In August, thrash titans Exodus announced that they were hard at work on their next studio album. Now, guitarist Gary Holt has confirmed the title of the new record on social media.
Gary posted a photo to Instagram from a new issue of Decibel, in which the band’s album was listed among the most-anticipated records of the coming year. Included in the piece was the album’s title, Persona Non Grata, which Gary confirmed:
“So the title of the new record is out! The next @exodusbandofficial record is titled “Persona Non Grata” and will be our summer 2021! And I LOVE the studios name here in @decibelmagazine , “The garage next to Tom Hunting’a house”! Haha! Engineered by @stevelagudiproductions , produced by us, being mixed by @andysneap as we speak . Early indications are this monster sounds fucking sick! Doing some spot vocal stuff tomorrow with @zetrodus and then tracking is DONE. Gonna be a long wait until the release of this beast on @nuclearblastrecords.”
View this post on Instagram
Keep your eyes peeled for Exodus’ Persona Non Grata in the near future — though if Gary’s caption is any indication, it might be a while yet before the album hits shelves.
Exodus have been one of the scene’s most important acts since even before Metallica blew up; in fact, Exodus was the band in which guitarist Kirk Hammett cut his teeth. With albums like 1985’s Bonded By Blood (featuring vocalist Paul Baloff, who never got to see his band’s impressive second life) and 1989’s Fabulous Disaster, Exodus quickly became thrash’s underground heroes, a band who would always kick ass but never sell out.
Gary Holy has made news in the recent past with his outspoken hatred for celebrities co-opting metal culture for cred — though he did give Kevin Hart a pass when the comedian rocked an Exodus shirt in an interview.
“Okay everyone… yes I’ve seen this!” Holt posted on Instagram with a photo of Hart and The Rock. “Is he a fan? I highly doubt it, more likely his stylist bought it for a small fortune at some vintage tee shirt shop, if it’s not a modern bootleg. How do I feel? Eh. Another dude using metal shirts to look edgy. Who knows? BUT. I’m a HUGE Kevin Hart fan, so I give him a pass cause he makes me laugh my ass off!”
View this post on Instagram
***
Words by Chris Krovatin
