Album Review: Exodus – Goliath (Napalm Records)

Thrash legends Exodus are back with their brand-new, and twelfth, studio album, ‘Goliath’. Out on March 20th, 2026, via Napalm Records (their label debut).

Don’t ever say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks as if there is one notable takeaway from this album, it’s the fact that it’s way more varied than expected. Not only showcasing a wider metal range from the iconic head bangers, but showing more collaboration, and a willingness to experiment with their core thrash sound. I’m not going to tell you that this is an Exodus transformed, because it’s not, but they certainly seem to be displaying a more ‘youthful’ side to themselves.

Beginning in beastly fashion, 3111 rises in painstakingly slow and heavy fashion before exploding in familiar frantic and furious thrashing noise. Immediately Exodus come across focused, hungry and angry, delivering head banging gold. Something that continues in noisy fashion with Hostis Humani Generis, where speed is the name of the game, and Exodus can complete it with their eyes closed. The vocals are downright venomous, and a chaotic guitar solo proves to be the cherry on top.

The aptly titled The Changing Me is up next and here, we get groove and a bit of melodeath flair, something that isn’t necessarily uncommon within the overall Exodus makeup, but it’s still a nice surprise to hear them experiment. I’d even say the chorus, which features Peter Tägtgren, is downright catchy. Which isn’t something you expect to say about Exodus.

Even more surprising is the fact that it’s not alone as Promise You This sees Exodus clearly aim to open a pit with some fat sounding riffs and the way in which Beyond the Event Horizon’s effortlessly switches tempo will thrill head bangers young and old. In fact, if you’re head banging to these, you’re going to end up with such a hench neck.

In between these two tracks though, is something quite special. Exodus do heavy, of course, but the title track is a different beast altogether, coming from a doomier standpoint and with dramatic string-based melody courtesy of Katie Jacoby. It is so cool to hear them experimenting like this, and while there are familiar Exodus elements within, there’s no denying that it’s going to surprise a few people, but in a positive way. It’s certainly one of my favourite tracks.

Though I have very little to dislike here as Exodus are a band I’ve always enjoyed and am glad that they’re getting the respect they deserve from all over the metal world. After all, who doesn’t want to gurn and grimace to undeniable heavyweight efforts like 2 Minutes Hate, Violence Works, and Summon of the God Unknown. Each track offering plenty of reasons to bang the head, but also plenty of reasons as to why this is an Exodus album like no other. Not only with more theatrical elements than ever, but with more melodic layers, and more expressive shifts in tone. The latter of those three tracks is quite something.

But so is the finale of The Dirtiest of the Dozen, even though it is a throwback thrash effort. Maybe even because it is a throwback thrash effort. If the entire album had been this, it might have come across a bit ordinary, but thanks to the variety on show, it feels fresh and exciting, which perfectly sums up the album as whole. Exodus delivering fresh, exciting, and thrilling thrash-based gold. What more could anyone ask for?

Exodus – Goliath Track Listing:

1. 3111
2. Hostis Humani Generis
3. The Changing Me (feat. Peter Tägtgren of Hypocrisy, Pain)
4. Promise You This
5. Goliath
6. Beyond the Event Horizon
7. 2 Minutes Hate
8. Violence Works
9. Summon of the God Unknown
10. The Dirtiest of the Dozen

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