Rob Dukes Says New Exodus Album Is “The Best Thing I’ve Ever Done”
Exodus fans, the Dukes era is officially back on, and according to the man himself, the next record isn’t just business as usual — it’s shaping up to be his best yet.
In a new interview with Chicago’s Rebel Radio 92.5 FM, Rob Dukes confirmed he’s deep in the vocal booth for the thrash legends’ upcoming LP, which will be the first since 2021’s Persona Non Grata and the first since the departure of Steve “Zetro” Souza. Dukes, back at the mic after more than a decade away, isn’t wasting time.
“I’m actually in the studio right now. I’m about to walk in and start screaming.”
That pretty much sets the tone.
Most of the new album is already in the bag, with Dukes currently wrapping up vocals in Nashville alongside producer Mark Lewis.
“We did most of the record already. It’s mostly all done. I wrote the lyrics for three or four of the songs, which was a huge honor. Sometimes Gary [Holt] gives me lyrics and a scratch vocal so I can follow how he hears it. Then we tweak stuff as we go.”
And this isn’t just a quick plug-and-play gig for Dukes — he’s clearly been living with the material for months, working through subtle vocal changes now that he’s got more time behind the mic. After tours in the U.S. and Europe, his voice is warmed up and ready to punish.
“I’ve got three or four different vocal ranges. I’ll try one, then another, and just feel it out. Sometimes I’ll punch in and say, ‘I think I can sing that part better.’ But honestly, there’s been less of that than I expected. We listened back and went, ‘That one works.’”
Even after fronting Generation Kill and ripping through tours, Dukes admits that nothing really compares to being back in the Exodus machine. And he’s confident that fans will feel the difference.
“It’s killer. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done with Exodus. I thought Exhibit B was some of my best work, but I think this tops it. It’s still Exodus, but we stepped outside the box and tried some new stuff. It’s fast, it’s dark, and it’s gonna be a lot of fun to play these songs live.”
There’s no release date just yet, but one thing’s certain: Dukes is back, the riffs are sharp, and Exodus aren’t here to repeat history — they’re here to rewrite it, one throat-ripping scream at a time.
