San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal veterans EXODUS will release their new album, “Persona Non Grata”, on November 19 via Nuclear Blast Records. The official video for the disc’s first single, “The Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves)”, can be watched below.
“Persona Non Grata” is the follow-up to 2014’s “Blood In Blood Out”, which was the San Francisco Bay Area thrashers’ first release since the departure of the group’s lead singer of nine years, Rob Dukes, and the return of Steve “Zetro” Souza, who previously fronted EXODUS from 1986 to 1993 and from 2002 to 2004.
Literally translating to “an unwelcome” or “unacceptable” person, “Persona Non Grata” touches on themes of modern societal disgust and degradation. The band gathered at Tom Hunting‘s house in the mountains where they produced and recorded “Persona Non Grata” from three home-built studios . Steve Lagudi was at the helm of engineering while the band enlisted Andy Sneap of Backstage Studios to mix the album. For the third time in the band’s history, they returned to Swedish artist Par Olofsson to create the album artwork.
Pre-order your copy of “Persona Non Grata”, here and pre-save the album, here.
Gary Holt comments “After what seems like an eon, we now have the debut of our first single, ‘The Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves)’. I’m so jacked up for this and the release of Persona Non Grata! Let’s get the bloodletting started!”
“Persona Non Grata” will be available in the following formats:
- CD Jewel + Blu-ray Bonus Disc (Jam Camp!)
- T-Shirt + CD Jewel + Blu-ray Bonus Disc (Jam Camp!)
- T-Shirt
- Cassette – Tinted Red
- CD Jewel + Blu-ray Bonus Disc (Jam Camp!) Long Box (Decibel Magazine Exclusive)
- Double LP
- Black
- Red & Mustard Swirl W/ Black Splatter
- Electric Blue W/ Black & Bone
- Gold & Bone Swirl W. Black and Mint Green Splatter
- Green in Mustard W/ Red Splatter
- Mint Green & Brown W/ Cyan Splatter (EMP Exclusive)
- Purple & Yellow Swirl W/ Mint Green & Bone Splatter (UK Indie Exclusive)
- Bone & Beer Swirl W/ Red & Brown Splatter (Revolver Magazine Exclusive)
- Red & Mustard Swirl W/ Black Splatter (Rebellion Republic Exclusive)
- Blue Swirl W/ Bone * Black Splatter (U.S. Indie Exclusive)
- Mail Order Boxset – Limited to 2,000 pieces worldwide
- Orange, Red Swirl W/ Black Splatter
- 20 page booklet
- Slipmat
- CD + Blu-ray Bonus Disc
- Patch
- Flag
“Persona Non Grata” track listing:
1. Persona Non Grata
2. R.E.M.F.
3. Slipping Into Madness
4. Elitist
5. Prescribing Horror
6. The Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves)
7. The Years Of Death And Dying
8. Clickbait
09. Cosa Del Pantano
10. Lunatic-Liar-Lord
11. The Fires Of Division
12. Antiseed
Last week it was announced that EXODUS has tapped John Tempesta to play drums for the band at two upcoming festivals — at Psycho Las Vegas on August 22 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada and at Full Terror Assault on September 11 at Hogrock Campground in Cave In Rock, Illinois — while Hunting is recovering from surgery. Tempesta was a member of EXODUS from 1989 until 1993 and played on the band’s albums “Impact Is Imminent” (1990) and “Force Of Habit” (1992).
This fall EXODUS will join TESTAMENT and DEATH ANGEL on “The Bay Strikes Back Tour”. The 30 date trek will kick off on October 6th at the Fremont Theater in San Luis Obispo, CA and will make stops in Austin, New York, and Detroit before concluding at The Fox in Oakland on November 27th.
