Celebrating 32 Years Of Exodus’ Thrash Classic, Fabulous Disaster!
Fabulous Disaster is the pinnacle of Exodus’ 80’s and 90’s output.....
Exodus‘ Fabulous Disaster was released on January 30th 1989 on the UK label Music for Nations, while the US version was released on Combat / Relativity Records.
Review:
Opening with the caustic “The Last Act Of Defiance” – a scathing attack on the prison system – Exodus were clearly in a bullish mood during Fabulous Disaster‘s creation and their third album would go down in thrash history as a bona fide classic of the genre.
The H-bomb of Holt and Hunolt were explosive throughout as the likes of the title track, “Like Father, Like Son” and pit-inducing classic “The Toxic Waltz” unleashed combative riffs like they were going out of style. At this stage, ‘new’ vocalist Steve “Zetro” Souza was well bedded in and his deliciously diabolical diatribes hit so much harder than on 1987’s middling Pleasures Of The Flesh. One thing is for sure, you certainly can’t imagine Paul Baloff singing the lyrics to the frog-ribbiting, harmonica-introducing “Cajun Hell” and, love him or hate him, Zetro was now the singer of Exodus….and long may he reign!
A rabble-rousing, crowd-pleasing effort, Fabulous Disaster is the pinnacle of Exodus’ 80’s and 90’s output and proved that thrash was more than just merely alive and well in 1989! 8/10
Exodus:
- Steve “Zetro” Souza – vocals
- Gary Holt – guitars
- Rick Hunolt – guitars
- Rob McKillop – bass
- Tom Hunting – drums
Trivia:
- Fabulous Disaster was drummer Tom Hunting’s last release with Exodus until the 1997 live album Another Lesson in Violence.
- Fabulous Disaster is one of only two Exodus albums to include two song covers (the other being 1992’s Force of Habit).
- “The Toxic Waltz” is one of the band’s most famous songs, being played at almost every Exodus concert since its debut live performance in 1989.
Track Listing:
1. “The Last Act of Defiance”
2. “Fabulous Disaster”
3. “The Toxic Waltz”
4. “Low Rider” (War cover)
5. “Cajun Hell”
6. “Like Father, Like Son”
7. “Corruption”
8. “Verbal Razors”
9. “Open Season”
10. “Overdose” (AC/DC cover)
Hey Chris! Big fan of Fabulous Disaster! Been a fan of Exodus ever since I first heard BBB in ’85. I think Lowrider rubs some people the wrong way but I thought it was kind of a neat cover. Unique! The guitar work in Like Father, Like Son really impress. Giving King and Hanover a run for the $. Some of the tracks after ‘Son seem like a little bit of filler but still thrash hard. The cover of Overdose is my fave cover (I do like the covers on Force also). Perhaps, at least to me, that’s why Impact was a let down? It had to follow this kick ass piece of work? Also, some thought provoking lyrics. Continuing the trend of songs like Chemikill. Thanks again and keep up the great work!
Cheers man! It’s a true thrash classic ain’t it.
Impact was a letdown in comparison but (BUT) Exodus on a bad day are still better than 99% other thrash bands haha