New supergroup Beloved Ghouls have released their debut single, “Terrorized.” The group is officially made up of ex-Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo and Exodus guitarist Gary Holt, and this single features Touché Amoré vocalist Jeremy Bolm and Sepultura vocalist Derrick Green. 

Estradasphere/Secret Chiefs 3 guitarist Jason Schimmel is also credited for providing keyboards and Jeff Johnson is credited with playing bass. It was produced by Ross Robinson, who is known for discovering artists like Glassjaw, Korn, Limp Bizkit and Slipknot, and producing for Sepultura, Touché Amoré and many more. Punk producer Steve Evetts did the mixing.

“Terrorized” is a technically complex track that alternates between screamed vocals on the verses and a clean vocal melody for the chorus. It begins with some heavy crossover thrash guitar riffage, but soon switches up the pace to something even faster and continues to keep listeners on their toes. Halloween-ready lyrics sing of sinister forces of evil and torture tactics among more abstract phrases.

The group will allegedly come together every Halloween. This year, all proceeds from sales will go to NIVA’s Save Our Stages Fundraiser. Robinson talked about the track and the cause, “Beloved Ghouls are all lifers who live to give back to the music that gave us all so much. Hopefully this track resonates for you like it did for each of us while making it. Just laughing and being fully stoked while swimming in our thrash metal roots… we are all excited to donate to Save Our Stages, it’s such an important cause. We must work to keep our music venues alive.”

Holt posted about the track on Instagram, and mentioned that it was originally shelved eight years ago, “Eight full years ago, myself, @davelombardo and @derrickgreenofficial got together with @ross_robinson and made some music. It sat in the can this entire time, and was never used for its original purpose, but here it is!! @belovedghouls are proud to release this song, ‘Terrorized’ crushing spooky and the only time the four of us have released ANYTHING together!!”

Green also commented on it, saying “It brought me an overwhelming amount of joy to collaborate with friends and colleagues who I have great admiration for to create such a kick ass song. Truly a remarkable experience that I’m thankful to be a part of.”

Lombardo has been especially prolific this year. He joined Mr. Bungle to re-record The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo along with Anthrax’s Scott Ian. He also provided drums for an accompanying soundtrack to DC’s Dark Nights: Death Metal short film, announced a new project called Satanic Planet, and appeared on some quarantined covers, including one of Dead Kennedy’s “Police Truck” with Exodus’ Steve Sousa and ex-Machine Head guitarist Phil Demmel.

Mr Bungle frontman Mike Patton revealed that one of Lombardo’s other bands, Dead Cross, are working on a new album. Lombardo’s Suicidal Tendencies bandmate Ra Diaz had likewise been playing on a lot of quarantine covers this year, most recently Kiss’ “C’mon and Love Me.”

Holt was one of the early cases of celebrities contracting COVID-19, in March. Besides playing in Exodus since 1982, he joined Slayer in 2013 until they disbanded last year. Reportedly, Slayer’s lead guitarist Kerry King and drummer Paul Bostaph are working on King’s post-Slayer solo album.

Sepultura released their latest album, Quadra, in February this year. In Spring, they started a livestream tour series, including performances with Scott Ian and Devin Townsend.

Touché Amoré just released their latest album, Lament, earlier this month. It was also produced by Robinson.

Photo credit: Marv Watson