Gary Holt to Begin Work on New Exodus Album After Tour Ends, Has ‘Probably’ A Thousand Riffs

Exodus guitarist Gary Holt is the latest guest on Full Metal Jackie’s weekend radio show, discussing the band’s current tour with Anthrax and Black Label Society, as well as what he’s been up to for decades. about the thousand-plus riffs he’s accumulated over the years, and he begins work on a new album.

However, it remains to be seen (and we can’t hear it) if Holt will bother to use the ubiquitous riffs. For him, writing riffs is as easy as breathing, and even if he could lose all the files he recorded, he says it wouldn’t be a big deal just to create a new one. . And that writing will begin as early as this year after he’s parted ways for a three-month break.

Regarding his old music, Holt is thrilled to see Exodus nod in the episode cobra kai and jewel of justice I also applaud Metallica’s big uplift from. stranger things They lightly joke that the band didn’t exactly need a boost because they’re already so popular.

Read the full interview below.

Exodus are on tour with Anthrax and Black Label Society. Having these three bands touring together is a great cross-section of all that we love about metal. What do you like most about this band combination?

Anthrax is the band I’ve toured the most in my life and always been the best and most fun band. I traveled way back in 1987 and toured with them on many of Slayer’s last tours. I don’t know how many times I toured with them.

Also, this is my first time touring with Zakk Wylde and Black Label Society. Zakk is great because he is one of my favorite guitarists. Every night we get to see him do his guitar shredder masterclass and he gets to hang out with a lot of friends, so it’s a fun time.We’re having fun.

exodus debut album blood ties The album has been highly rated in the Thrash Metal Hall of Fame. Why is it a blessing that Exodus have followed a different trajectory than other bands?

I don’t know…whether it’s a blessing or a curse, I don’t see it as either. I joined this band when she was 17, now 58 and still touring doing what I love. It is absolutely a blessing. There have been ups and downs, but we have persevered. we are lucky

References above cobra kai and stranger things The TV show is a sure sign of thrash metal’s infiltration into pop culture. What is the significance of such endorsements for bands like Exodus?

being a big fan of cobra kaisitting there watching the episode, blood ties When the referral happened, I was like, “No way, wow!” When you’re watching your favorite show in real time, it’s a wonderful thing.

Sometimes these things happen.at the show jewel of justicethey put up Exodus posters on the walls of the kids’ bedrooms. cobra kai, they knew perfectly well what they were talking about. I liked it

after that stranger things Give Metallica this big boost, but they don’t need it [laughs] — like, they really needed a second wind for “Master of Puppets”…but it’s cool and now it’s part of the dialogue. I think it’s become mainstream.

I think there are a lot of fans working in these industries right now.

I was looking cobra kai My wife and the man told this guy he was playing “fucking Metallica all night.” blood tiesBut it’s not your fault. you don’t know the genre ”

very cool.

You are best known as a guitarist, but in the songwriter role you are a lyricist. What is the fulfillment of conveying thoughts and feelings with words instead of riffs?

It means a lot to me. I am very proud of the lyrics I wrote. Writing riffs is easy. Writing lyrics is harder. You spend a lot of time staring at a blank piece of paper. As a guitarist, when I’m done playing, the piece is passed on to someone else, so a lot of people don’t really understand that I write most of it. , to express anger and resentment, and to express what you want. And I walk away satisfied. It’s kind of like therapy for me.

Exodus “Fighting continues (until morale rises)”

The music industry economy has completely changed the business of releasing albums. Why is it important to make new music, even if it’s financially unstable?

The ability to play the same thing over and over again is limited.

In the simplest terms, we need to make new music. It keeps me motivated and interested. If I’m going to tour and tell myself I’ve got enough albums, I change the setlist a lot to make sure I don’t have to make new music anymore… boring and incredibly fast so you probably don’t want to do it again.

We make doomsday killer albums that stand up to any classic. People want to hear it and I want to play it. It makes us all happy.

Any news to tell us about new music?

I always have a million riffs. I probably have the 1000 that I didn’t use on the previous album. Sometimes I get so obsessed that I get so caught up in the latest riff that I just can’t bring myself to go back and listen to anything else. didn’t you use it?

After this tour I will take a three month vacation and work on a new record.

I’ve heard stories of artists having all these riffs and their computers crashing. Back up your computer, Gary. I worry about these thousands of riffs you have backed up somewhere.

This is what separates me from many others — I just write new stuff. Write a riff now without a guitar in hand — it’s easy. Writing riffs is like breathing. It’s not hard if you like it. I have a voice recorder on my phone and it’s backed up. I have so many riffs and some of the best may never be used.

Sometimes Tom Hunting lets me do that and then we find real gems. Even so, I will write something new.

Thanks to Gary Holt for the interview. Get a copy of Exodus’ latest album ‘Persona Non Grata’ here and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, twitter and Spotify. Find out where to listen to Full Metal Jackie’s weekend radio show here.

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