In the early 80's, EXODUS gained notoriety in the thrash metal scene as a result demo trading. Their speedy guitar riffs, lightning fast drum beats, and violent live shows helped the band to take Bay Area Thrash scene to a global audience. By 1983, the band had inspired thrash metal giants like Metallica (Kirk Hammett was the original lead guitar player for EXODUS), Testament, Death Angel, and Vio-lence. EXODUS' debut Bonded By Blood was released in 1985 on Torrid Records (then re-released in 1986 on Combat Records), and tours with Venom and Slayer helped to mold EXODUS into a thrash metal giant themselves.

Lead vocalist Paul Baloff left the band before recording "Pleasures Of The Flesh." He was replaced by ex-Legacy vocalist Steve "Zetro" Souza. This new line-up led to "Fabulous Disaster" in 1989, and finally the band signed with Capitol Records. 1990's "Impact Is Imminent" and 1992's "Force Of Habit" had EXODUS touring with Black Sabbath, Metallica, Megadeth, Pantera, Suicidal Tendencies, Anthrax and Motörhead. A short reunion with original vocalist Baloff occurred in 1997. At this time the band recruited bassist Jack Gibson (Vile), and toured through Europe and North America. It was on this tour that EXODUS recorded their second live album, "Another Lesson In Violence." Four years later, EXODUS was invited to play a benefit show called "Thrash of the Titans" for Testament singer Chuck Billy, who was suffering from cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. The line-up of that show included the Souza-led Legacy, Heathen, Forbidden Evil, Anthrax, Death Angel, and Vio-lence. Following the benefit, EXODUS began writing music again, but Baloff's untimely death from a stroke on February 2nd, 2002 placed the reunion on hold. Souza ultimately returned to the microphone to help record EXODUS' 2004 comeback album, Tempo Of The Damned.

2005's Shovel Headed Kill Machine, EXODUS' seventh studio album, achieved the "Top 5 Albums" year-end poll by Decibel Magazine. "When it comes to writing and performing the thrash metal they helped invent more than two decades ago," cited Outburn Magazine, "EXODUS can hold their heads high as the reigning kings."

In 2009, EXODUS continues to annihilate the eardrums of fans worldwide. Touring behind their new album "Let there be blood," a re-recording of their 1985 classic "Bonded by Blood," it appears that nothing will stop EXODUS from bringing metal to the masses. Now this is your chance to learn from one of the originators of the genre. Make sure to pay special attention to Jack Gibson's right hand technique. Most bass players in the thrash metal scene use a pick due to the speed of the tunes. Not Jack. If there is anything you should learn from his lessons it's how fast a person can get using their fingers