Exhorder have announced that drummer Sasha Horn has stepped away from the band. After more than eight years, two full-lengths, and relentless touring, Horn is leaving to focus on his personal life. Temporarily filling the seat will be Corey Pierce of God Forbid — a New Jersey thrash institution in his own right — as Exhorder prepares for "The Tour Of Unsound Minds" this coming month.
The Statement
The band posted a statement confirming the change earlier today:
"After more than eight years as the drummer for EXHORDER, Sasha Horn has decided to step away for the time being from the daily rock lifestyle to focus on his personal life. This decision does not impact our touring plans in any way, as we have been fortunate enough to secure the help of GOD FORBID legend Corey Pierce."
The band added that "The Tour Of Unsound Minds" will bring them to the eastern United States for the first time in 2026, and that the search for Horn's permanent replacement is underway.
Horn also issued a statement of his own — notably composed and clear-eyed:
"After eight and a half years, two albums, and countless touring cycles, it is time for me to permanently step away from my position at EXHORDER. All things have come to that split in the path. Best wishes to the guys moving forward. As for myself, I am in search of more time with family, continuing education, and a focus on my own personal creative endeavors. This is not a farewell, this is a time-out."
That last line is worth noting. "Not a farewell, this is a time-out." Horn isn't burning bridges — he's putting the drum kit in storage for now and leaving the door open. Whether that ever becomes a return is another question.
A Band in Transition
This is the second significant lineup departure for Exhorder in recent years. Guitarist Marzi Montazeri exited in 2022, not long before former Cannibal Corpse guitarist Pat O'Brien joined the fold. O'Brien made his live debut with Exhorder at the 2022 Maryland Deathfest. The result was Defectum Omnium, Exhorder's fourth album, which dropped in March 2024 via Nuclear Blast Records.
Defectum Omnium was a statement — 12 tracks, artwork by Travis Smith (Katatonia, Opeth), and a lineup built around Kyle Thomas, the band's founding vocalist and now its sole original member. Thomas has been the constant through every version of this band since Slaughter In The Vatican in 1990. That record, along with 1992's The Law, helped define the riff-heavy power-groove sound that Pantera would later popularize to a global audience. Exhorder's influence on the scene runs deeper than their commercial footprint suggests.
Fifth Album in Sight
The news here isn't just a drummer change. In their statement, Exhorder confirmed that the two-year touring cycle behind Defectum Omnium is complete, and that the band is now beginning work on their fifth studio album.
"Our canvas is clear and we are excited about following up with our fifth album's writing process," the statement reads.
That's the real story. New Exhorder is on the way. Whether it arrives with a permanent new drummer or gets pieced together with session players remains to be seen. What's certain is that Kyle Thomas isn't done, and the band has demonstrated a consistent ability to absorb lineup changes without losing the thread of what makes them Exhorder.
The rhythm of this band has been turbulent — original bassist Frankie Spеaring, original guitarist Vinnie LaBella (who departed in February 2020), Montazeri, and now Horn. Each exit tested the band's identity. Each time, they found a way forward. If anything, Defectum Omnium proved the current iteration isn't just surviving on legacy momentum — they can still write a record with teeth.
For now, Corey Pierce — who played drums for God Forbid through the bulk of their career and appeared on records like Gone Forever (2004) and Equilibrium (2012) — is a credible stopgap. The man can play.
Exhorder Tour
Exhorder will head out on "The Tour Of Unsound Minds" this April, hitting the eastern United States. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.
Defectum Omnium is available now via Nuclear Blast Records. Order via Amazon.
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