Exhorder’s Riffs Are so Technical, Even the Band Works Hard to Get Them Right

When Exhorder announced plans to reunite, fans were both excited and stunned. Since that initial 2008 announcement, they've played just two live shows and are now just getting serious about writing new music. While fans are clamoring for any news and music the band will produce, some are getting antsy and just want to know when they'll release their long overdue third studio release.

"It's been a long time coming. It's just been slow out of the gates. Everybody's schedules are a lot different than when we were 18-19 with nothing better to do, of course," laughs Kyle Thomas. The Exhorder frontman recently chatted with Noisecreep via phone from his home in Louisiana.

"I think maybe when we made our announcement, we might have jumped the gun a little because we weren't quite as ready as we are now. And that's why it's seemed why it's taken so long -- because in all honesty it has!"

For all the delays and missteps, the thrash metallers are now serious about a metal comeback and are working diligently to create songs laden with heavy riffs and the technical parts that Exhorder fans have come to expect from the band.

"It takes a long time for us to string our parts together," Thomas admits without any apologies. "You know, I'm not trying to toot our own horn -- I'll let the people that listen to our music do that -- but our songs are really complicated musically and not easy to play. And any musician worth their salt who knows our stuff will tell you that is true."

Thomas also says the riffing is so chaotic that even Exhorder guitarists Vinnie Labella and Jay Ceravolo have trouble getting all the parts at the right speed live. For Thomas, such technical ability is both "a gift and a curse."

Right now, Labella is actively writing riffs for Exhorder's new album before turning the tunes over to Thomas for lyrics. The band does not have a firm release date for their new album.