Former EXODUS singer Steve “Zetro” Souza has introduced the primary two U.S. reveals as a part of his celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the band’s 2004 album “Tempo Of The Damned”. Souzawill play at Piper’s in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on September 27 and on the Brass Mug in Tampa, Florida on September 28.
As beforehand reported, Souza will embark on a 10-date solo tour of Latin America in September 2025. The trek will kick off on September 4 in San José, Costa Rica and finish on September 14 in São Paulo, Brazil. In any respect the reveals, Souza will even carry out traditional songs from his different former bands TESTAMENT (Zetro was the lead vocalist for LEGACY, an early incarnation of TESTAMENT) and HATRIOT, in addition to the Bon Scott period of AC/DC.
Backing Souza on stage on the reveals — billed merely as ZETRO — would be the following musicians:
* Zakk Frye (SLIKK WIKKED) – Rythm Guitar/Backup Vocals
* Kyle Smith (SLIKK WIKKED) – Lead Guitar
* Andrew Dewar (VICIOUS INTENT) – Drums
* Donny “Loss of life” Weissinger (NASTY TRAST, HATE GRENADE) – Bass
Zetro spoke about what followers can count on from his return to the stage on a latest episode of his Zetro’s Poisonous Vault YouTube collection during which he’s joined by his longtime pal and co-host Walter Morgan, Zetro. He mentioned: “I agreed to go to South America by myself advantage, as Zetro, not as any band that I performed with earlier than. Form of like [Ronnie James] Dio or Ozzy [Osbourne]. I by no means checked out myself like that, to be sincere with you. I all the time felt extra snug in a band. However as issues play out, this type of performed out in direction of my favor and to do that. And I am sort of glad I did, as a result of really the suggestions that I am getting from it’s actually, actually optimistic, and lots of people within the trade that know me, and [who] I do not assume have been essentially proud of the best way issues performed out earlier this 12 months [after Zetro was fired from EXODUS] are actually pulling for me, which is admittedly good.”
Relating to what songs he’ll carry out on the upcoming tour, Zetro mentioned: “I am not gonna do any TENET. And I am not doing any DUBLIN DEATH PATROL. So let’s simply get that out. The TENET report — in the event you guys love the TENET report ‘Sovereign’ that got here out in 2009 — it was myself, Jed Simon, Byron Stroud, Gene Hoglan and Glen Alvelais, we’re not doing any of these songs, as a result of I wanna do TENET once more. I want to play some live shows with these guys, so I felt that I actually did not wanna exploit that by enjoying these songs. Principally, what I’ll be enjoying is TESTAMENT [material from the] LEGACY [days], as a result of, once more, I would like you guys to know — I by no means performed in TESTAMENT; I solely performed in LEGACY. They turned TESTAMENT after I used to be out of the band. I do know they’re TESTAMENT songs now, however they have been LEGACY songs earlier than and songs that I wrote and really recorded. So I really feel very snug enjoying these. And, clearly, I will be enjoying EXODUS stuff as effectively. What I will not be enjoying of EXODUS — I can’t be enjoying any ‘Bonded By Blood’, and I can’t be enjoying any of Rob‘s [Dukes] period songs.”
Zetro continued: “I’ve so many songs in my very own catalog and songs which have by no means been performed reside or it has been — what? — 35 years since they have been performed or longer. There’s songs on this record that I’ve by no means performed reside earlier than. So I assumed that as a substitute of supplying you with guys the identical present you may need seen earlier than, I’m making an attempt to provide you a unique present, one thing whenever you come and see my band play, you may hear the songs you will not essentially hear in the event you go see EXODUS — or possibly even TESTAMENT. I do know Chuck [Billy, TESTAMENT singer] performs among the [early] songs generally, like he’ll do an album in its entirety and stuff, after which they’re going to get performed, however the songs, clearly, that I’ve picked, you guys have by no means heard me sing ’em earlier than aside from on the LEGACY demo. In order that’s gonna be quite a lot of enjoyable. And once more, songs that I’ve by no means performed, I feel. I feel there’s a few them on there which can be absolute surprises that I do not assume the band ever performed them, and I do know we did not play them in South America. So if I am wanting on the songs that we’re going to play, there’s possibly, possibly 4 that you have heard me sing reside, possibly. I can not keep in mind. I do know we have been going to South America loads since I rejoined EXODUS again in 2014, and we have performed a number of units down there. However taking a look at it, I am gonna say possibly 4 songs that you simply would possibly’ve heard. The remaining you have by no means heard me sing earlier than.”
Steve added: “I needed to do this anyway. I’ve such an enormous catalog of songs by way of my EXODUS years, and I needed to play a few of these songs, among the songs that both the band by no means performed or doesn’t play anymore. And so they’re good songs, and so they’re heavy. And it is one thing I needed to do.”
As for the opportunity of writing and recording new music, Zetro mentioned: “I’ve to be sincere. Proper now I sort of do not need to. There’s so many songs in my catalog that I may play that you simply’d reasonably hear, in my eyes, than going out and making an attempt to jot down a Dio report or an Ozzy report or a Zetro report. Proper now anyway, that is what I wanna do. That would change.
“Once more, I’ve mentioned this 100 occasions, my catalog with EXODUS and with TESTAMENT and HATRIOT, and if I began enjoying some DUBLIN DEATH PATROL songs and even TENET songs, these are 5 bands which have all carried out issues,” he added. “And one other factor. I’ve carried out an AC/DC tribute since 2009. It is a good probability you are gonna hear some AC/DC. So I am making it enjoyable. I am gonna make it enjoyable.”
As for what number of tracks can be in his set, Zetro mentioned: “17 songs, I feel. I would say 16 or 17 songs. Among the songs are lengthy, so I am gonna say 90 minutes, or it must be near 90 minutes. So we’ll see what occurs with that. Possibly we’ll add extra. I do not know. I doubt it. What I needed to do is focus on these songs which were chosen and those that we’re gonna play. And I really need them to be completely tight and completely carried out like they sound on the report. My complete take is in the event you make the songs sound like they sound on the report, you have carried out every part you are able to do to carry them throughout. Vocally, and I will be sincere with you, I sang one of the best I’ve ever sung on that final [EXODUS] tour I did [in late 2024] with HAVOK. I used to be on fireplace vocally. And I feel quite a lot of [that has to do with] me holding my weight down and that form of factor. I stroll six miles each morning. I began enjoying pickleball the opposite day.
“I do know that I am 61,” Zetro added. “I do know that point, it is creeping on me, however I see quite a lot of artists exit and I cringe after I see them carry out as a result of it is simply so terrible. It is simply terrible and possibly time to hold it up. And if I felt that means about myself, effectively, I would not be doing this as a result of I am the primary one to throw the stone at that. However I feel there’s quite a lot of validity right here. And once more, if this continues, like, okay, for instance, if we return to South America, say we do very well and subsequent 12 months they wanna carry us again or no matter, I am altering the songs. I am altering all of the songs, in order that possibly one or two I will depart in there. However that is why I am doing this — I wanna play among the songs that I recorded over time that I by no means, ever, ever acquired to play reside.”
SLIKK WIKKED is a steel/thrash band that was began in 2013 by Zakk Frye in Rochester, New York. Since then, they’ve launched two EPs, together with the thrash anthem “Black Wind Of Loss of life”, adopted by the full-length album “Savage”, all of which can be found on YouTube and Bandcamp. Zakk additionally owns and runs tenth Ward Productions, the staff serving to carry Zetro again to the plenty.
Zakk informed BLABBERMOUTH.NET: “We can be performing a full 90-minute set of all of the deep classics from EXODUS and TESTAMENT/LEGACY. And likewise ripping tunes from HATRIOT and even AC/DC. This can be an action-packed balls-to-the-wall steel present for all Zetro followers. They won’t need to miss this.”
Any venues enthusiastic about reserving Zetro dates can contact Zakk Frye at tenth Ward Productions through [email protected].
Seven months in the past, it was introduced that EXODUS had parted methods with Souza and had welcomed again Rob Dukes.
Souza joined EXODUS in 1986 after beforehand fronting the band LEGACY (which, as acknowledged above, later turned TESTAMENT). He remained in EXODUS till their hiatus in 1993, however rejoined them for 2 years from 2002 to 2004. Dukes turned the singer of EXODUS in 2005 (following Souza‘s departure) and stayed till 2014, when Souza returned.
Souza mentioned his most up-to-date cut up with EXODUS throughout a earlier episode of Zetro’s Poisonous Vault. Addressing the explanations for his departure, Zetro mentioned partly: “I have been doing this since 1986 —1986, in June, I joined EXODUS for the very first time. I used to be 22 years outdated. I am now 61. So to have sort of a rollercoaster journey in music has really been sort of thrilling,. It saved my life going. Sure issues occur and sure issues go on, and also you sort of need to take care of them as they occur, like something.”
Clarifying that he “didn’t give up” EXODUS and “was let go”, Souza continued: “I do not learn a lot of what goes on the Web. With no disrespect to anyone, I do not give a fuck what anyone thinks about me or what you say… However I used to be made privy by my son of one thing Gary [Holt, EXODUS guitarist and main songwriter] had responded to me saying that I did not give up; I used to be let go. And I’ve to agree along with his analogy. Being in a band is like a wedding — it actually is — and the wedding was over. And it was. Now, I used to be by no means gonna give up, which means possibly I assume I might by no means depart the wedding, for no matter motive. However I really assume that it was in all probability the proper factor for me particularly, and I hope it is the proper factor for them as effectively.”
Relating to his mindset after his newest departure from EXODUS, Souza mentioned: “Folks have been calling me — my mates and my household — asking me if I used to be okay. And I used to be effective. I used to be, like, ‘I am nice.’ I am actually, actually glad and extra content material. And once more, we’re in April now, and this went down in January. And truly, I knew in December — I knew earlier than anyone knew, earlier than it was introduced. And I used to be cool with it.”
Talking on to the EXODUS followers, Zetro mentioned: “I am gonna miss you guys. I actually am. However for me, my life has modified loads. What I favored after I was youthful in my twenties and my thirties are usually not essentially what I am into anymore. I really like my household. I imply, I got here residence and acquired married to Vickie, who I have been with for 17 years, and he or she is the love of my life. And you understand how onerous it’s to go away from the love of my life at this level, at 61 years outdated for 5 weeks, six weeks at a time? It wasn’t simple for me, though it might not have proven on stage, and it positively did not present after I was with you guys, with you followers, and anyone that approached me as a result of I might by no means need anybody to have an terrible expertise with me. However I feel it was time, truthfully.
“I had informed Gary, and I informed them that I want to do that until I used to be 70 and possibly not rather more than that, however I feel behind my thoughts I feel I used to be sort of already carried out with the rigorous lifetime of touring, ‘trigger it’s extremely demanding,” Souza admitted. “And the enterprise does not care about what you will have occurring. [I’ll] provide you with an instance — in 2016, my mom died and I used to be in El Salvador on tour. I ought to have been at her bedside, however I wasn’t, as a result of I had to do that. I’ve had canine move. I’ve missed graduations from my youngsters. Any musician that has been in my place can completely relate with this, as a result of it’s a part of it. And quite a lot of occasions individuals do not essentially consider that. After which there’s the blokes, there’s the musicians that basically like to do that, and so they’ll exit and so they’ll hit it onerous. They’re going to go from one factor to a different.”
Elaborating on his causes for desirous to spend much less time on the street, Zetro mentioned: “I’ve modified over the previous few years, even within the final 10 years since I have been again. And I feel I am extra enthusiastic about what is going on on in my home and round what I am doing right here. I wish to see my canine daily. I’ve three pugs that completely love. I’ve a grandson now. I by no means get to see them. I wanna see my spouse daily. I wanna sleep in my mattress daily. It has been one thing that mentally has gone on and adjusted. However once more, I might’ve by no means give up as a result of I am not a quitter in that kind of respect. Everyone’s, ‘Oh, effectively, you give up in 2004.’ No, I needed to depart the band as a result of I had a union job, three little children and a spouse, and I used to be making an attempt to stability working as a foreman, as a union job, being a father, teaching baseball and soccer, and being a husband and enjoying in EXODUS, and I could not stability all three. The factor that I cherished essentially the most was enjoying in EXODUS, however, sadly, it couldn’t handle my spouse and my children and ballerina signups, baseball signups. The enterprise wasn’t paying that a lot on the time, so I wanted to go and handle my household… So coming again into the band in 2014, children are grown, I am set in my job. I used to be very, very excited. And once more, I had a extremely good time during the last 10 years enjoying within the band. And it was a kind of issues that I’ve to say I am sort of glad that I’ve ended up the place I am at proper now, I do not like airports anymore. I do not like sleeping on the tour bus anymore… So I am not saying that this was a choice that I might’ve made, however I am saying for myself and to have a number of months to take a look at it, it was positively the proper resolution.”
Souza went on to say that EXODUS followers ought to proceed to assist the band now that Dukes has returned to the group.
“I have a look at it now as, what about all you guys which can be massive followers of Rob‘s period? Simply assume — now you get to return again and see Rob possibly for the subsequent 10 years and see him proceed on,” Zetro mentioned. “So in the event you have been followers of his period, such as you have been followers of my period, or each eras — I do know there’s a few of you [that are] ‘I am [Team] Zetro‘ or ‘I am [Team] Rob‘, or no matter, ‘I am cool with no matter EXODUS does,’ I get it. And I completely perceive that, and I respect each one in all you for these issues. However now possibly for the final a part of the band they get to take pleasure in Rob and Rob‘s period of the band. I imply, Gary‘s gonna proceed to jot down music and report music. And Gary Holt does not know how you can write a shitty riff. Okay? So that you EXODUS followers know what you are gonna get from that, and that is what I’ve to say.”
Souza additionally addressed the opportunity of one other reunion with EXODUS down the road, saying: “Will I ever grace the stage with them? No, positively not. I feel it has been carried out. This was the third time that I had joined the band, so I feel it could be a bit redundant to strive to do that or do that once more. So simply so that you guys wanna know, I’ve no need to do this ever once more. It has been carried out. In case you noticed my final live performance in Los Angeles on the Regent [in December 2024], then you definitely actually noticed the final live performance that Zetro will ever sing with EXODUS.”
Zetro added that he went out on high, each in time period of his reside efficiency with EXODUS and his relationship with the band’s followers.
“In case you noticed us on the final tour with HAVOK, then, truthfully, I used to be singing higher than I’ve ever sung by way of the years,” Souza mentioned. “So I do not really feel that it was one thing that, vocally… I did my job — I did my job fairly effectively — and even they’re going to inform you that. And the followers, you guys know that I carry it. Each time I come, I carry it. And that is simply the best way it’s. And in the event you walked as much as me for an image or an autograph, I by no means would say no and I’ve by no means pushed you guys away. I might hang around and speak to you about stuff. What number of of you followers have hung out after the present speaking to me about no matter? Horror, motion pictures, steel sports activities, no matter. I will sit on the market and speak to you guys ‘trigger I’ve by no means thought of myself above anyone.”
Requested what particularly he did not take pleasure in concerning the touring way of life, Zetro mentioned: “An excessive amount of time within the day. Ready to attend. It is quite a lot of ready. Going to an airport, ready 4 hours for the flight, getting on the flight for 5 hours, attending to the place you have gotta go. Then you will have one other six-hour layover earlier than you will have one other five-hour flight. And line one, line two, safety this, safety that. I haven’t got the persistence for that anymore. The bus — I do know this sounds very pompous. I used to be very lucky to get to tour in a bus. I do know bands that don’t tour in buses… However for me, the bunk began to be very, very uncomfortable. And the one time I may get in there was after I actually needed to sleep. However as quickly as I awoke, I acquired up. So there’s an excessive amount of time in a day so that you can go to museums or comedian bookstores or me to go purchase toys and no matter I do on the street. It’s simply quite a lot of downtime, and I really feel as now 61 years outdated, I wanna do different issues in that downtime. And I do not wanna be doing this, and rapidly I find yourself getting sick or my spouse find yourself getting sick and one in all my youngsters, and I’ve to return residence and I’ve acquired six months to reside, or they have six months to reside and I’ve missed all of this with them and I missed all of it. I do not need to do this anymore. I’ve missed an excessive amount of over time, and it is simply sort of the place I have been mentally — particularly the previous few years I have been enthusiastic about that.”
EXODUS performed its first live performance with Dukes in almost 11 years on April 5 on the Decibel Journal Metallic & Beer Fest: Philly on the Fillmore in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Dukes beforehand 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 traditional 1985 LP, “Bonded By Blood”) and “Exhibit B: The Human Situation” (2010).
IT IS OFFICIAL !!! FIRST U.S DATE FOR ZETRO(EX- EXODUS/TESTAMENT VOCALIST) IN TAMPA FL!!!!!!!!! TICKETS JUST NOW WENT ON SALE SO GET YOURS QUICK BEFORE THEY ARE GONE!!!!!
Posted by Zakk Kane on Monday, August 11, 2025
