Exodus Bonded By Blood CD (Jewel Case, 1989, Combat)

Bonded by Blood is the legendary debut studio album by Bay Area thrash metal pioneers Exodus, and a cornerstone release in the foundation of extreme metal. Although recorded in the summer of 1984, the album’s release was delayed until 1985 due to label complications, a setback that did nothing to diminish its eventual impact. Instead, it emerged as one of the most influential thrash metal albums of all time, shaping the sound, speed, and aggression of the genre for decades to follow.

Released on Combat Records, this classic captures Exodus at their most raw and ferocious, delivering relentless riffing, breakneck tempos, and uncompromising intensity. Tracks such as “Bonded by Blood,” “A Lesson in Violence,” and “Strike of the Beast” have become genre-defining anthems, regularly cited as blueprints for thrash metal’s evolution.

This album holds additional historical importance as the only full-length Exodus studio album to feature original vocalist Paul Baloff, whose unhinged, snarling delivery became a defining trait of early thrash. Baloff also appeared on the band’s 1982 demo and later on the live album Another Lesson in Violence (1997), but Bonded by Blood remains his definitive recorded legacy.

Presented here in a classic jewel case CD format, this 1989 Combat Records pressing is an essential piece for collectors, longtime fans, and anyone seeking to understand the roots of American thrash metal. A timeless, aggressive, and uncompromising release, Bonded by Blood stands shoulder to shoulder with the genre’s most iconic albums.

Recommended if you like: Slayer, Megadeth, Testament, Overkill, Death Angel, Violence, Dark Angel, Kreator, Anthrax, Annihilator

Artist: Exodus
Title: Bonded By Blood
Label: Combat Records
Cat #: 9162122
Release Year: 1986 / 1989
Duration: Album
Format: CD
Packaging Type: Jewel Case

Track Listing:
1. Bonded By Blood
2. Exodus
3. And Then There Were None
4. A Lesson In Violence
5. Metal Command
6. Piranha
7. No Love
8. Deliver Us To Evil
9. Strike Of The Beast