“The March of Brutality” tour made its way to Atlanta and should have been renamed to “The Facemelt Of Brutality” tour. After having a great interview with Exodus drummer Tom Hunting, I was so pumped to make my way into the Masquerade. As I made my way to the stage, I awaited in anticipation as I had my eye on The Grail… HOLY GRAIL that is! Holy Grail took the stage next and I have been waiting some time to see these guys. They took the already looking like seasoned Metal veterans. Lead singer James Paul Luna announced “Atlanta! We are Holy Grail” and they slammed right into “Immortal Man” from their Improper Burial” EP which was a face melt of epic proportions. Luna has easily secured his spot in my Top 5 favorite metal front men. He is like a Metal front man prodigy who has obviously been schooled by the best. It’s almost as if somebody went back in time and found some kick ass NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) band back in 1982, kidnapped their singer and brought him back to form Holy Grail. These guys are absolutely unstoppable. Luna and Co. were clearly having a blast playing to this small but receptive crowd who were totally converted into Holy Grail fans. The crowd pumped their fists and moshed in approval to songs like “Call of Valhalla” and “Crisis In Eutopia.” The night hit a climatic high when Holy Grail melted faces with a cover of Accept’s “Fast as a Shark” as the place went apeshit. Holy Grail won over this tough audience and killed everyone with an absolutely amazing “Fight To Kill” closer. Holy Grail is a band that in my opinion has a huge future ahead of them and there is nowhere to go but up for these guys.
The Masquerade at this point was about ½ which completely blew my mind. Exodus are fucking legends and I have seen these guys slay audiences a few times so where was everyone? It really didn’t matter to this sea of Exodus fans as they all secured their spots up against the stage. As the intro music filled the room, the audience let out a roar that was three times as loud as their size. Exodus took the stage one by one to a roar and without batting an eye slayed everyone with an opener of “The Ballard of Leonard and Charles” from their newest release “Exhibit B: The Human Condition.” Without even batting an eye the band went right into “Beyond The Pale” and for 7 minutes had guitarists Gary Holt and Lee Altus just grazing the tip of what was going to be a night of stellar guitar work. They played off each other offering up some amazing dual harmony leads and then each took a turn delivering solos that I just couldn’t even wrap my head around.
Singer Rob Dukes roamed the stage like a fucking mad man and possessed a voice and a presence as intense and ominous as his physical being. Dukes knows how to connect with the audience and makes it his point to make sure they are as invested in this performance as the band is. Exodus performed one of my all time favorites, “Children of a Worthless God” which I felt like was Rob Duke’s shining moment. The connection he feels to this song is very visually apparent as he throws body, mind and soul into this song. It is a truly powerful song and the power of this performance had me moved and pumping my fist in the air as I sang along with the chorus. Exodus’ latest single and video for “Downfall” was greatly received and proved to be a crowd favorite. This is not just one of Exodus’ best songs ever but it’s one of the greatest metal songs I’ve ever heard.
“War Is My Sheppard” was the highlight of the night to me as it was this song that seemed to just melt everyone into the floorboards. While Rob Dukes can be quite an intimidating presence, he managed to sneak a few ear to ear smiles here and there which was fun to see. He’s a truly amazing front man to watch and hear and it was so cool to see him obviously having a great time. Lead guitarist Gary Holt is a sight to behold as he was all over the stage running from side to side proving to all why he is one of the greatest metal guitarists of all time. He is so animated in his playing style and yet the precision of his playing is fucking mind boggling. Just watching him you can’t help but feel he defies all laws of guitar playing. How can someone move so damn much yet hit every fucking note precisely. Bassist Jack Gibson made his rounds from one side to the other almost as if he was sizing up the audience only to smile with approval as the crowd would cheer him and as he headbanged song after song.
The Exodus classic “Toxic Waltz” was met with a huge roar of approval as the kids whipped themselves into a circle pit and sang every word back to the band. Exodus has played this song at every show since its 1989 inception yet the band plays it with as much enthusiasm and fun as they did when it was first released. I’m sure that when you play a song that melts faces that fucking much it’s hard to get tired of it. The band was all smiles as they worked their way through this amazing set which was appropriately closed out with “Good Riddance” off of “Exhibit B: The Human Condition.”
The set list was heavy on the Rob Dukes era material which I have heard many complain about. In my opinion, this is the best that Exodus has ever sounded and performed. Rob Dukes has managed to come in and establish himself not only Exodus’ best vocalist but an amazing Heavy Metal singer in his own right. It just disappoints me that more people aren’t catching to this fact. The Masquerade this night should have been packed to the rafters. I can’t speak for the band but I’ll be honest and say that I’d rather play to a ½ house full of dedicated loyalists than play to a sold out room of trendsters that were just there because it would be cool to be a show. Exodus has released the greatest album of their career, one of the greatest Metal albums of the year and are putting one some of the best shows they’ve ever had. Exodus is yet another classic band that shows no signs of tiring out and they still have a lot of fight in them. As longs as Exodus keeps bringing it, I (along with the other dedicated and loyal fans) will be there to accept them with open arms and clinched pumping fists.
Holy Grail Setlist
Immortal Man, For All Eternity, Call of Valhalla, Fast as a Shark, Crisis In Utopia, My Last Attack, TGPF, Fight To Kill
Exodus Setlist
The Ballad of Leonard and Charles, Beyond The Palem Iconoclasm, Children of a Worthless God, Piranha, Downfall, Dethamphetamine, Black List, War Is My Sheppard, Toxic Waltz, Bonded By Blood, Strike of the Beast, Good Riddance
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