It is hard to believe but legendary thrash metal band Exodus has been making music for more than 45 years as of this year. That is despite seeing so many changes in lineups and labels and even surviving multiple breakups. Somehow the band, which is one of the “Big Four” of the thrash scene, has gone through it all and still continues to kick and keep putting out music that impresses. As a matter of fact fans may potentially see the band release its 13th (yes, 13th) album either later this year or sometime in 2025. As audiences await that record’s release, Exodus and Nuclear Blast Records have offered audiences a little something to appease fans in the form of the band’s latest live recording, The British Disaster: The Battle of ’89 Live at the Astoria. Released May 31 through Nuclear Blast, the 15-song set is only the fourth live recording to ever see the light of day from Exodus. Considering the band has been making music for more than four decades, that is saying something. The 77-minute concert, which was recorded as part of the band’s tour in support of its then third album, Fabulous Disaster, was captured at the band’s March 8, 1989 concert at the Astoria in London, UK. It is a mostly successful offering though not perfect. To the positive is its noted set list, which spans quite well, the band’s catalog at that point. This will be discussed shortly. The one negative noted is that the recording is limited to only audio platforms. This will be discussed more a little later. It is not enough to doom the recording, though. To that end, there is one more positive to note, that being the recording’s production. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of the recording. All things considered they make The British Disaster; The Battle of ’89 Live at the Astoria a mostly successful new live recording that Exodus fans will appreciate.
The Battle of ’89: Live at the Astoria, the latest live recording from legendary thrash metal outfit Exodus, is an interesting new offering from the band that fans will find mostly successful. The success comes in large part through its featured set list. Spanning 15 songs and all three of the band’s albums at that point, it lifts quite well from each record, with Fabulous Disaster, the band’s then latest album fittingly getting the most nods with six songs. Bonded By Blood, the band’s 1985 debut album, is represented here by five songs. Considering that record is composed of nine songs total, five songs makes up a little more than half of that album’s body. That says plenty. Pleasures of the Flesh, the band’s sophomore album – released in 1987 – was represented by four of its 10 total tracks. So in other words, the set list featured here represents a healthy portion of the band’s then very brief catalog. This is something that longtime audiences and even those who are newer to the band will appreciate.
The band’s performance of that set list is just as impressive as the set list itself. It is a high energy presentation that finds each member of the band giving hi best to the audience. The audience gives that energy back, too. Audiences can hear that as they listen to the concert from beginning to end.
Speaking of listening to the recording, that is all that audiences can do. This is its one downfall. It is being offered only on audio platforms rather than any full audiovisual presentations. It is available on CD, vinyl and through all digital outlets. Maybe the band only recorded it on audio rather than any video. That would be understandable. However, if any video was recorded, it certainly would help enhance the concert experience, even being analog. With the technology that is available today, remastering would improve the quality of the video. No background on the concert’s recording was offered by Nuclear Blast so it is unknown if any video record was captured. To that end, the lack of any audiovisual presentation does detract from the engagement and entertainment but is not enough to doom the concert. It just would have really enhanced the experience.
Knowing that the concert’s general presentation is not enough to doom the whole, there is one more positive to note. That positive is directly connected to the general presentation. It is the recording’s production. The audio is relatively clear throughout the concert’s presentation. At the same time, audiences can hear something in the audio that generates a certain sense of nostalgia. It is something that comes through in listening closely to the recording. It is that subtle hint of static in the sound. It just makes for such a positive effect for audiences. Keeping that in mind, the overall audio proves just as impressive as the set list and the band’s performance thereof. Keeping that in mind, the overall presentation of this concert is successful for the most part.
The British Disaster: The Battle of ’89 Live at the Astoria, the latest live recording from Exodus, is a mostly successful new offering from the famed thrash metal outfit. Its success comes in part through its set list. The set list is a healthy representation of the band’s catalog at that point. The band’s performance of that set list adds to the enjoyment because of the high energy from the whole group. The one downside to the recording is that it is presented only through audio platforms. There is no audiovisual presentation. Whether the concert was originally recorded through video is anyone’s guess. If not, then that lack is understandable. Otherwise, it would have been nice to have had that full audiovisual experience. That lack is not enough to doom the recording, though. The concert’s production makes the experience immersive enough as is. To that end, it helps the experience at least a little more. Keeping that in mind, the production, the band’s performance and the set list combine to make The British Disaster: The Battle of ’89 Live at the Astoria a mostly successful new live offering from Exodus and one more of this year’s top new live CDs.
The British Disaster: The Battle of ’89 Live at the Astoria is available now through Nuclear Blast. More information on the recording is available along with all of Exodus’ latest news at:
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