Exodus TAMPO OF THE DAMNED

Personnel: Steve Souza (vocals); Gary Holt, Rick Hunolt (guitar); Tom Hunting (drums).Audio Mixer: Andy Sneap.Recording information: Prairie Sun Studio, Cotati, CA; Tsunami Studios, Moss Beach, CA.Photographer: Friso Gentsch.Given up for dead over a decade earlier, the mighty Exodus -- the original kings of thrash metal -- made an unexpected but long-rumored return in 2004 with the release of their sixth studio album, Tempo of the Damned. But what had been intended as a long-awaited reunion of their seminal Bonded by Blood lineup was tragically thwarted with the sudden death of vocalist Paul Baloff in early 2002. Fittingly, Baloff was duly supplanted by none other than Steve "Zetro" Souza, the man who'd replaced him in the first place and who had gone on to sing on every Exodus album thereafter, including their mid-period thrash classic Fabulous Disaster. Of course the fact that Souza was clearly the better and more reliable vocalist (albeit not as fun a character as Baloff) should not