Customer Reviews

Fabulous Disaster [Vinyl]

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After listening to bands like Metallica and Testament, I really got into the act of thrash metal. Recently, I purchased Exodus's Fabulous Disaster and was blown away. The album is flawless from start to finish. The soloing on the record is great, and the guitar riffs really kick. Some of my favorite tracks are The Toxic Waltz, Verbal Razors, Open Season, and The Last Act of Defiance, but the whole record kicks ass, the whole band showcases talent. Even Steve Souza, who a lot of people find annoying, is a great vocalist, his voice fits the band perfectly. I found it odd also to find not one but two covers on the CD, but they are nicely done (love the leads in Low Rider). If you like thrash metal, you must buy this CD. It would be a sin not to own it.

Another excellent album by the world`s most underrated bands of all time - Exodus. While not has furious as Bonded by Blood this album contains some thrash classics that all thrash music lovers will FABULOUSLY like. Lead singer Steve Souza who sounds like a pumped up Bon Scott (former AC/DC singer-r.i.p.) is just incredible at the vocals. I have read some bad reviews on Souza, but trust me this guy has the perfect style for this band. Highlites include TOXIC WALTZ, THE LAST ACT OF DEFIANCE, OVERDOSE (great remake of AC/DC`s most underrated song from the Let There be Rock album), and the ear blistering LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON. This song is spectacular from start to finish (8 min.) So if you don`t know anything about Exodus it`s time you knew who they are, so buy this album or the ground breaking Bonded by Blood. Rock on.

I am impressed with the music on this CD. The late eighties were a great time for speed-thrash-heavy-metal bands. EXODUS is a prime example of the best on this CD. Gary Holt and Rick Hunolt contain the mayhem with tight intonation and lockstep harmonizing. I think that Steve Souza's vocal treatments work well partly, because of his staccato enunciation. My favourite cut is VERBAL RAZORS. The breakneck pace is somehow held together, even through the explosive exchange of guitar solos. The unabashed aggression of the lyrics of TOXIC WALTZ, CAJUN HELL and OPEN SEASON can be unsettling, however, I take heart in the anti-violence of LIKE FATHER LIKE SON and the political sensitivities of LAST ACT..., FABULOUS DISASTER, and CORRUPTION. New paradigms are legitamized by testing them against existing systems. EXODUS proves that speed-metal is viable with superb covers of LOW RIDER (WAR) and OVERDOSE (AC/DC). Both of these songs are not only covered well, they are given a new personality. If you are interested in aggressive speed metal from the late eighties, this CD will interest you.

SMASH YOUR BRAIN INTO A CHAOTIC DREAM MESS OF PURE THRASH METAL. I LIVE FOR ALBUMS LIKE THESE. I HAVE BEEN A METAL FAN SINCE 1984 AND I WISH THEY STILL MADE ALBUMS/BAND LIKE THIS ONE. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPOINTED PURCHASING THIS ONE. EXODUS IS A TRUE THRASH CARNIVAL TO LISTEN TO! SO SMASH YOUR FACE IN IT!

Good friendly violent fun? Yeah, the perfect call to arms for Exodus. The band was good, very good. Friendly? Most of the time, as long as you weren't a poseur. The violence is unquestionable. And it is fun, head banging, stage diving, mosh inducing Thrash till death fun.

Thrash fans will recognise the opening line as a lyric from "The Toxic Waltz", Exodus' tribute to their fans, back from the days when a mosh pit was a swirling maelstrom of bodies colliding chaotically in a ballet of controlled aggression. (OK, so "ballet" may not be the most appropriate word, but it beats the "Simon says jump up and down on the spot" deal which passes for moshing now.) If you can imagine the pit, it is the perfect visual representation of Exodus' music.

While many rave about Exodus' incendiary debut 'Bonded By Blood' as being their finest hour, I far prefer 'Fabulous Disaster'. This album shows the band at the peak of their powers. They had perfected their own distinctive sound. Forget Hanneman and King, Gary Holt and Rick Hunolt were the perfect Thrash guitar duo. Their guitar tone here borders on Death Metal at times, using dual rhythm and dual leads to amazing effect. At times, it is so heavy as to be percussive. Check the title track, "The Toxic Waltz" and the unlisted cover of AC/DC's "Overdose" for evidence.

That's not to say all the band could do was heavy. Far from it. There is a cover of "Low Rider", a little out of place, but far superior to the mangling Korn gave it. "Cajun Hell" is a real surprise. It starts with a zydeco flavoured introduction, and mixes a little Southern boogie with crushing metal, in a style Down would be proud of.

However, swamp rock isn't what you listen to Exodus for primarily. No, heads down, heavy duty Thrash is the main reason for listening to Exodus. It is here by the truckload. Basically, any track here will have you banging your head and shouting along with Steve Souza. You get Hardcore style massed backing vocals, lyrics ranging from political satire to social comment, to silly metal fun.

There have always been two songs on this album I have never liked. Musically, there is nothing wrong with them, it is the lyrics, and it is not necessarily a bad thing either. "The Last Act Of Defiance" and "Like Father, Like Son" are both incredibly dark, violent songs, one about a prison riot, the other about child abuse. Imagining the carnage described on the first track and Souza screaming "please Daddy, no more!" on the second have always chilled me to the bone. Powerful.

Exodus reached the maximum level of technical speed with "Fabulos Disaster", they improved a lot after "Bonded by blood" and "Pleassures of the flesh" despite the constant internal problems they had since their beginings like the departure of Hammet before the debut album and the change of frontman Paul Baloff for Steve Souza formerly of Testament also several issues with record labels such as distribution limitations and lack of proper support, all that probably contibuted for this bay area band to not quite acomplish with the stardom that other bands reached like Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth, despite they had all the potential to achieve it, Exodus at the end of the day was a metal act that could be, should be and deserved to be... but thats life.

Fabulos disaster is pure speed, pure trash, fun dynamic , exciting a catharsis, the change of subject from evil topics to social and political lyrics was really in benefit for the band continuity and adaptation to the second half of the 80s and early 90s, tracks sound amazing "the toxic waltz" ,"like father like son", "corruption", "cajun hell" and of course War cover "low rider" wich is pure and 100% fun, you have to check this album to realize what I want to express with words but its not possible untill you listen.

HM

Giving you a brief rundown of where I stand, I think "Bonded By Blood" is arguably their best. "Pleasures of the Flesh" had its moments. "Impact Is Imminent" also had some moments. I didn't much care for "Force of Habit." Once could easily argue that "Temp of the Damned" is their best. "Shovel Headed Kill Machine" had some great moments. While I do not consider "Fabulous Disaster" as good as "Bonded By Blood" or "Tempo of the Damned," I consider "Fabulous Disaster" a great record. 'Last Act of Defiance' is a powerful opener. The title track 'Fabulous Disaster' keeps the pace going. 'Toxic Waltz' nearly steals the record. The record then goes through a softer period. The cover of 'Low Rider' is decent. 'Cajun Hell' has kind of a deep southern charm. 'Like Father Like Son' has an eerie sound to it. The strength of the record then recovers with 'Verbal Razors.' 'Corruption' is a great following track. 'Open Season' is yet another high point. I didn't much care for 'Overdose.' But on a record of this strength, a weak spot here and there is easy to overlook. While not quite the record "Bonded By Blood" or "Tempo of the Damned" is, "Fabulous Disaster" is still a triumph for the grossly underrated group EXODUS.

in 89 this was the cream of the crop many people knew of exodus but this cd made everyone stand up and take notice of the 5th big thrash giant.if you didn't hear of this you didn't listen to thrash.the big 4 had been established but the were many underground favs to prove that they could do it just as good or better.this was my favorite to show the big 4 they could do it to. in this realm I thought testament,exodus,vio-lence,forbidden, ny's overkill were the heavy weights with many others just under the surface. exodus got a spot on the head bangers ball tour and showed alot of anthrax and celtic frost fans what they were made of and gave them exploseur to new crowds.this cd was a land mark to me because they just got some backing from capitol records but remained with combat, this assured their sound would not changebut they had someone pushing exodus into bigger & better directions( not musiically) this was a violently brutal bay area thrash cd worthy of praise great song,good production and pissed off music.high point fab disaster,like father like son,verbal razors,curruption,open season,last act of defiance with 2 covers low rider??? and AC/DC's overdose both great.the video track toxic waltz was an anthem at the time and cajon hell was a good track but experimental I think but hard.you should own this cd if your in to thrash It ranks with peace sells,among the living ,reign in blood,master of puppets,the new order,& the years of decay.

1989, a great year of Metal albums, for Sepultura, Obituarys debate, Testament, Overkill, Destruction, and Exodus, first let me say their last album (Pleasures of the Flesh) is VERY underrated, it was Zetro's first album, it didn't get the recognition it deserved, that being said, this is an excellent follow up to it, and further proved, Exodus could play Metal, while having some comical value with some of the lyrics, very fun, this album is VERY catchy all the way through, excellent production for the year, yes it would sound better if done today, but you just have to turn it up a little, not a big deal, Souza has an excellent voice, proving that on the last album, but Baloff was great too, love both, this album has great variety, some fast, some mid-paced, and a slower song, plus you get a couple of covers, which is very cool, the "Low Rider" cover was unexpected, but very cool, done Exodus style, Overdose is a great AC/DC cover coming from the Let There Be Rock album, proving Souza can pretty much sing his A$$ off like old Bonny could!

The Last Act of Defiance 5/6, EXCELLENT opened, it's fast and furious, catchy, a song about some riot that happened

Fabulous Disater 5/6, A very cool song, with a very catchy chorus, awesome solos too!

The Toxic Waltz 5/6, ANOTHER great song, basically a song for Exodus appreciating their fans, with the mosh pit lyrics, very cool riffing also!

Low Rider 5/5, Read above

Cajun Hell 5/5, A great song, has a weird intro, with twanging guitars, frog sounds...sounds very southernish, then moves into a nice mid-paced song, the lyrics are pretty funny!

Like Father, Like Son 5/5, At first, I didn't care for this song, but it grew on me, love it now, great lyrics, it's pretty slow, but catchy as all hell, and heavy...in the slow way

Corruption 5/5, Another great song, mid-paced, LOVE THE CHORUS "SHOVE IT UP YOUR A$$ WHERE THE SUN AIN'T SHININ'!"

Verbal Razors 5/5, Is a cool song, very catchy, funny lyrics, but even with those funny lyrics, it's a very pissed off song, basically pointing at people that destroy their lives..."A stupid fukking junky with a college degree" you can see where their getting at...

Open Season 5/5, A cool closer, love the lyrics, and it's catchy like the rest

Well, as you can see, not one bad song, great album, if you love old school Thrash, check out this album if you haven't, I don't think you'll be dissapointed, it's very catchy, heavy, pissed off, but even funny at times!, also check out (Pleasures of the Flesh) (Bonded By Blood) (Impact is Immiment) avoid Force of Habit though, and definetly check out their newest efforts (Tempo of the Damned)-2004, (Shovel Headed Kill Machine)-2005, SHKM has basically a whole new band, the only one left is Holt, but the new lineup put together a great thrasher, Rob Dukes (Vocals) Paul Bostaph (Drums and Lee Altus (Guitar) and like I said, Holt is still there, and actually, I can say that the MUSIC on that album KIND of reminds me of this one, not entierly, but definetly is similiar, as for Rob Dukes, he has a mean nasty snarl, KIND of reminds me of Zetro/Baloff, but he does a very good job, check it out!

Fabulous Disaster is Exodus at their finest. Brutal riffs, speed, etc. Toxic Waltz blew me away the first time I heard it. An awesome song. Fabulous Disaster is another. A must have for every metal fan. If you don't have it, you don't know your metal.