Throughout an look on the newest episode of the “Rock And Roll Geek Present” podcast, which is hosted by former EXODUS bassist Michael Butler, EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt opened up in regards to the latest departure of singer Steve “Zetro” Souza. He stated (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “ Individuals ask [why we fired Zetro] — all people needs to know as a result of we have chosen to not inform anyone. All I ever inform individuals is, marriages do not typically work. And simply ‘trigger you’re a married couple out in public that appeared blissful, you do not know what is going on on at house. I do not if the spouse’s throwing frying pans at his head or he is fucking drunk out of his ass, fucking screaming at him and slapping the children. You do not know. Simply ‘trigger they exit in public and so they placed on a cheerful face.
“We have got nothing however respect for Zetro, and we have love [for him] and I am honored to have made some nice music [with him]. However I am additionally 60 years outdated, and the 5 of us have to be on the identical web page. And now we’re.”
After Butler advised that musicians generally have totally different personalities and “individuals can get in your nerves generally”, Holt clarified: “It isn’t even a matter of [anything] like that as a result of we all get on one another’s nerves. It is simply as you become old, this job, both you continue to find it irresistible or it turns into extremely troublesome… For me, [it’s] fucking not [difficult] in any respect. And so, for no matter our causes, 4 guys had a cause to do what we did.”
Requested if he personally referred to as Zetro to inform the singer he was fired, Gary responded: “I do not actually wanna go into all that. [Laughs] There is not any hate concerned. It is simply the fucking marriage did not work. Typically you get alongside together with your ex. Typically you do not hate your ex; you simply cannot be married to them anymore… Typically the spouse nonetheless likes him and he is father, however God, what a fucking crappy husband. Or what a nasty life. However she was good with the children and he or she’s a member of the PTA. Who fucking is aware of?
“What’s humorous is on-line individuals are developing with their conspiracy theories [about why Zetro was fired],” he continued. “It is like Pizzagate. It is fucking loopy. Like that it had one thing to do with that he simply received married. Like, ‘Rob Dukes received married proper when he received fired, and Zetro received married [before he got fired]. Hmm. Sample?’ Dude, I’ve received grandkids. Like I fucking have an issue with my singer being married. Fucking silly. I had one man, when it occurred, he received on my Instagram and he broke down his timeline of how we deal with singers. Properly, the very first thing he stated was, ‘Gary Holt‘s simply all in regards to the cash.’ And if you happen to fucking assume parting methods together with your singer is a fucking path to monetary safety, you are fucking excessive. What the fuck’s incorrect with you? After which he broke down his entire timeline. And I politely corrected his timeline for him. I do not reply to fucking individuals — I ain’t received time for — however the man goes, ‘Band hires Paul [Baloff]. Fires Paul.’ True. Paul was fired. Paul‘s life was a multitude. In hindsight, we later grew to become simply as large a multitude as he ever was. After which he stated, ‘Band hires singer, Steve Souza.’ And he goes, ‘Band fires Steve Souza.’ No, we broke up [after] ‘Pressure Of Behavior’. He goes, ‘Band rehires Paul Baloff. Band fires Paul Baloff.’ I am, like, ‘He fucking died. We did not fireplace him. He died.’ After which he stated, ‘Band hires Steve Souza. Band fires Steve Souza.’ No, he give up… In his eyes, we fired the lifeless man. And I used to be, like, ‘Simply fuck off,’ you recognize?, I politely stated, ‘Hey, buddy, let me right your timeline for you.’ I did not go, ‘Fuck you, dude.’ I simply stated, ‘Let me repair your timeline.’
“Individuals are dumb,” Holt added. “And I do not wish to be imply to individuals. I’ve performed silly shit myself. However individuals fucking create no matter theories they will give you of their little brains.”
Relating to why he and his EXODUS bandmates determined to carry singer Rob Dukes again to the group, Gary stated: “I am 60 years outdated. The thought of getting an unfamiliar individual within the band wouldn’t be an possibility… I believe all of us reached out after we grew to become obvious. And positive, I might have discovered some 30-year-old dude who might nonetheless soar off a drum riser and has washboard abs and isn’t all fats like the remainder of us. However I would like somebody who’s near my very own age. I am too outdated to have to love fucking educate some younger child on music that I like.”
Holt additionally talked in regards to the progress of the recording periods for EXODUS‘s follow-up to 2021’s “Persona Non Grata” album. He stated: “Personally, I’ve two extra songs of rhythm guitars to do. Lee [Altus, EXODUS guitarist] nonetheless has some. We’re actually racing, making an attempt to file two albums directly. Even when we do not end it, we’ll have the second album near prepared. Possibly we’ll must do some solos or vocals later, however we cannot have to do that entire course of once more. Now I am pondering, like, all proper, we’re gonna end the album, get the guitars and drums performed for album two. After which when it is time to consider releasing the album, we do not have to do that entire course of once more. Even earlier than then, when we have now a break, we will go and end these items in order that after we usually would begin recording an album, possibly I can lastly go on a trip. I by no means had one.”
When requested if all of the songs are written for each albums, Holt stated: “Yeah. Yeah. We have got a pair extra to complete, however we write and file by way of the entire course of. We do not cease. [Drummer Tom Hunting and I are writing it, along with] Lee. Lee‘s writing a complete lot of stuff for this file.
“Quite a lot of bands, they go in, the file’s performed, they do the drums, and the drums go away. And now we’re on the guitar stuff. However we do not do this anymore,” Gary defined. “We depart the drums up the entire time so we might write the entire time. As a result of generally our greatest stuff occurs on the finish. I simply completed a brand new [song] yesterday. It is simply essentially the most livid factor on the planet. It is fucking insane. This shit is fucking heavy. The one I wrote yesterday, Lee heard my little demo and he requested if I began icing my wrist down but. It is fucking heavy. However there’s some actually nice songs on it. It isn’t simply heavy. Proper now I believe we’re at 18 songs, with two extra to complete. That is two albums.
“I take a look at it like this: I am getting older,” Holt added. “And also you begin worrying about shit like mortality and if I fucking died. Between this album and the subsequent one, there’s Gary Holt‘s ultimate fucking launch and put some cash and earn some royalties for my grandkids and my youngsters and my spouse, as a result of, in fact, your albums promote higher once you’re lifeless.”
Souza joined EXODUS in 1986 after beforehand fronting the band LEGACY (which later grew to become TESTAMENT). He remained within the band till their hiatus in 1993, however rejoined them for 2 years from 2002 to 2004. Dukes had joined EXODUS in 2005 (following Souza‘s departure) and remained till 2014, when Souza rejoined.
When EXODUS introduced Souza‘s newest departure on January 15, the band wrote in an announcement: “We thank Steve for his years fronting the band and all of the killer music we made throughout that point. We want him solely the perfect sooner or later and far success with something he does.
“And please assist us welcome Rob Dukes again to EXODUS! We’re past stoked to have Rob again ripping up the stage with us and he is trying ahead to crushing all the pieces like solely he can.
“Subsequent chapter begins, new file rolls alongside as deliberate and the beatings will proceed.”
Dukes joined EXODUS in January 2005 and appeared on 4 of the band’s studio albums — “Shovel Headed Kill Machine” (2005),“The Atrocity Exhibition… Exhibit A” (2007),“Let There Be Blood” (2008, a re-recording of EXODUS‘s basic 1985 LP, “Bonded By Blood”) and “Exhibit B: The Human Situation” (2010).
Though EXODUS hardly ever will get talked about alongside the so-called “Large 4” of Nineteen Eighties thrash metallic — METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX — the band’s debut album, “Bonded By Blood”, impressed the likes of TESTAMENT, DEATH ANGEL, VIO-LENCE and plenty of others to launch their careers and is taken into account probably the most influential thrash metallic LPs of all time.