Exodus guitarist Rick Hunolt has made bold claims about his band’s influence on metal legends. He suggested that prominent musicians owe their sound to Exodus’s pioneering work, in comments made during an appearance on the Pod Scum podcast.
Hunolt’s remarks came when the interviewer noted the iconic status of guitar partnerships in metal. The interviewer compared Exodus’s duo to those of Metallica and Slayer.
“Well, we were there in the beginning, and honestly, I’m not afraid to say that we probably — we inspired those guys very much, all the guys you just named,” Hunolt said.
He elaborated on the shared origins of West Coast metal bands during that era.
“But we were all from the same exact amoeba,” he continued. “The DNA was pretty much the same over here on the West Coast with this little, small group of guitar players.”
Hunolt also praised his longtime bandmate Gary Holt. He reflected on their decades-long partnership.
“Playing in a band for 30, 35 years with Gary was incredible,” he said. “We respected each other — we still do to this day — very, very much. And we love each other very, very much. And we’ll be brothers forever. Absolutely. He is a busy guy. And I agree — Gary Holt’s a phenomenal riff writer, dude. Phenomenal.”
Hunolt’s claims about Exodus’s influence on the thrash metal scene are backed by the band’s significant role in shaping the genre during its formative years.
Wikipedia documented that Exodus is widely recognized as one of the pioneers of thrash metal. The band has been credited with influencing many bands including Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax. The band’s early work helped shape the Bay Area thrash scene. It bridged the gap between the genre’s founding bands and the second wave of thrash in the late 1980s.
The band’s breakthrough came with their 1989 release. Heavy Blog Is Heavy reported that Exodus achieved significant recognition with their album Fabulous Disaster. The track “The Toxic Waltz” became a cult hit. This success helped the band secure a major record deal and high-profile tours with Anthrax and Helloween. It expanded their fanbase during thrash metal’s commercial peak.
Hunolt’s partnership with Gary Holt has been particularly influential in the metal community. Brave Words noted that the guitarist has consistently maintained that the early Bay Area thrash scene was a tight-knit community. Bands shared similar influences and creative approaches in this environment.
The comments highlight the interconnected nature of the early thrash metal scene. They underscore Exodus’s crucial role in establishing the foundational sound that would influence generations of metal musicians. Hunolt’s reflections reveal how the West Coast metal community operated as a collective creative force. Bands like Exodus served as both pioneers and inspirations for the genre’s most legendary acts.
