Goliath (Exodus album)

Goliath
Studio album by
Exodus
ReleasedMarch 20, 2026 (2026-03-20)
Recorded2025
StudioTrident
GenreThrash metal
Length54:09
LabelNapalm
ProducerExodus
Exodus chronology
Persona Non Grata
(2021)		 Goliath
(2026)
Singles from Goliath
  1. "3111"
    Released: January 21, 2026
  2. "Goliath"
    Released: February 18, 2026
  3. "Promise You This"
    Released: March 18, 2026

Goliath is the thirteenth studio album by American thrash metal band Exodus. The album was released on March 20, 2026.[1] It is their first studio album to feature vocalist Rob Dukes since Exhibit B: The Human Condition (2010), and also the band's first album to be released through Napalm Records, with whom the band signed in 2023.

Background and recording

About two weeks after the release of Persona Non Grata, Gary Holt spoke to The Aquarian Weekly about a potential follow-up album.[2] In a December 2021 interview with Guitar.com, Holt promised that there would not be another seven-year gap in between two studio albums.[3]

On June 20, 2023, it was announced that Exodus had parted ways with Nuclear Blast after 20 years on the label, and they were signed to Napalm Records.[4][5] A few days later, Holt confirmed via Instagram that he was "fully in writing mode now, assembling the pieces of the next album opener."[6] Frontman Steve "Zetro" Souza announced in October 2023 that the band would enter the studio around March or April 2024 to begin recording their new album, which was expected to be released by September of that year;[7] he would later clarify that studio plans were pushed back to May 2024 due to slow progress and he had not yet heard anything that the members of Exodus were writing.[8] Holt stated in an interview with Full Metal Jackie in August 2024 that the band would begin recording their new album in early 2025.[9]

Exodus parted ways with Souza in January 2025, and the band replaced him with his predecessor Rob Dukes. Exodus also announced its plans to record a new album with Dukes.[10] Holt announced in February 2025 that Exodus would release their new album in 2026.[11] The album's recording sessions took place during the summer and fall of that year,[12][13] and mixing was handled by Mark Lewis, making this the first time in more than three decades that the band had not worked with Andy Sneap.[14]

Release and promotion

On January 21, 2026, Exodus announced the resulting album, titled Goliath, which would be released on March 20, 2026, and released the album's lead single "3111".[1] The second single, "Goliath", was released on February 18, 2026.[15] The third single, "Promise You This", was released on March 18, 2026.[16]

Touring

Exodus supported the album with a number of major tours, including supporting Megadeth on the Canadian leg of their final tour,[17] Kreator on the European leg of their Krushers of the World tour,[18] and Sepultura on their final North American tour.[19]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Blabbermouth.net9/10[20]
Distorted Sound8/10[21]
Ghost Cult Magazine7/10[22]
Metal Master KingdomStarStarStarStarStarStarStarStarHalf star[23]
Metal.de8/10[24]
Wall of Sound7/10[25]

Blabbermouth.net gave the album a 9/10 stating "Goliath" is what happens when the passion never deserts you, and the hunger to get heads banging and fists pumping grows stronger by the year. Listen to it at excruciating volume and get ready for a life-threatening adrenaline rush. This monster lives."[26] KJ Davern of Wall of Sound wrote "Back in 2021 I proclaimed that Persona Non Grata signaled that Exodus was back. Well Exodus is still on top with Goliath. It’s different in the best kind of way. Hard, heavy, fast. Maybe it’s not a great pure Exodus album but it’s a fantastic metal album."[27] Metal.de noted "All in all, the long wait was worth it. "Persona Non Grata" is a relentless thrash powerhouse that sees EXODUS at the very top of their game. There is no filler, no let-up, and absolutely no boredom here."[28] Disorted Sound Magzine added "It’s so ill-tempered that it almost gets a bit ridiculous, but that’s always been part of the appeal for EXODUS. We can argue for the rest of our lives over whether they should have been included in The Big Four, but that’s all but irrelevant now. EXODUS are shamelessly metal, and for all the spilled blood, they’re fun too. This is thrash at its most bluntly cathartic, Goliath is a blast."[29]

Track listing

Goliath track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."3111"
Lee Altus4:08
2."Hostis Humani Generis"HoltHolt5:21
3."The Changing Me"
  • Dukes
  • Altus
Altus6:14
4."Promise You This"HoltHolt5:19
5."Goliath"HoltHolt5:04
6."Beyond the Event Horizon"DukesAltus5:16
7."2 Minutes Hate"DukesAltus4:55
8."Violence Works"HoltHolt4:49
9."Summon of the God Unknown"HoltHolt7:54
10."The Dirtiest of the Dozen"Tom HuntingHolt5:09
Total length:54:09

Personnel

Credits adapted from album liner notes.[30]

Exodus

Additional contributors

Charts

Chart performance for Goliath
Chart (2026) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[31]4
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[32]31
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[33]81
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[34]8
French Albums (SNEP)[35]162
French Rock & Metal Albums (SNEP)[36] 4
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[37]9
German Rock & Metal Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[38] 4
Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ)[39] 13
Japanese Rock Albums (Oricon)[40] 11
Japanese Western Albums (Oricon)[41] 6
Norwegian Physical Albums (IFPI Norge)[42] 2
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[43]11
Scottish Albums (Official Charts)[44]13
Swedish Hard Rock Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[45] 15
Swedish Physical Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[46] 11
UK Albums Sales (OCC)[47] 14
UK Independent Albums (Official Charts)[48]7
UK Rock & Metal Albums (Official Charts)[49]3
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[50]16

References

  1. 1 2 "EXODUS Announces New Album 'Goliath', Shares First Single '3111'". Blabbermouth.net. January 21, 2026. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Exodus – The Bay Area Thrash Pioneers Roar Back". The Aquarian Weekly. November 29, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Exodus – The Bay Area Thrash Pioneers Roar Back". Guitar.com. December 16, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  4. ↑ "EXODUS Sign Worldwide Contract With Napalm Records; New Music Expected In 2024". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. June 20, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  5. ↑ "EXODUS Signs with NAPALM RECORDS: 'It's Time for a New Chapter for the Band'". June 20, 2023.
  6. ↑ "GARY HOLT Is Working On Opening Song For EXODUS's Next Album: It Is The 'Most Brutal Crushing Thing Ever'". Blabbermouth.net. June 27, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  7. ↑ "EXODUS To Enter Studio In March; New Album To Arrive By September 2024". Blabbermouth.net. October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  8. ↑ "EXODUS To Enter Studio In May". Blabbermouth.net. February 27, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  9. ↑ "EXODUS To Record New Album In Early 2025". Blabbermouth.net. August 5, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  10. ↑ "EXODUS Parts Ways With STEVE 'ZETRO' SOUZA, Welcomes Back ROB DUKES". Metal Addicts. January 15, 2025. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  11. ↑ "GARY HOLT: No New EXODUS Album Until 2026". Blabbermouth.net. February 15, 2025. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  12. ↑ "ROB DUKES On EXODUS's Upcoming Album: 'It's The Best Thing I've Ever Done With' The Band". Blabbermouth.net. July 11, 2025. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  13. ↑ "New EXODUS Album Is 'Done', Says GARY HOLT: 'Every Song's An Anthem'". Blabbermouth.net. July 11, 2025. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  14. ↑ "EXODUS Taps MARK LEWIS For New Album Mix: 'It's Amazing', Says GARY HOLT". Blabbermouth.net. September 15, 2025. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  15. ↑ "EXODUS Shares Music Video For Title Track Of Upcoming 'Goliath' Album". Blabbermouth.net. February 18, 2026. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  16. ↑ "EXODUS Releases Music Video For 'Promise You This' From Upcoming 'Goliath' Album". Blabbermouth.net. March 18, 2026. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  17. ↑ "MEGADETH Announces 2026 Canadian Tour With ANTHRAX And EXODUS". Blabbermouth.net. November 25, 2025. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  18. ↑ "KREATOR Announces 'Krushers Of The World' Album; European Tour With EXODUS And CARCASS To Launch In March 2026". Blabbermouth.net. September 24, 2025. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  19. ↑ "SEPULTURA Announces Final North American Tour; EXODUS And BIOHAZARD To Support". Blabbermouth.net. January 20, 2026. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  20. ↑ https://blabbermouth.net/reviews/goliath-2
  21. ↑ https://distortedsoundmag.com/album-review-goliath-exodus/
  22. ↑ https://ghostcultmag.com/album-review-exodus-goliath-napalm-records/
  23. ↑ https://www.metalmasterkingdom.com/album-review-blog/exodus-goliath-album-review?view=full
  24. ↑ https://www.metal.de/reviews/exodus-goliath-608525/
  25. ↑ https://www.wallofsoundau.com/reviews/exodus-goliath-album-review
  26. ↑ Blabbermouth (March 17, 2026). "Goliath". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Exodus - Goliath (Album Review) - Wall Of Sound". www.wallofsoundau.com. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Exodus - Persona Non Grata • die Review auf metal.de". metal.de. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  29. ↑ Bolitho-Jones, Tim (March 19, 2026). "ALBUM REVIEW: Goliath - Exodus". Distorted Sound Magazine. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  30. ↑ Goliath (Album liner notes). Exodus. 2026.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  31. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Exodus – Goliath" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Exodus – Goliath" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Exodus – Goliath" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Exodus: Goliath" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Top Albums (Semaine du 27 mars 2026)". Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Top Rock & Metal Albums (Semaine du 27 mars 2026)" (in French). Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Exodus – Goliath" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
  38. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts Top 20 Rock/Metal-Charts – 27 März 2026" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  39. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2026. 14. hét". MAHASZ. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  40. ↑ "Oricon Top 20 Rock Albums: March 30, 2026" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  41. ↑ "Oricon Top 30 Western Albums: March 30, 2026" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  42. ↑ "Fysisk Albums 2026 uke 13" (in Norwegian Bokmål). IFPI Norge. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
  43. ↑ "OLiS - oficjalna lista sprzedaży - albumy" (in Polish). OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Note: Change the date to 20.03.2026–26.03.2026 under "zmień zakres od–do:". Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  44. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 27/3/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
  45. ↑ "Veckolista Hårdrock, vecka 13" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
  46. ↑ "Veckolista Album Fysiskt, vecka 13" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
  47. ↑ "Official Albums Sales Chart on 27/3/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
  48. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart on 27/3/2026 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
  49. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart on 27/3/2026 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
  50. ↑ "Exodus Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
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