As BLABBERMOUTH.NET first reported yesterday, legendary New Orleans metallers EXHORDER — cited by many as the originators of the riff-heavy power-groove approach popularized by PANTERA (photo) — have reunited and are working on new material.

The group's 2008 lineup is as follows:

Kyle Thomas - Vocals
Vinnie Labella - Guitar
Jay Ceravolo - Guitar
Chris Nail - Drums

Vinnie Labella has now issued the following update on the band's reunion plans:

"Isn't it amazing what just sheer persistence will get ya these days? Well, you asked for it and you definitely waited long enough for it and now you got it. I thought I would never utter these words again but here they are — EXHORDER is officially back in business! Hmmmm, that shit sounded good.

"After tossing this around for quite some time, we actually just decided to do this less than a week ago, so at this time we have no real direction on what we want to do as far as shows, tours, albums etc. As of right now, the first step is to get a new bass player and get back to rehearsing (Sparcello [former EXHORDER bassist Franky Sparcello] is currently incarcerated).

"This will probably be a slow process, and you've waited a long time already, but your patience will be rewarded, and as you already know we never disappoint.

"I don't like the word 'fan.' Never have. EXHORDER never did have fans. Instead you've all been friends and family in our eyes and me and the rest of the guys would like to thank all of you for keeping us in your hearts for all these years. It is for and because of YOU that we do this again!

"Now, enough of all this sentimental bullshit, we got work to do. We'll keep you posted.

"Buckle up, muthafuckas... we're back!"

As previously reported, Poland's Metal Mind Productions will re-release the two albums (1990's "Slaughter in the Vatican" and 1992's "The Law") from EXHORDER on May 19 in Europe (July 8 in the USA via MVD). Each limited-edition digipack title (limited to 2,000 copies) will be made available on golden disc, digitally remastered using 24-bit technology.

Rare video footage of EXHORDER putting the finishing touches on their classic debut album, "Slaughter In The Vatican", in August 1990 at Morrisound Recording in Tampa, Florida can be viewed below.

Several live video clips from EXHORDER's 1998 reunion show have been posted online. These three clips are from August 14, 1998 and were filmed at a club called Zeppelin's in Metairie, Louisiana (although the clips are labeled "NOLA"). This was the second appearance they made as the reunited EXHORDER (the first was at Tipitana's in New Orleans a few weeks earlier). The band got up and did these three songs after Kyle Thomas' band FLOODGATE finished their set that night. Watch the clips at YouTube:

"Homicide" (video)
"Anal Lust" (video)
"Legions of Death" (video)

EXHORDER's lineup that night was as follows:

Kyle Thomas - Vocals
Vinnie Labella - Guitar
Jay Ceravolo - Guitar
Chris Nail - Drums
Kevin Thomas (Kyle's brother) - Bass