The New Exodus Album Will Feature Guest Appearances by Members of Metallica, Testament… and Gorillaz!

We’re a little more than a month away from the release of Blood In, Blood Out, Exodus’ first album with new-old vocalist Steve “Zetro” Souza since 2004’s Tempo of the Damned. Even though the albums Exodus made with Zetro’s successor, Rob Dukes, were all really good, the reunion alone will probably prompt more interest in Blood In, Blood Out than any of those releases, and I’m sure that Gary Holt’s position as Jeff Hanneman’s replacement in Slayer won’t hurt, either.

Also sure only to help: the trio of guests that will appear on the record. We already knew that Kirk Hammett, who left Exodus to join Metallica in 1983, will provide a guest solo on the album, but now the band has announced that Testament vocalist Chuck Billy will also lend a hand, as will producer Dan the Automator (né Nakamura, no “the”), who you probably know from Gorillaz. Yes, you read that correctly: Dan the Automator from Gorillaz is gonna be on the next Exodus record. Specifically, he’ll contribute “an industrial sound bed on the intro to the album opener ‘Black 13,’” according to a press release.

That’s obviously not the first person you’d expect to appear on an Exodus album (I would have bet good money on either Kerry King or Tom Araya showing up), which is precisely what makes it so interesting. Says Holt of the collaboration:

“[Dan and I] ran into each other a couple times. I knew what I wanted to hear and I knew he could do it, and could do it that day. So we sent him a file with the drums and guitars we already had there and just told him to go crazy with it.”

Well, color me curious!

Blood In, Blood Out will be released on October 14 via Nuclear Blast. The band hits the road with Slayer and Suicidal Tendencies starting in November; get dates here.