Exodus guitarist Gary Holt has offered a rare and candid glimpse into the band’s upcoming album. Following their 2021 release Persona Non Grata, Holt says he is “beyond thrilled” with how the new material has taken shape. The guitarist, also known for his role in Slayer, recently used Instagram to reflect on the band’s Latin American tour and to tease what’s next: “Now, no shows until next March! Next time you see us, it’s new album time. And what an album it is.”
His excitement feels grounded rather than exaggerated, reinforced by his explanation of their creative mindset: “I know, everyone always says ‘best thing ever,’ but truly we write for ourselves. And we are beyond thrilled. Most organic and massive-sounding thing ever.” He added a note on the challenges of capturing that sound: “(the more organic, the harder the mix! Took a while to be satisfied) Sounds like five dudes going for it. Bass is PROMINENT. Low end is giant. It’s killer as fuck.”
During this month’s Aftershock festival in Sacramento, Holt spoke with Baby Huey and Chasta of San Francisco’s 107.7 The Bone, revealing that producer Mark Lewis mixed the new songs ahead of their tentative March release on Napalm Records. According to Holt, the result is “something else, man… It’s crushing, but it’s also all anthems. Every song’s an anthem. It’s awesome. We’re super proud of this record.”
Not only is the band preparing one album’s worth of material—they’ve gone further than that. Holt confirmed, “We have 80 percent of the next follow-up done. We started recording on March 2nd, and I’ve been home for four weeks till today. We stopped recording, and we were on tour the next day.” His schedule paints a grueling picture as he continued, “We went to Europe, and we were home for two weeks. Then we went on [tour] in the States. I was home two weeks, went to Europe, and then I went and joined Slayer for [the summer 2025 shows]. And then I came home for two more weeks. So I’m exhausted.”
Lewis’s involvement signals a major change for Exodus. Known for his work with Megadeth, Whitechapel, Devildriver, and Bad Wolves, he replaces longtime mixer Andy Sneap. This marks the first time in nearly 30 years that an Exodus album hasn’t been mixed by Sneap, who has also served as producer and touring guitarist for Judas Priest for more than seven years.
Reflecting on the shift, Holt previously explained on Instagram: “First album since ’97 to mix with someone else, and it’s crushing. Andy said it’s time to venture out of our comfort zone, and it’s amazing. Mark has CRUSHED IT!”
The upcoming LP will also mark another transition: it’s the first Exodus release since the departure of vocalist Steve “Zetro” Souza and the return of Rob Dukes. With a refreshed lineup, a new sonic collaborator, and enough material for nearly two albums, the band seems poised for one of its most defining modern-era releases.
