''Fabulous Disaster'' is the third studio album by American
thrash metal
Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...
band
Exodus
Exodus or the Exodus may refer to:
Religion
* Book of Exodus, second book of the Hebrew Torah and the Christian Bible
* The Exodus, the biblical story of the migration of the ancient Israelites from Egypt into Canaan
Historical events
* Ex ...
. It was released on January 30, 1989
on the UK label
Music for Nations
Music For Nations (MFN) is a British independent record label focusing mainly on rock and metal. It was a subsidiary of the larger label distributor Zomba Records, which was a division of BMG and later Sony Music Entertainment.
Launched in 1 ...
, while the US version was released on
Combat
Combat ( French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent conflict meant to physically harm or kill the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed ( not using weapons). Combat is sometimes resorted to as a method of self-defense, or ...
/
Relativity Records
Relativity Records was an American record label founded by Barry Kobrin at the site of his company, Important Record Distributors (IRD) in metro New York. Relativity released music that covers a wide variety of musical genres. When it entered in ...
. In 1999,
Century Media
A century is a period of 100 years. Centuries are numbered ordinally in English and many other languages. The word ''century'' comes from the Latin ''centum'', meaning ''one hundred''. ''Century'' is sometimes abbreviated as c.
A centennial or ...
remastered and reissued the band's first three albums in Europe only.
''Fabulous Disaster'' was
Tom Hunting
Thomas Hunting (born April 10, 1965) is an American musician. He is the drummer and only remaining original member of the thrash metal band Exodus.
Career
Hunting is the only original member of Exodus left, although he departed from the ban ...
's last release with Exodus until the 1997 live album ''
Another Lesson in Violence''. Additionally, it was the first Exodus album not to feature a lineup change from after one consecutive studio album, and one of two albums to include two song covers (the other being 1992's ''
Force of Habit
''Force of Habit'' is the fifth studio album by American thrash metal band Exodus (American band), Exodus, released on August 25, 1992 by Capitol Records. The sound of this album was a departure from the band's previous albums, focusing on a ra ...
'').
Tour
Exodus toured for five months to promote ''Fabulous Disaster''. The band embarked on a month-long European tour with
Nuclear Assault
Nuclear Assault was an American thrash metal band formed in New York City in 1984. Part of the mid-to-late 1980s thrash metal movement, they were one of the main bands of the genre to emerge from the East Coast along with Overkill, Whiplash, T ...
and
Acid Reign
Acid Reign are an English thrash metal band, originally active from 1985 to 1991. The band rebooted in 2015 with just H remaining from the original line up. Along with Onslaught, Sabbat and Xentrix, Acid Reign are considered to be one of the ...
.
In the spring of 1989, Exodus landed a supporting slot for the
Headbangers Ball tour with
Anthrax
Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium ''Bacillus anthracis''. It can occur in four forms: skin, lungs, intestinal, and injection. Symptom onset occurs between one day and more than two months after the infection is contracted. The sk ...
and
Helloween
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in 1984 in Hamburg by members of bands Iron Fist, Gentry, Second Hell and Powerfool. Its first lineup consisted of singer and guitarist Kai Hansen, bassist Markus Grosskopf, guitarist Michael Weik ...
, exposing the band to a wide thrash metal audience. Exodus then embarked on another North American tour, which lasted from May to July 1989; supporting acts were
Sick of It All
Sick of It All is an American hardcore punk band formed in 1986 in Queens, New York City. The band's lineup consists of brothers Lou and Pete Koller on lead vocals and guitars respectively, Armand Majidi on drums, and Craig Setari on bass. Sick ...
, Faith or Fear,
Forbidden, Dead Orchestra and Wehrmacht.
The band wrapped up the tour at
The Fillmore
The Fillmore is a historic music venue in San Francisco, California.
Built in 1912 and originally named the Majestic Hall, it became the Fillmore Auditorium in 1954. It is in Western Addition, on the edge of the Fillmore District and Upper Fil ...
on July 14, 1989; this show was recorded on the band's first live album ''
Good Friendly Violent Fun
''Good Friendly Violent Fun'' is a live album by American thrash metal band Exodus. The performance on this live album was from the band's 1989 tour, but not released until two years later. The name is derived from a lyric found in the Exodus son ...
'', which was released two years later.
Reception
In a contemporary review, ''
Kerrang!
''Kerrang!'' is a British weekly magazine devoted to rock, punk and heavy metal music, currently published by Wasted Talent (the same company that owns electronic music publication ''Mixmag''). It was first published on 6 June 1981 as a one- ...
'' journalist Don Kaye praised the album and paired it to ''
Bonded by Blood
''Bonded by Blood'' is the debut studio album by American thrash metal band Exodus. Although the album was completed in the summer of 1984, it was not released until 1985 due to issues with Exodus and the record label. It is considered one of th ...
'' for confidence and aggression, qualities which were slightly missing in ''
Pleasures of the Flesh
''Pleasures of the Flesh'' is the second studio album by the American thrash metal band Exodus. Released in 1987, it is the group's first album to feature Steve Souza on vocals after Paul Baloff was fired from the band. The record was remastere ...
''. He judged ''Fabulous Disaster'' as "one of the very best of the genre in 1989."
''Fabulous Disaster'' received a positive modern review from
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
's Eduardo Rivadavia, who stated that Exodus "went on to create their most diverse and carefully conceived effort yet, while remaining faithful to their no-frills thrash ethic." He then added that "the album represented the realization of their vision, as well as their commercial peak" but "still failed to gain them their well-deserved place alongside such thrash metal giants as
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine. Known for their technically complex guitar work and musicianship, Megadeth is one of the "big four" of American thrash metal along wit ...
,
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band. The band was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles by vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrume ...
,
Anthrax
Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium ''Bacillus anthracis''. It can occur in four forms: skin, lungs, intestinal, and injection. Symptom onset occurs between one day and more than two months after the infection is contracted. The sk ...
and
Slayer
Slayer was an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California. The band was formed in 1981 by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, drummer Dave Lombardo and bassist/vocalist Tom Araya. Slayer's fast and aggressive musical style ...
."
By contrast, Canadian journalist
Martin Popoff
Martin Popoff (born April 28, 1963) is a Canadian music journalist, critic and author. He is mainly known for writing about the genre of heavy metal music. The senior editor and co-founder of ''Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles'', he has additionally ...
remarked how Exodus remained the "last custodians of a manic but toneless thrash, high on allegiance, low on hummability" and easily forgettable.
''Fabulous Disaster'' debuted at No. 82 on the
''Billboard'' 200. No singles were released to promote the album, but the songs "
Toxic Waltz" and "Low Rider" got regular airplay on radio stations, including
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
,
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
radio station
KNAC
KBUE (105.5 FM, "Que Buena 105.5/94.3 FM") is a commercial radio station licensed to Long Beach, California, that serves the Los Angeles metropolitan area. It is owned by Estrella Media and airs a Regional Mexican radio format. Studios and of ...
.
A video was made for "The Toxic Waltz", which received a good amount of airplay on
MTV
MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
's ''
Headbangers Ball
''Headbangers Ball'' is a music television program that consisted of heavy metal music videos airing on MTV and its global affiliates. The show began on MTV on April 18, 1987, playing heavy metal music videos from both well-known and more obs ...
''. The lead off track, "The Last Act of Defiance" was inspired by the
New Mexico State Penitentiary riot that took place in February 1980.
Track listing
Personnel
;Exodus
*
Steve "Zetro" Souza
Steve "Zetro" Souza (born March 24, 1964) is an American musician, best known for his work as lead vocalist with thrash metal band Exodus from 1986 to 1994, and again from 2002 to 2004. He rejoined Exodus for a third time in 2014. Souza is one ...
– vocals
*
Gary Holt – guitars
*Rick Hunolt – guitars
*Rob McKillop – bass
*
Tom Hunting
Thomas Hunting (born April 10, 1965) is an American musician. He is the drummer and only remaining original member of the thrash metal band Exodus.
Career
Hunting is the only original member of Exodus left, although he departed from the ban ...
– drums
;Additional musicians
*Dov Christopher – intro vocals on track 1, harmonica on track 5
*Brian Mantilla – additional percussion on track 4
;Production
*Marc Senesac – production, engineering, mixing
*Gary Holt – production, mixing
*Rick Hunolt – production, mixing
*David Plank – engineering
*Chad Munsey – mixing assistant
*
Bernie Grundman
Bernie Grundman is an American audio engineer.
He is most known for his mastering work and his studio, Bernie Grundman Mastering, which he opened in 1984 in Hollywood. The studio, which includes engineers Chris Bellman, Patricia Sullivan, and Mi ...
– mastering
Charts
References
External links
"Fabulous Disaster" at discogs
{{Authority control
1989 albums
Exodus (American band) albums
Relativity Records albums
Music for Nations albums
Combat Records albums