Exodus: Bay Area Thrash Legends Ready to Unleash New Album in 2026

Thrash metal is far from dead.. in fact, it’s sharpening its blades.

Bay Area titans Exodus have officially confirmed that they're sitting on nearly two full albums’ worth of new material, signaling a brutal return that fans have long awaited. The first of these is expected to drop by February 2026, marking the band's first studio album since Persona Non Grata (2021).

And that’s not the only major shift: in a move that shocked and thrilled longtime followers, Rob Dukes has returned to the mic after more than a decade away. His reinstatement follows the recent split with Steve "Zetro" Souza, signaling a new era that blends the old-school aggression of Dukes’ years (2005–2014) with the band’s sharpened post-pandemic fury.

“We’re back to writing like maniacs,” said drummer Tom Hunting in a recent interview. “There’s a hunger in the room again, and Rob’s bringing that gritty energy we all missed. It’s pissed-off, razor-edge Exodus- no compromises.”

Founding guitarist Gary Holt, who spent much of the last decade dividing time between Exodus and Slayer, is now locked in full-time. Sources close to the band say the new material is “faster, angrier, and more politically charged” than anything they've written since Tempo of the Damned.

With their 45th anniversary looming and the Bay Area thrash renaissance still surging, Exodus looks poised to deliver not just a comeback but a warning shot across the entire metal landscape.