Exodus – Tom Hunting

Exodus will soon be returning to Australia this November to celebrate the release of their new album, Exhibit B: The Human Condition. Metal Obsession recenly sat down with Exodus drummer Tom Hunting, to talk about the band’s upcoming Australian tour and the new album.

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Metal Obsession: Horns up my friend, this upcoming tour of Oz will be your second I believe since you rejoined the band around 07, any fond memories of the tour first time round?

Tom Hunting: I wasn’t there, Paul Bostaph was in the band at the time, so I’m looking way forward to playing there for my first time.

MO: Before you come over you would have toured Canada with Malevolent Creation, a band I think shares a lot in common with you in regards to longevity within a genre and having to reassert themselves on the new generation. How hard is it to remain relevant today while still maintaining your identity and credibility?

TH: We just try to make the best albums possible while staying true to what this band stands for, and that’s no bullshit 100% all out thrash metal.

MO: You’ve had some health issues in the past how is everything going? And are you confident you can continue with heavy touring and travel?

TH: I feel great, totally healthy and having fun and ready to rage. The traveling is just part of the job, but we stay well rested nowadays so that we can do this at a high level.

MO: On the topic I’ve often marvelled at the endurance of extreme metal drummers, sure the guitarists can have a bad night being hungover and such but the physicality needed to drum night in night out and (especially I am sure in your early years) maintain the rock n’ roll lifestyle would be immense. How do/did you survive? And do you feel there is a shorter life span in bands for drummers than say
other musicians?

TH: I play better hungover actually! But the key is getting good rest. Shorter lifespan? Don’t really have the answer to that one, when the body breaks down it breaks down,but I’m strong as a rhino right now, and those guitar players are pussies anyway!! [laughs]

MO: The mortality of metal musicians is also beginning to become more prominent, Dio passed most recently however there are many more that don’t have the luxury of making their mid 40’s let alone retirement age. A lot of the old guard are now living lives of sobriety and thinking health over their past lifestyles, is this something you think comes with the wisdom of age or is forced because of complications?

TH: A little of both I think, you have to take better care of yourself, we’re not 25 anymore, but when it’s your time it’s your time. You have to live in the present.

MO: You’ve been there since the beginning, 1980 I believe. In that time things have changed immensely in the scene in both musicianship and how bands get signed and promote their music. Is the era of serving the long apprenticeship and being ‘discovered’ over and has the classic riff-chorus approach been replaced with technicality and gimmicks by the new kids?

TH: No fucking way. It’s all about the riffs, the beats, the chorus’s and the energy.

MO: On that note triggered drums, for or against?

TH: Kicks are fine, it helps a lot when you have a sub par PA system, but I won’t trigger anything else.

MO: Exhibit B: The Human Condition continues in the same hard hitting aggressive vein as its predecessor, it seems the playful humor and sarcasm have been toned down of late for a more brutal approach, have the fun police been around lately or are you just becoming grumpier old men?

TH: Cranky old bastards, or at least Gary is! But we still have fun live, we don’t stand around with angry looks on our faces when we hit the stage, we enjoy ourselves.

MO: You’ve now had time to get use to Dukes fronting the band, how do you think he stacks up against the legend of Paul and uniqueness of Steve? How have the fans embraced him, especially when performing the older material?

TH: Paul always was and always will be the spirit of this band, but Rob does him more than justice on the old stuff, and crushes Zetro’s stuff completely. The fans love him, you always get some assholes who long for the past, but this band is much more popular now than when Zetro was here. People were always screaming for Zetro’s head when he was here, now some want to see him come back. We are not a nostalgia band.

MO: And seriously is Toxic Waltz retired for good?

TH: We’ve been playing it live for a long time now, so no, it’s not retired. We just needed a short break from it.

MO: Obviously there’s Exhibit C to go, where to from there for the band, how long do you think you can maintain the edge and the rage?

TH: No more exhibits! It was a two part record, now it’s time to move on to something else. What the next record will be like, we have no idea, way too early. We keep an edge because we feel we have to prove we are the best.

MO: Finally some quick questions so we can know more about the man behind the kit.

Nickname: Mongo
First band: Exodus
First record bought: A Beatles 45″
Favourite Exodus song: Anything off the new record
Most influential person in your career: Keith Moon
Craziest thing you’ve seen at a live gig: Human hair covering the entire floor after a couple of shows in South America
Favourite ‘new’ band: Lady Gaga
Life motto: More snare!!!

Q’s: Reg Harris
A’s: Tom Hunting
Band: Exodus
Date: 23/09/2010
Origin: USA

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Make sure to catch Exodus this October in Australia and New Zealand. Don’t miss out!

Click image to enlarge

October 1^st – The Kings Arms, Auckland

October 2^nd – The Manning Bar, Sydney

October 3^rd – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne

October  4^th – The HiFi Bar, Brisbane

October 5^th – Amplifier Bar, Perth

Tickets available through respected outlets.

Auckland – www.moshtix.co.nz, Real Groovy, www.undertheradar.co.nz

Sydney – www.moshtix.com , Utopia Records

Melbourne – www.cornerhotel.com , Missing Link Records

Brisbane – www.thehifi.com.au/brisbane , Rockinghorse Records, Moshpit Music

Perth – www.moshtix.com, 78 Records

For more information, go to: www.soundworkstouring.com – www.myspace.com/exodus