Customer Reviews

Force of Habit (Mlps)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a review for the 2008 re-issue on Caroline Records.

First of all, the good news. The disc has been Remastered. So the music sounds as good as ever. The disc art is somwhat cool despite being somewhat simple. A white disc with the Exodus logo in a hand-written font in red similating blood, with a bit of splatter. Same for the album title on the bottom half of the disc.

Now then, for the band news (if you're a collector like me)...the disc comes not in a jewel case with an enhanced liner note booklet, nor in a digipak. It comes in a thin cardboard LP-replica sleeve. And the disc has an inner paper sleeve to protect it from the cardboard. But that's it! No booklet at all...no lyrics, no nothing.

Anyway, I give the album 5 stars for the music minus 2 stars for the cheap packaging. I like collectible packaging just as muc as the next guy, but this is throw away stuff.

'Force Of Habit',is in fact the band's sixth lp.I liked this disc at least as much as I did 'Bonded By Blood'.If you're a big Exodus fan,you're sure to dig this record.As for myself,this is only the second of their recorded works that I've had the pleasure.Heard others say that 'Force...' is a bit more melodic than they've been on past releases.Basically,just good old school speed metal.Tunes that I thought stood out were "Thorn In My Side","Feeding Time",the eleven-minute head smasher "Architect Of Pain" and their two unlikely covers,the Stone's "Bitch" and Elvis Costello's "Pump It Up".Should appeal to fans of Metal Church,Flotsam&Jetsam,Hirax.Overkill and Testament.Sad footnote:not sure as to what the band is doing now,but their vocalist Paul Baloff had passed on awhile back.I'll have to check out some of their other CD's.

Force of Habit, along with several other releases in close proxemity of this one (The Black Album, Overkill's I Hear Black, Anthrax's Sound of White Noise, Testament's The Ritual, and Megadeth's Countdown to Extinction/Youthanasia) showed a more subdued band, musically. Though this album was still thrashier than the others I listed, it was still not as intense as the albums Exodus released in the previous years. But, like the other big-name thrash bands at the time, Exodus showed a more matured sound with Force of Habit. There is some fantastic guitar playing on this album. The solos range from all-out metal shred to blues-oriented licks. And the riffs are just as amazing. When I listen to Force of Habit I not only bang my head, but also find myself foot stompin' to some excellent groove riffing. This is a great, underrated cd!

I was introduced to Exodus back in the mid 80s with Bonded by Blood and I was blown away with its raw sound and gut punching music. At the same time frame I plunged head first into a speed metal pool that kept growing. Along with Exodus came Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer, and Megadeth at the top of the list. While I enjoyed Bonded by Blood, I found the high scream vocals to be a bit annoying (maybe like Metallica felt about Dave Mustaine--just kidding you Megadeth fans so please no death threats....).
After Exodus changed vocalists and came out with Pleasures of the Flesh (and subsequent releases with Steve Souza still on vocals) I was greatly pleased. Some years passed then a dear friend of mine popped this cassette into his car stereo and I loved its variety of tunes. At first listen I wasn't sure if it was Souza on vocals since some of the songs were heavy mellow, but the up-tempo songs assured me that it was him on vocals. I thought it showed that Souza was more than an adept vocalist given that no vocalist/musician can produce fast and heavy on every song on every album year after year and last (just ask legendary drummer Tom Lombardo about it upon his departure from Slayer-a very sad day for me even though I followed him to GRIP Inc which is/was a very cool band).
I love this album. The music, the songwriting from the first to the last song IS contemporary Exodus and if you are a fan this is a must have CD.
On a Souza side note--compare him according to his work from Pleasures of the Flesh to this album Force of Habit and hopefully not his last on Tempo of the Damned where he literally gave a speed metal heavy edged vocal tour de force. If you don't live your life with blinders on and understand that EVERY band must change and adapt if it is going to survive and last (some might say "sell out" which Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich(sp) said his band would NEVER do after the major label release of Ride The Lightning....), then Force of Habit is Exodus at its very best! If you don't love this CD the first time you listen to it then play it again oh you of little faith.
Angryj

I am happy they slowed things down with this album. Most of the times albums that are speed metal are just that fast and chaotic and don't make sense. This album is heavy, melodic and every song is as good as the one that preceded it, though not so much the covers. This album is just awesome!!!!!

As contradictory as my review title may be, it is by no means a negative review. In my opinion, this is the worst Exodus album. However, as bad as it may be, this album is still good. Exodus was on a decline by 92'. Drugs, sex and alcohol had certainly taken a toll on them by this time. Nonetheless, they persevered and still delivered some good punches. The first two songs are good. Architect of Pain is an 11 minute song. I don't think any thrash band has ever written an 11 minute song. That's quite impressive. The covers are a bit strange, but well done.

Force of Habit (1992) was Exodus' 6th release since their 1985 Bonded By Blood classic. The music here, though not as thrashy as earlier releases, still fares much better than what the somewhat poor artwork may suggest. If you have heard earlier era Exodus, think of this album as Exodus' attempt at going mainstream (ala Metallica's Black Album or Testament's The Ritual). Having said that, there are tracks on here that can still pack a good punch for fans of thrash. If you enjoy classic gang vocals, you'll find these on such tracks as Me, Myself and I and Climb Before the Fall. Zetro still lets rip with his signature snarl. The guitar riffs are quite a chunky heavy sound. There is also some Exodus' style humour to be found on songs such as Feeding Time at the Zoo. This is a rather long CD, so it does require patience for your first few listens. Most of the songs became quite memorable for me.

With the original 1992 jewel case CD being out of print for quite some time, this album has now been remastered and released in a flimsy cardboard pouch. I believe that the record company should adopt more durable packaging for such discs. At least you now get better sound quality. Anyhow, if you're a fan of Exodus, ... and you want to complete your collection - you may want to get this one, ... before it's out of print again.

Exodus never dissapoints when it comes to studio albums or live shows, they knock it out of the park every time, this album shows that this band has to limits.

Exodus have experienced something of a resurgence lately, and well deservedly. The band that gave Metallica Kirk Hammett first got the attention of the metal community with "Bonded By Blood", a thrash fest with the great pair of lead guitarists Gary Holt and the now-departed Rick Hunolt. This line-up has changed a lot over the years, with Gary Holt, being the principle songwriter and leader of the band basically the only constant member. However, the line-up stabilized for a few albums, with Steve Souza replacing Paul Baloff on vocals for the second CD "Pleasure Of The Flesh". "Force Of Habit" slipped through the cracks and was unavailable for a long time until Caroline picked it up and reissued it in remastered form.
While not on a par quite with "Tempo Of The Damned" or "The Atrocity Exhibit: Exhibit A", "Force Of Habit" is a likable thrash album and gives us a little extra, such as the Memphis Horns on one cut and their trademark humor on "Feeding Time At The Zoo". It's a dependable heavy rocking album and worth the trouble getting if you're an Exodus fan. I don't like the packaging, however - the CD slips out of its sleeve too easily, but I can fix that with an empty jewel case.

I kind of see this record the same way my mother (a Bon Jovi fan) sees his 7th record "These Days." She said: "It lacks something." Of all "Exodus's" records, I like this one the least. It lacks the edge of "Bonded By Blood," "Fabulous Disaster," "Tempo of the Damned," and even "Impact Is Imminent."

But that said, it is still a decent listen. 'Thorn In My Side' is a decent opener but compare it to 'Bonded By Blood' or 'Last Act of Defiance.' 'Me, Myself, and I' is decent. 'Force of Habit' is decent. The 4th track has some interesting brass sounds. 'One Foot In the Grave' is decent, but not great. 'Count Your Blessings' is a 2nd highpoint with an 'Exodus won't sell out tone.' 'Climb Before the Fall' is decent. 'Architect of Pain' has a creepy charm. 'When It Rains It Pours' is a humorous song about someone not havingh a great day. I would rather not comment on 'Good Day to Die.' 'Pump It Up' is kind of weak. Though 'Feeding Time At the Zoo' ends the record on a high note.

if you're an "Exodus" fan, you may as well add this to your collection. But it's not essential.