus-blood-in-blood-out | last = Pederson | first = Tori | title = Exodus Blood In, Blood Out (2014) | accessdate = January 11, 2019}}

}}

Blood In, Blood Out has received mostly positive reviews. James Christopher Monger of AllMusic rated the album three-and-a-half stars out of five, and states, "Band and ex/current/deceased lead singer acrimony aside, the 11- track Blood In, Blood Out mostly crushes it, offering up a pulverizing set of textbook thrash-induced mayhem that somehow manages to sound both classic and vital."

Blood In, Blood Out received another positive review from Ray Van Horn, Jr. of Blabbermouth.net, who gave the album a rating of nine out of ten and states, "As Souza last appeared on Exodus' 2004 Tempo of the Damned album, for most fans, Blood In, Blood Out is going to ring true, no matter how monstrously heavy the band was with Dukes at the helm. For all of the hullabaloos behind Zetro's past tenures in Exodus, he's all over this album in a major way and by attrition, the band throws its own retro, gang-shouting speed metal party, one finding Metallica (and one-time Exodus) guitarist Kirk Hammett on the guest list."

All About The Rock writer Joe Reed scored the album 8 out of 10, and said, "Recorded in the Bay Area, the albums sound blends the attitude and energy of the band's past with their musical growth and development over the years. Listenable, yet not overwhelming, I think it captures the band's early material with their more recent body of work quite well."

At the end of 2014, Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles ranked the album #5 on their 2014 "BravePicks" list.{{cite web|title=BravePicks 2014 - Exodus' Blood In, Blood Out #5|url=http://bravewords.com/news/bravepicks-2014-exodus-blood-in-blood-out-5|website=Bravewords.com|accessdate=February 21, 2015|date=December 26, 2014}}

In terms of chart positions, Blood In, Blood Out was successful, and was Exodus' first album since 1990's Impact Is Imminent to enter the Billboard 200; the album itself peaked at #38 on the Billboard 200,{{cite web|title=Exodus' 'Blood In Blood Out' Cracks U.S. Top 40|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/exodus-blood-in-blood-out-cracks-u-s-top-40/|work=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=October 22, 2014|date=October 22, 2014}} making it Exodus' highest chart position so far, and their first album in 25 years to crack the top 100 since Fabulous Disaster (1989), which peaked at #82 on the Billboard 200. The album sold approximately 8,800 copies in its first week in the U.S.

To support Blood In, Blood Out, Exodus embarked on their first major tour with Souza since 2004. They toured South America in October 2014, and embarked on a U.S. tour with Slayer and Suicidal Tendencies in November and December.{{cite web|title=Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies And Exodus Announce Fall Tour|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/slayer-suicidal-tendencies-and-exodus-announce-fall-tour/|work=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=June 29, 2014|date=June 23, 2014}} In April and May 2015, Exodus (along with Shattered Sun) was a supporting act for Testament on their Dark Roots of Thrash II tour.{{cite web|title=Testament And Exodus To Join Forces For 'Dark Roots Of Thrash II' Tour|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/testament-and-exodus-to-join-forces-for-dark-roots-of-thrash-ii-tour/|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=February 17, 2015|accessdate=February 17, 2015}} Following this, the band toured Europe in May and June, including two consecutive nights at the Underworld in London. Prior to the Dark Roots of Thrash II tour, the band played Australia's Soundwave in February and March, and then played three shows in Japan.{{cite web|title=Shows - Tours|url=http://exodusattack.com/site/tour-dates/|work=exodusattack.com|accessdate=February 17, 2015}} From October to December 2015, Exodus toured North American with King Diamond.{{cite web|title=It's Official: King Diamond To Perform Entire 'Abigail' Album On U.S. Tour; Exodus To Support|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/its-official-king-diamond-to-perform-entire-abigail-album-on-u-s-tour-exodus-to-support/|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=August 3, 2015|accessdate=August 5, 2015}} Souza said that Exodus would continue to tour in support of Blood In, Blood Out until the fall of 2016, and then begin work on a new album for a 2017 release;{{cite web|title=STEVE 'ZETRO' SOUZA Is 'Having A Blast' Being Back In EXODUS|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/steve-zetro-souza-is-having-a-blast-being-back-in-exodus/|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=July 18, 2015|accessdate=July 18, 2015}} however, Persona Non Grata would not be released until 2021.

All songs written by Gary Holt except where noted.

{{Track listing

| total_length = 62:14

| title1 = Black 13

| length1 = 6:21

| title2 = Blood In, Blood Out

| length2 = 3:42

| title3 = Collateral Damage

| length3 = 5:27

| title4 = Salt the Wound

| length4 = 4:24

| title5 = Body Harvest

| length5 = 6:28

| writer5 = Lee Altus, Jack Gibson, Steve "Zetro" Souza

| title6 = BTK

| length6 = 6:56

| title7 = Wrapped in the Arms of Rage

| length7 = 4:30

| title8 = My Last Nerve

| length8 = 6:10

| title9 = Numb

| length9 = 6:13

| title10 = Honor Killings

| length10 = 5:42

| writer10 = Altus

| title11 = Food for the Worms

| length11 = 6:21

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Limited Edition / Digital Edition bonus track

| total_length = 66:52

| title12 = Angel of Death

| length12 = 4:38

| note12 = Angel Witch cover}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese Edition bonus track

| total_length = 65:30

| title12 = Protect Not Dissect

| length12 = 3:16

| note12 = The Varukers cover

}}

Production and performance credits are adapted from the album liner notes.

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

Exodus

• Steve "Zetro" Souza – vocals
• Gary Holt – guitars
• Lee Altus – guitars
• Jack Gibson – bass
• Tom Hunting – drums, vocals on "Angel of Death"

{{col-2}}

Additional musicians

• Dan the Automator – intro on "Black 13"
• Kirk Hammett – first guitar solo on "Salt the Wound"
• Chuck Billy – additional vocals on "BTK" and "Blood In, Blood Out"
• Anthony "Rat" Martin – additional vocals on "Protect Not Dissect"

{{col-end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

Production

• Exodus – producer
• Andy Sneap – engineering (drums), mixing, mastering
• Jack Gibson – engineering (vocals, guitars & bass)
• Jason Victorine – additional engineering (drums)
• Matt Mullin – additional engineering (drums)
• Pär Olofsson – cover art
• Gustavo Sazes – layout
• Eus Straver – photography

{{col-2}}

Recording locations

• Recorded at Goats 'R Us Ranch & Studios (Tom Hunting's jam room), Briones, Bay Area, California, March–July 2014.
• Drums recorded at Recorded at Studio D, Sausalito, California, March–July 2014.
• Mixed & mastered at Backstage Studios, Derbyshire, England.

{{col-end}}

{{reflist}}

{{Exodus}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Exodus (American band) albums

Category:2014 albums

Category:Nuclear Blast albums

Category:Albums produced by Dan the Automator

Category:Albums with cover art by Pär Olofsson