In a surprising turn of events, the legendary thrash metal band EXODUS has announced a major lineup change. The San Francisco Bay Area icons have officially parted ways with longtime vocalist Steve “Zetro” Souza and welcomed back former frontman Rob Dukes. The proclamation, made on January 15, 2025, marks a new chapter for the band as they continue their legacy in the metal scene.
In a heartfelt statement shared on their social media platforms, EXODUS expressed gratitude for Souza’s contributions: “Announcement! EXODUS have parted ways with Steve ’zetro’ Souza. We thank Steve for his years fronting the band and all the killer music we made during that time. We wish him only the best in the future and much success with anything he does.”
The band also shared their excitement about Dukes’ return: “And please help us welcome Rob Dukes back to EXODUS! We are beyond stoked to have Rob back ripping up the stage with us, and he’s looking forward to crushing everything like only he can. Next chapter begins, new record rolls along as planned, and the beatings will continue. See you soon, EXODUS.”
Rob Dukes, who first joined EXODUS in 2005, is no stranger to the band’s high-energy performances and relentless sound.During his initial tenure, he contributed to four studio albums: “Shovel Headed Kill Machine” (2005), “The Atrocity Exhibition…Exhibit A” (2007), “Let There Be Blood” (2008), and “Exhibit B: the Human condition” (2010). His return has sparked excitement among fans eager to see how his signature style will shape the band’s future.
In a candid interview on the “Loaded Radio” podcast in June 2022, Dukes reflected on his previous departure from the band. “When EXODUS fired me, it took me about a year to not be angry about it. It was unexpected — I didn’t see it coming — and it was a hard time in life. I’d just moved; I’d just gotten married. It was a heavy burden,” he shared. “About a year later, after Gary [[Holt, EXODUS guitarist]called me and we spoke, they flew me up to San Francisco, and I sat down with them. We laid it out on the table. And it made it better — just to clear the wreckage of that. I moved on with my life, and they moved on with theirs.”
Dukes emphasized that he no longer harbors resentment about the past. “[[EXODUS]was definately a part of my life,but I don’t rely on it,” he said. “So I just move forward. But our friendship is good, man. After Tom [[Hunting,EXODUS drummer]got sick [with cancer in early 2021],we were talking the entire time,and I was aware of his situation. When the time was right, after he had done some chemo sessions and was feeling a little better, I flew up and spent a couple of days with Tom. I saw Gary,and I went and had lunch with lee [[altus,EXODUS guitarist].”
He added, “Look, man, we lived together for 10 years. That bond is very challenging to break. Especially when the reason I got fired, it wasn’t personal; it was business. I took it personally in the beginning. But this is a harsh business, man, and there’s a lot of fucking snakes out there and a lot of weird people who want their little piece.”
With Dukes back in the fold, EXODUS is poised to continue their reign as one of thrash metal’s most influential acts. Fans can expect new music and electrifying live performances as the band embarks on this exciting new era. Stay tuned for updates as EXODUS prepares to unleash their next chapter of sonic brutality.
Rob Dukes Reflects on His Time with EXODUS: A Story of Passion,Conflict,and Growth
rob Dukes,the former frontman of thrash metal legends EXODUS,has opened up about his tumultuous exit from the band,shedding light on the personal and professional challenges he faced during his tenure. Known for his raw energy and unfiltered honesty, Dukes’ journey with EXODUS was marked by creative highs, internal conflicts, and a dismissal that left him reeling.
A Rocky Departure
Dukes’ departure from EXODUS in 2014 came as a shock,especially given the timing. At 47 years old, he had just married five days prior and relocated from his lifelong home in New York to Arizona. The move was a leap of faith, as he knew only one person in the area—Roger Miret of AGNOSTIC FRONT.”I remember telling my wife, ‘We’re gonna be okay. It’s fine.we’re fine. I’ll sell my car. And that’ll get us, like, a year rent, and we’ll be okay. I’ll figure it out. We’ll be okay.’ But in my head, I was fucking terrified,” Dukes admitted.
He felt the band had taken something from him that he had earned and deserved.Though, with time, Dukes came to see the situation differently. “Looking back on it, it was all for the best,” he reflected.”It was just business.”
Creative Tensions and Unwavering Honesty
Dukes’ time with EXODUS wasn’t without its creative tensions. While he praised the band’s work, especially the track ”BTK,” which he called “killer,” he also voiced concerns about the direction of their music. “I don’t wanna shit on it, but some of it just seemed regurgitated. I was, like, ‘This song sounds like that song,’ and, ‘This song sounds like this song,’ and it started to weigh on me,” he said.
his candid nature often put him at odds with the band. “I could have just kept my mouth shut and just played the game and not rocked the boat, but it wasn’t my nature. My nature was, ‘No, man. We’re better than this. We need to top ourselves over the last thing we did,'” Dukes explained. He felt the band’s work was declining, a sentiment that didn’t sit well with his bandmates.
Conflict with Management
One of the most significant points of contention arose when TESTAMENT singer Chuck Billy was brought in to manage EXODUS. Dukes questioned the decision, seeing it as a potential conflict of interest. “I said this to Chuck, to his face. I said, ‘You’re telling me, if you get an opportunity, you’re not gonna have TESTAMENT [take the gig]; you’re gonna give EXODUS the gig? Get the fuck outta here, dude! I wouldn’t do that, so I no you’re not gonna do that,'” Dukes recalled.
His outspokenness led to tension within the group. “Everyone was mad at me, ’cause the boys don’t like confrontation,” he said. despite the friction, Dukes remained committed to his craft, giving his all on vocals and striving to push the band forward.
A Return to the Stage
In 2017, three years after his dismissal, Dukes reunited with EXODUS for a performance at The Chapel in San Francisco. The show marked the band’s first headlining club gigs in the Bay Area as 2013. For Dukes, it was a moment of closure and a chance to reconnect with the music and fans he loved.
Lessons Learned
Looking back, Dukes acknowledges the challenges but also the growth that came from his time with EXODUS. “I felt like [the EXODUS guys] took something from me that I earned, that I deserved. but I was looking at it wrong,” he said.His journey serves as a reminder of the complexities of creative collaboration and the importance of staying true to oneself, even in the face of adversity.
Today, Dukes continues to channel his passion into music, carrying with him the lessons learned from his time with one of thrash metal’s most iconic bands.
Rob Dukes Reflects on His Time with EXODUS and the Making of “Blood In Blood Out”
Rob Dukes, former vocalist of the legendary thrash metal band EXODUS, recently opened up about his tumultuous journey with the band and the creation of their 2014 album, “Blood In Blood Out”. In a candid conversation, Dukes shared his gratitude, frustrations, and the lessons he learned during his tenure with the group.
“I didn’t deserve anything. I didn’t earn anything. I was grateful to be there. And I tried to do the right thing,” Dukes reflected. “I remember writing a statement and putting it out there. I was grateful — I was grateful for going to over a hundred countries in my lifetime, playing in front of the millions of people that I got to play over 10 years. I was grateful for every opportunity that was given to me; I was honestly grateful. But also, I was angry, and I had every right to be angry. But I wasn’t able to see it for what it was until a year later — it took me a year.”
The Producer Debate: A Missed Opportunity?
Dukes expressed regret about not being more vocal during the early stages of the album’s production. He believes the band could have benefited from bringing in an outside producer to refine their sound. “The truth was that my part in it, had I been honest from the beginning and I had said — ’cause there were times when I didn’t wanna rock the boat — ’We are making fucking mistakes. And if you guys all wanna go to this next level that you all talk about, then let’s put our fucking money where our mouth is and change it the way we’re doing it,'” he said.
He specifically mentioned producers like Colin Richardson and Zeuss (Chris Harris) as potential game-changers for the album.”Nothing against Andy, but if we bring in Colin Richardson, bring in fucking Zeuss, bring in somebody [from] outside the game who had his own ideas of looking at things and maybe corral some of the chaotic stuff that was going on,” Dukes explained. “Let producers do what they do… I thought it would have been awesome for somebody like Colin Richardson or Zeuss to come in and take Gary Holt [EXODUS guitarist and main songwriter] and sit him down and go, ‘This is awesome. But we can make this better.Let’s try this and try that.'”
Reconciliation and Moving Forward
Despite the challenges, Dukes holds no ill will toward his former bandmates. Actually, he expressed relief at how things ultimately unfolded. “I was glad that everything worked out the way it did.And I was glad that Gary called me a year later and I spoke with him,” he shared. “And he was legitimately sorry; I knew he was. And he said, ‘I want you to come to San Francisco.’ and then I was, like, ‘Well, how does Zet feel?’ And he goes, ‘it was Zet’s idea.'”
Addressing Vocal Criticisms
Dukes also addressed the criticism surrounding his vocal performance on early versions of “Blood In Blood Out”. Some fans speculated that his heart wasn’t in the project, but Dukes vehemently denies this. “That assumption has been said to me a bunch of times,” he said. “Even Lee has said, he goes, ‘Your heart wasn’t in it.’ And my ego, which I don’t have a big ego — it’s not like I’m an egotistical dick — but I can tell you that when I was on the microphone, I was giving my best, I was giving all I had.”
He attributed the perceived lack of inspiration to the rushed nature of the songwriting process. “What I felt inside was that the songs weren’t as good. To me, they felt rushed. I felt some of the lyrics felt rushed,” dukes admitted. “Me and Gary look at music very differently, and I think that’s why we kind of worked. Gary will write the lyrics before he writes the music, and he fits it in, where I write the music, write the melody and then fill in the words to the melody.”
Dukes recalled a moment during recording when he noticed similarities between tracks. “It’s hard to say it without sounding like a dick, but it was very… I remember singing one song and going, ‘Dude, this is that other song.’ And then, hearing the lead, going, ‘That’s the lead from that other song.’ and I think that alone, trying to take my ego out of it, maybe my heart wasn’t it.I wish that it was.”
Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead
Reflecting on his time with EXODUS, Dukes emphasized the importance of honesty and collaboration in creative endeavors. While he acknowledges the challenges,he remains grateful for the experiences and the relationships he built along the way. His story serves as a reminder that even in the face of adversity, growth and reconciliation are possible.
As for the future, Dukes continues to explore new musical ventures, carrying with him the lessons learned from his time with one of thrash metal’s most iconic bands. Fans of EXODUS and Dukes alike can appreciate the candid insights he shared,offering a deeper understanding of the complexities behind the music they love.
the creative Process Behind the Music: A Candid Reflection
For any artist, the creative process is a deeply personal journey. It’s a blend of passion, precision, and sometimes, frustration. In a recent candid reflection, Dukes, a seasoned musician, opened up about the challenges he faced during a particular recording session. His words offer a rare glimpse into the complexities of artistic collaboration and the high standards artists set for themselves.
“I knew I was giving all I could, but the factors against me were that I didn’t think the material was as strong as what we had already done,” Dukes shared. “I wanted it to be better. It’s like setting a bar for yourself and then not meeting that measure.”
He went on to explain how the absence of a key collaborator, Andy Sneap, impacted the process. “As much as I love Jack,he wasn’t Andy Sneap. Working with Andy, there was something about it that pulled the best out of me.”
Dukes recalled a conversation with Rob Halford, the iconic frontman of Judas Priest, about Andy’s meticulous approach. “He made me do 10 takes of each line. When you do that many takes, and then he pieces them together, you get back something and think, ‘Wow, that’s the way I sang that, huh? Cool.’ But no,it wasn’t. It was the way Andy put it together. Suddenly, you have a template. ‘Now I’m gonna do that live, because that’s better.’ Andy knew what he was doing. but without him,it felt raw. It made me a little disheartened.”
Dukes emphasized the trust he had developed with Andy over two albums.“No matter the template, I knew Andy would make me do it the right way. This time, it wasn’t the same.”
Today, Dukes has found a new rhythm in life, far from the recording studio. He resides in Arizona, where he works as a mechanic specializing in car restoration. It’s a different kind of craft, but one that still demands precision and passion.
Announcement!
EXODUS have parted ways with Steve “Zetro” Souza. We thank Steve for his years fronting the band and all…
Posted by Exodus on Wednesday, January 15, 2025
