EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt has offered new insight into the recent departure of longtime frontman Steve “Zetro” Souza, revealing that the singer’s deep unhappiness off stage was affecting the band’s morale prior to his exit.
Speaking with veteran Serbian journalist Jadranka Janković Nešić ahead of the band’s June 16 performance at SKCNS Fabrika in Novi Sad, Serbia, Holt candidly addressed Zetro’s departure and the return of former vocalist Rob Dukes. The interview was conducted as EXODUS continues their spring/summer 2025 European tour.
While Holt made it clear there’s no bad blood between the band and Souza, he noted that the situation had become emotionally draining behind the scenes.
“He was not happy. He was very unhappy,” Holt said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “He was awesome on stage, awesome in the studio, great with the fans — no problems there. His voice was as great as ever. But it’s the time when you’re not on stage when it started bringing everybody’s spirits down.”
The guitarist emphasized the importance of camaraderie and maintaining a positive atmosphere, especially as the band members get older and the physical and emotional demands of touring increase.
“This is a hard job to do when you’re our age,” he explained. “Every single time I go to the airport to go on tour, I’m sad, ’cause I’m leaving my grandchildren, my kids, my wife, my house. But once I get out here, I’m with my brothers and I have fun. And if that part isn’t fun anymore, then none of it’s fun.”
Holt concluded by highlighting the renewed energy within the band since Rob Dukes rejoined: “We’re happy now. Rob’s here, and all five of us hang out and spend a lot of time together. We have a good time.”
In addition to discussing the lineup change, Holt also revealed that EXODUS has recorded 18 new songs for the follow-up to 2021’s Persona Non Grata. The band plans to release the material across two separate albums, giving themselves a head start on future projects.
“We kept writing and writing,” Holt said. “We had so much material that we just thought, let’s work extra hard now so when it’s time to think about another new album, we can relax a little bit… I wish we had 20 songs done, ’cause then I could go on vacation. I’ve never had one.”
Dukes first joined EXODUS in January 2005 and contributed to four 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 their classic 1985 album Bonded By Blood), and Exhibit B: The Human Condition (2010).
In June 2014, the thrash metal icons announced Dukes‘ departure and the return of his predecessor, Steve “Zetro” Souza, who had previously served as EXODUS‘s frontman from 1986 to 1993 and again from 2002 to 2004.
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