Exhorder: The Best Thrash/Groove Metal Band You Should Have Known

Originally my plan was to do a retrospective on Mastodon, and that will be coming up soon, but tonight I received word that Frankie Sparcello, bassist of the band, Exhorder, died. As the time of putting this out there is no reason given for his death, but regardless it is a tragic loss in Metal.


I discovered Exhorder thanks to my old Metal cover band, FEW.  I discovered a ton of great Metal bands thanks to those guys but Exhorder was the band that stuck out the most to me. Many don't want to hear it and others need to hear it, but upon ONE listen to any Exhorder song, you'll understand why Pantera became popular from every album after Cowboys From Hell. Some may say it is blatant, but there is no denying the parallels between the 2 bands. Both Exhorder albums (Slaughter In The Vatican, The Law) are essential Thrash/Groove Metal albums. 

Slaughter In The Vatican is arguably the best Thrash/Groove Metal debut that has ever been released. Every song is relentless, brutal and pure perfection. The final self titled track is the perfect explanation of Thrash/Groove Metal to all the kids out there who think it all started with Pantera's Walk. So thrashy and elements of the old school hardcore punk. It's the perfect album for when you are pissed off.


The Law is the more groove oriented, but just as heavy counterpart to Slaughter In The Vatican. Upon first listen if you didn't know any better you would swear it was Dimebag and Vinnie writing Vulgar Display Of Power. There is so much groove to this album you have no choice but to bang your head to every song.




Please don't get me wrong on this article. I by no means want to diss on Pantera, obviously they did something right or else they wouldn't be as big as they became. But Exhorder did it first and deserved the credit that they never received. I'm still a huge Pantera fan to this day, but in reality as any real Thrash/Groove Metal fan that is alive to would agree, you'd rather have people at the bar rocking out to Slaughter In The Vatican or The Law in the jukebox over hearing Pantera's Walk again for the thousandth time as that's the average guy's only connection to Metal besides Metallica's Enter Sandman.


Up to this date, Exhorder was in the midst of a return that started in 2008, but as of right now that may become questionable rather if they continue on. I very much hope they do. Kids today need to know about real Metal, what's a better way then with EXHORDER!!!