Band:	Exodus
Album:	Shovel Headed Tour Machine (Live At Wacken And Other Assorted Atrocities)
Style:	Bay Area thrash metal
Release date:	January 08, 2010
A review by:	Baz Anderson

Disc I [DVD]
01. Bonded By Blood
02. Iconoclasm
03. Funeral Hymn
04. A Lesson In Violence
05. Children Of A Worthless God
06. Piranha
07. Deathamphetamine
08. Blacklist
09. War Is My Shepherd
10. Strike Of The Beast
11. Shovel Headed Kill Machine

Disc II [CD]
01. Bonded By Blood
02. Iconoclasm
03. Funeral Hymn
04. A Lesson In Violence
05. Children Of A Worthless God
06. Piranha
07. Deathamphetamine
08. Blacklist
09. War Is My Shepherd
10. Strike Of The Beast
11. Shovel Headed Kill Machine

Disc III [Documentary DVD]
+ Documentary
+ Deleted Scenes
+ Rare Live Performances
+ Music Videos
+ Vintage Interview From 1985
+ Trailers
+ Photo Gallery

Thrash metal
Nuclear Blast
U.S.A.
Length: 1:03:00


Exodus live at Wacken 2008 was one of the highlights of the festival. Now there is a chance for those present to re-live this experience, or those who weren't to live it out for the first time.

This live album is a perfect cross section of the Exodus of today mixing old with new and destroying the audience with both. "Bonded By Blood" kicks off the set, but soon begins to sound almost outdated compared with the onslaught to come. There is a reason why Exodus are still one of the top thrash metal bands in the world and this live disc can show just why, but not before its downfalls.

It is no secret that the only bone to pick with Exodus is the recent tendency to write annoyingly long songs apparently for the sake of being long. Therefore "Funeral Hymn" and "Children Of A Worthless God" both from the newest album do drag this experience down a little. All hell breaks loose after these though with the old thrasher "Piranha", the epic, newer "Deathamphetamine" complete with ominous echoing snare drum that still has some ears ringing today, and then the modern classic "War Is My Shepherd". A speedy "Shovel Headed Kill Machine" closes the show to 80,000 shell-shocked metalheads from around the world.

The production on the disc is top quality and true to the show, and gives the complete experience of Exodus live at a festival. The frankly annoying "wall of death" and chanting of a certain word beginning with "f" could have been left out, and also Rob Dukes could do with learning some more words the address the audience with, other than swearing at us all the time. The band would also provide a better live experience at an indoor, more personal venue as opposed to performing at a sea of people, but this does show just how many people came out to see these American legends of thrash on the day.

Yes the disc has its flaws, it isn't perfect, but it is worth it. The closing song especially shows that Exodus still have it, and will probably continue to have it for many years.