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Violence is all around us. While the fact remains that violence is negative, we still let it in to our lives to obliterate and destroy everything for which we work. Most of today's mainstream music is about money, relationships, love and sex, all wrapped up with a pink bow and card saying "everything will be alright, everything is gonna be OK, baby," and other stupefied notions of crap. Heavy Metal, a "side line" genre of music, is one of the few willing to step in and tell the truth. We are all corrupt, we lack values, and brother will kill brother over things like religion, material possessions, even parking spaces. Violence remains one of the most effective ways to get what we want.

Exodus weren't the first band to look violence in the face and have a chat with it. Many bands, not necessarily Metal bands, have talked about the same stuff. Yet Metal was first on the scene. Exodus use violence in their songwriting as a way to shock the listener, as well as turn the mirror back on us so we can see what we have become.

Their new album, and the second part of the exhibit show, Exhibit B: The Human Condition, is hard to comprehend, yet understandable in today's society. Lead guitarist Gary Holt assured us the album would be sick and he was right. From tales of brutal wars and sending young idealistic soldiers to fulfill heartless, dirty work to the execution of a student at school, this is the truth. Exodus are showing us a sick abyss, not a pink fantasy. This is not mere pessimism; it is a wakeup call for something to be done.

Handled by excellent producer Andy Sneap, the overbearing rage of Exodus continues with another high-powered attack. Guitars and bass provide the might while the drums kick in the back. The oblivious vocals of Rob Dukes maintain the frenzy of chaos. Sneap, well known in the Metal world as a big time producer, did an amazing job on Exhibit B: The Human Condition. Although there were hints of this sound on the last album, this new one is the strongest yet, and it fits well with the deadly themes of the lyrics.

Exodus has truly succeeded on this album, employing their old school, killing Thrash Metal style. Holt's heavy riffs and tight leads unmercifully punch your eardrums, although he has an aggravating habit of suffocating his guitar sound. For those who like to mosh and break some bones, Exhibit B: The Human Factor has what you are looking for, just try to keep it friendly as the message of the album is just the opposite.

Serious issues are presented on Exhibit B: The Human Factor, and through twelve songs, Exodus shows us how low we've sunk. Great songs like "Good Riddance," "Hammer and Life," "Class Dismissed (A Hate Primer)," "Nanking," "The Sun is My Destroyer" and "Burn Hollywood Burn" can only be described as flames, the flames of violence. The music sticks to the lyrics like super glue. The tough messages of "Class Dismissed" and "The Sun is My Destroyer" are about how we are molesting ourselves and creating a demonic future for mankind. The rest of the songs are good and tell stories of things we do not want, yet, sadly and unintentionally, welcome with open, bloodied arms.

The message on Exhibit B: The Human Factor is extreme but it is told in the right way. Beware of being too naïve. The rosy, "all right" dream is not always reality.