Blistering.com: Onto Exhibit B. It’s still early to decide, but which one is better: Exhibit A or Exhibit B?
Holt: That’s hard to say, because I love Exhibit A. I think they’re both very different. Exhibit A is a little more progressive; Exhibit B has more of that earlier edge to it. Right now, I’m chomping at the bit to play some of the new stuff live. Right now, I’m leaning toward Exhibit B, it’s a more complete album front-to-back. Then again, I think every new album is. And that’s always the goal – to top your last album. We don’t go to the studio and say, “Let’s make an album that’s almost as good as the last one.” [laughs].
Blistering.com: Another cool thing about the new album is that you’ve tacked on some melodies in the opening track and “Downfall.”
Holt: They really didn’t come from anywhere. Everything we do is an organic process. I write the same way I wrote when I did Bonded By Blood. I don’t home record this shit, but I record so I don’t forget shit [laughs]. I’m trying to avoid that nightmare of writing a killer riff and coming back a few hours later and it’s never the same riff again. A lot of the earlier stuff in the band had melody, but I think a lot of now has to do with the time spent with Lee [Altus, guitars]. We do more duel-guitar stuff live.
Blistering.com: And lyrically, you’re not toning things down either. Like “Class Dismissed,” for instance.
Holt: We’re becoming like those cranky old men, yelling at people for stepping on their lawn [laughs]. “Class Dismissed,” first of all, is my favorite song on the album. It’s arresting; paints the portrait of a school shooting in vivid detail. We’re never ones to tone things down. It’s my soapbox and I’ll preach as loud as I want.
Blistering.com: I know we talked about you and Lee doing a lot of twin-guitar stuff, but if you can, compare Lee with Rick [Hunolt, ex-guitarist].
Holt: Rick was a giant, a giant as a musician. He’s a phenomenal keyboardist, amazing on funk bass. You should see the guy! Lee is an amazing lead guitarist and has came into his own, like nobody’s business on the new album. With Lee, what comes through live is that he’s a phenomenal rhythm guitar player where Rick wasn’t. Lee’s a lot more accurate. The mix live is not favored to one guitar to the left [where Holt stands] like it used to be. There’s more balance, so it’s a wall of thunder. Rick was so awesome, just a madman onstage. He’s one of the best lead guitarists ever – he just ripped at the stuff. I used to watch him play and go, “Man, that’s so good.”
Blistering.com: What would you have done if you didn’t ask Lee to join?
Holt: Oh shit, I don’t know [laughs]. I had no back-up plan. When Rick decided to step away, it was like “Fare thee well, I’ll miss you bro” and then I immediately called Lee. He said he’s been waiting his whole life to play in Exodus. I’ve known Lee longer than I’ve known Rick. I’ve known him since Kirk Hammett was in the band.
Blistering.com: Does the time when you re-formed for the live album then stalled out seem like a distant memory now?
Holt: At that time, a.) the musical climate wasn’t in favor and b.) a bunch of us had developed pretty substantial drug problems except for Jack [Gibson, bass]. There’s not an ounce of regret in that because it enabled me to spend the last few years with Paul. Playing with him, touring with him, being there with him. That’s one of the things I’m most grateful for.
Blistering.com: The substance issues are in contrast with the overall vibe of the band now. Just watching the DVD, it looks like you’re having a blast out there.
Holt: It is fun. I have a damn good time. I wouldn’t do this if it wasn’t fun. Musically we’re dark, but our spirit isn’t. We drink too much sometimes and sometimes it’s captured on video and we have a good laugh.
Blistering.com: Is it reach to say that the chemistry in Exodus now is the best that it’s ever been?
Holt: It’s on par with the early days. In the Bonded By Blood era, that chemistry was unequalled. It was just five guys, a band of brothers. Five guys playing the music they love, that they helped create, because it’s what we wanted to hear. This is the only thing that’s ever approached that. Obviously, when you get older, you have family and obligations that change things and when you’re younger, we hadn’t done anything yet. It was like, “Let’s do a show, get wasted. Do another show, get wasted.” That was an amazing time, but right now we’re a very tight-knit group.