With a bond forged in youth and decades-old friendship, the undisputed masters of thrash metal return with their eleventh studio album, PERSONA NON GRATA due to be released on November 19th via Nuclear Blast Records.
Today, the band releases the music video for the first single entitled, “The Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves)”. Watch the video that was written and directed by BJ McDonnell and produced by James A Rota, here: https://nblast.de/Exodus-TBWC-YT
Gary Holt comments “After what seems like an eon, we now have the debut of our first single, ‘The Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves)’. I’m so jacked up for this and the release of Persona Non Grata! Let’s get the bloodletting started!”
Literally translating to “an unwelcome” or “unacceptable” person, PERSONA NON GRATA touches on themes of modern societal disgust and degradation. The band gathered at Tom Hunting’s house in the mountains where they produced and recorded Persona Non Grata from three home-built studios . Steve Lagudi was at the helm of engineering while the band enlisted Andy Sneap of Backstage Studios to mix the album. For the third time in the band’s history, they returned to Swedish artist Par Olofsson to create the album artwork.
Below is the PERSONA NON GRATA tracklist:
1. Persona Non Grata 2. R.E.M.F 3. Slipping Into Madness 4. Elitist 5. Prescribing Horror 6. The Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves) 7. The Years Of Death And Dying 8. Clickbait 9. Cosa Del Pantano 10. Lunatic-Liar-Lord 11. The Fires Of Division 12. Antiseed
2020 is set to be an unforgettable year for British and European thrash metal-heads – three legendary pioneers of the genre have announced that they will be touring throughout next spring. Hitting the road will be no other than the Bay Area’s very own TESTAMENT, EXODUS and DEATH ANGEL – who have all teamed up to bring the catchily dubbed ‘The Bay Strikes Back‘ tour to our shores!
TESTAMENT’s Chuck Billy commented: “It’s finally happening!!!! All of us have spoken over the years of how killer it would be to tour together and bring Bay Area Thrash Metal across the world and we are starting in Europe. I’m sure I can speak for all three bands in saying that we are proud of where we all came from and we are still delivering some of the best thrash metal we can to the fans. Be ready for the Bay Area Strikes Back Tour 2020.”
And Gary Holt from EXODUS: “I am fired up to FINALLY return to Europe with Exodus! Along with our Bay Area friendsTestament and Death Angel! An epic tour for the ages! Looking forward to crushing everyone Bay Area style! See you there!!! I cannot wait!”
DEATH ANGEL’s Rob Cavestany added: “We couldn’t be more excited to announce our upcoming tour with Testament andExodus! Bay Area Thrash Attack in full force! All three bands have been close friends for decades and our mutual respect is of the highest level. That said, we will surely push each other to go beyond expectations each and every night. This is a first – the three of us have never toured together in the same package… it’s about time! See you in the pit!”
Both TESTAMENT and EXODUS are currently working on the follow-up to their 2016 (TESTAMENT – Brotherhood Of The Snake) and 2014 (EXODUS – Blood In, Blood Out) albums, while DEATH ANGEL will be touring in support of their most recent record, 2019’sHumanicide.
UK shows will goon sale this Friday 2nd August @ 10am BSTvia the below links!
THE BAY STRIKES BACK TOUR 2020 TESTAMENT | EXODUS | DEATH ANGEL 06.02.2020 DK Copenhagen, Amager Bio 07.02.2020 SE Stockholm, Arenan Fryshuset 10.02.2020 FI Helsinki, The Circus 11.02.2020 FI Tampere, Pakkahuone 13.02.2020 DE Hamburg, Docks 14.02.2020 DE Oberhausen, Turbinenhalle 15.02.2020 DE Wiesbaden, Schlachthof 16.02.2020 NL Utrecht, Tivoli 18.02.2020 DE Berlin, Huxleys 19.02.2020 PL Wroclaw, Orbita Hall 20.02.2020 AT Vienna, Arena 21.02.2020 DE Munich, Backstage 22.02.2020 DE Filderstadt, Filharmonie 25.02.2020 IT Milano, Live Club 27.02.2020 ES Barcelona, Razzmatazz 28.02.2020 ES Madrid, Palacio Vistalegre 29.02.2020 FR Toulouse, Bikini 01.03.2020 FR Paris, Elysee Montmartre 03.03.2020 UK Bristol, O2 Academy 04.03.2020 IE Dublin, National Stadium 06.03.2020 UK London, The Forum 07.03.2020 UK Manchester, Academy 08.03.2020 UK Glasgow, Barrowland 10.03.2020 BE Brussels, AB 11.03.2020 DE Hannover, Capitol