Exhorder

Exhorder is an influential thrash-and-groove metal band led by vocalist Kyle Thomas. Amid a tumultuous history, the band's sonic trademark -- chugging, tightly constucted, syncopated guitar riffs framing detailed yet rigid compositional structures -- offered a blueprint for underground metal's "Louisiana sound" in the 1980s and they have turned it into a brand in the 21st century. Formed in New Orleans in 1985, Exhorder's idiosyncratic yet extremely attractive brand of thrash and groove metal made a regional impression on the local scene. Slaughter in the Vatican, their 1990 debut album, was so influential on the scene, it paved the way for Pantera's take on it for the classic Cowboys from Hell. Due to personnel changes, the group offered a more technical sound on 1992's The Law. Following a tour, Exhorder seemingly underwent one hiatus after another --the first in 1994, and after reuniting in 1996, another in 1998, until they hung it up. Vocalist Kyle Thomas resurrected Exhorder for select tours and gigs. Based on those shows, Nuclear Blast signed them in 2018. Following a 27 year-recording gap, they issued third-long player Mourn the Southern Skies, in 2019. The exercise in pummeling groove metal resonated with older fans, but fdrew a legion of new ones. Exhorder toured the U.S. and Europe, making appearances at most metal and hard rock festivals on both sides of the Atlantic before the pandemic shut them down. They resumed touring activity in 2021, and in late 2023 re-entered the studio. In March 2024, Nuclear Blast released the band's self-produced fourth album, Defectum Omnium. ~ Bradley Torreano, Rovi