Salt The Wound

Album: Blood In, Blood Out (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Exodus founder member Kirk Hammett had played on a couple of the thrash band's demos, but had never made a proper recording with the group, before exiting them in 1983 to join Metallica. He put that right by contributing guitar to this track. "I got an email from [guitarist Gary Holt] about six months ago going, 'Hey, I hope you can lay down a sick solo on the new Exodus album,'" recalled Hammett to Billboard magazine. "I thought about it for about two seconds and I emailed him back, and I'm like, 'Yeah, man. I'm there.'"
  • When Hammett and Holt wrote music together in Exodus' early days, they would typically place two guitar solos next to each other. This is what they did for this track. "Ever since the beginning, when Gary started playing in the band, he and I have always tried to outdo each other," said Hammett with a chuckle. "At first I thought, 'This is really not that cool. I don't want to have to be worried about getting blown away,' but then I thought, 'Well, wait a second: This is actually bringing out the best in me. We're bringing out the best in each other.' That's how it was back then, and that's how it was when I got back into the studio."

    He continued: "I heard Gary's solo that he'd already put on [the album] and instantly started thinking, 'What can I do to blow his solo away?'"

    "At the end of the day, the two solos are super complementary to each other. You can tell who's playing what, and it's a great dynamic," Hammett concluded. "I'm so happy about it, so tickled. It's like coming back to a fraternity that you lost contact with." (For more on Exodus check out our interview with frontman Steve "Zetro" Souza.)

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Todd Rundgren

Todd RundgrenSongwriter Interviews

Todd Rundgren explains why he avoids "Hello It's Me," and what it was like producing Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell album.

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)Songwriter Interviews

Steve Cropper on the making of "In the Midnight Hour," the chicken-wire scene in The Blues Brothers, and his 2021 album, Fire It Up.

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman Jack

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman JackSong Writing

The story of the legendary lupine DJ through the songs he inspired.

Producer Ron Nevison

Producer Ron NevisonSong Writing

Ron Nevison explains in very clear terms the Quadrophenia concept and how Heart staged their resurgence after being dropped by their record company.