Exodus guitarist Gary Holt has made bold claims about his band’s position in the thrash metal hierarchy. He declared them superior to all competitors, including Kerry King’s Slayer, in a recent interview with SKC Novi Sad.
Holt expressed his unwavering confidence in Exodus’s status within the thrash metal scene. He dismissed traditional rankings and classifications.
“I’ve never, like, worried about any of that stuff,” Holt said. “Big Four, Big Five, Big Ten… Exodus in 2025 — have been for many years — the greatest thrash band in the world, and so everybody else can f*ck off [laughs].”
The guitarist continued to emphasize his band’s superiority over their peers.
“We’re better than all of them!” he stated. “And I’m sorry, sounds like an ego [thing], but listen to any of our records, we’ll crush them all.”
Holt acknowledged that various thrash bands have experimented with different sounds throughout their careers. This includes Exodus.
“I mean, we all had moments,” he explained. “Testament had moments where they got way more commercial. We had one album that was more commercial, ‘Force of Habit’ [1992]. But, you know, ever since ‘Tempo of the Damned’ [2004], we’re just Exodus. We make the music we want to hear.”
The musician concluded by describing the band’s creative philosophy and approach to songwriting.
“We don’t care if anyone likes it at all, and if we’re lucky, other people do like it,” Holt said. “But we write every album for ourselves. We don’t think about anyone else, just the five people, whether it’s [Steve] Zetro [Souza] or Rob [Dukes] on vocals. We’re here to make us happy. We don’t give one rat’s ass about what anybody else thinks. And when you do that, though, hopefully fans like it too.”
Holt’s bold statements reflect a band with deep roots in thrash metal history. They have a legitimate claim to pioneering status within the genre.
Metal Hall of Fame documented that Exodus formed in 1979. This predated some of the so-called “Big Four” thrash bands and established them as true pioneers of the movement. The band’s early formation places them among the original architects of thrash metal. This gives weight to Holt’s claims about their foundational role in the genre.
Their debut album, Bonded By Blood (1985), is widely regarded as a landmark release. It helped define thrash metal’s aggressive sound and intensity. Heavy Blog Is Heavy reported that this album earned them recognition alongside established acts like Metallica and Slayer. This cemented their position in thrash metal’s upper echelon.
The band’s evolution continued with darker, more complex themes in later works. This was particularly evident in The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A (2007) and Exhibit B: The Human Condition (2010). Exodus Attack noted that these albums showcased the band’s ability to maintain their thrash metal intensity while exploring heavier conceptual territory. They consistently earned critical praise for their uncompromising approach.
Throughout their career, Exodus has maintained the independent creative philosophy that Holt describes. They prioritized artistic integrity over commercial considerations and built a devoted fanbase through their unwavering commitment to pure thrash metal.
