Before Metallica, There Was Exodus: The Full Story┃Documentary

The story of Exodus is one of the most legendary "what if" sagas in heavy metal history. Often hailed as the true architects of the Bay Area thrash scene, they were the band that helped a young Kirk Hammett and Gary Holt invent a genre in a California rehearsal room long before Metallica became a household name. This documentary explores the raw power and heart-breaking missed opportunities of their first five studio albums. Paul Baloff of Exodus appearances on Reality Check TV (Intro Clip) Watch the full tribute video on Reality Check TV here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9TSDmw4Nts Chapters: 00:00 The Ultimate "What-If" Story: Exodus vs. Metallica 01:03 1979: Kirk Hammett & Tom Hunting Form Exodus 01:42 NWOBHM Influences: Judas Priest & Iron Maiden 02:13 The Hidden Influence of UFO & Thin Lizzy 04:22 Meeting Gary Holt at Richmond High 05:26 Angel Witch: The Darkest Influence on Thrash 06:48 Scorpions & The First Hammett/Holt Concert 07:34 1982: The Birth of the Bay Area Demo Scene 09:23 Opening for Metallica & The "No Life 'Til Leather" Era 10:38 Dave Mustaine Fired: Metallica Scouts Hammett 11:35 "He Poured a Beer Over My Head": Kirk Leaves Exodus 12:12 Bonded by Blood (1985): A Delayed Masterpiece 14:37 From Legacy to Testament: Steve "Zetro" Souza Joins 15:15 The Tragic Downfall of Paul Baloff 16:20 Professionalism vs. Underground Credibility 18:03 Pleasures of the Flesh (1987) & Commercial Success 19:27 Fabulous Disaster: "Thrash with Class" 19:52 MTV’s Headbangers Ball & The Toxic Waltz 20:34 The Weird "Low Rider" Funk Cover 21:51 Tom Hunting Hospitalized & The Beginning of the End 22:27 The $1 Million Contract Battle with Combat Records 23:38 Impact is Imminent (1990) & The Megadeth Rivalry 24:52 The "Doomed" Capitol Records Deal 25:38 Losing the Painkiller Tour to Pantera 26:17 1991: How the Black Album Killed Thrash 27:01 Force of Habit & The Grunge Revolution 28:15 The End of Exodus: A Press Conference in Japan 29:07 Could Exodus Have Been in the "Big Four"? 30:30 Digital Immortality & Conclusion From the blood-soaked basement tapes of 1982 to the major-label chaos of the early 90s, we trace the band's journey through lineup shifts, record label wars, and the cruel timing of a changing industry. While their peers in the "Big Four" found global superstardom, Exodus faced a series of unlucky breaks—from the year-long delay of their definitive debut, Bonded By Blood, to losing a massive European tour with Judas Priest to a rising Pantera. You can support this channel and what I do by either subscribing for free, or signing up for am paid membership on either Patreon or right here on YouTube. Patreon Paid Membership - https://www.patreon.com/rawmusictv YouTube Paid Membership - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2xIdoggA4SBtZFP3kBsRoQ/join Follow the Official RAWMUSICTV IG https://www.instagram.com/rawmusictv/ Join the Discord https://discord.gg/xgVsmtBcvY 🎧Sennheiser 650 - Titan Dynamic Headphones https://amzn.to/4iBppN0 🎧JBL Tune Flex - True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds https://amzn.to/4gDJUXG Become an official member of my channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2xIdoggA4SBtZFP3kBsRoQ/join 𐕣Get the latest LUCIS design𐕣 https://www.tinyurl.com/Lucis666

Added 21 Aug 2026