Steve Souza

Steve "Zetro" Souza
Steve "Zetro" Souza on stage with Dublin Death Patrol
Background information
Birth name	Steven Souza
Born	(1964-03-24) March 24, 1964 United States
Genres	Thrash metal
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1982–present
Associated acts	Exodus Hatriot Dublin Death Patrol Testament Tenet

Steve "Zetro" Souza (born March 24, 1964) is an American vocalist, best known for his work with the thrash metal band Exodus from 1986 to 1994, and again from 2002 to 2004. He rejoined Exodus for a third time in 2014. Souza is one of two singers, along with Chuck Billy, for the band Dublin Death Patrol.^[1] He also sings for the death/thrash metal band Tenet. Souza recently announced his new thrash metal project, Hatriot. He was also the lead singer for the thrash metal band Legacy (later known as Testament).^[2]

Biography

Exodus

Zetro is best known for his time in Exodus, for whom he sang between 1986 and 1994 (when they broke up) after being brought in to replace Paul Baloff. Before singing for Exodus, he was the lead singer for the band Legacy (which became Testament after his departure), recording one demo. At the time of his departure of Legacy, he introduced Chuck Billy to Legacy members and joined Exodus. Exodus was disbanded about two years after the release of Force of Habit. He later rejoined the reformed Exodus from 2002 to 2004. He again parted ways with the band during their South American tour later in 2004; according to Holt, Zetro bailed from the tour just as the tour was about to start.^[3] This caused the split to be fairly hostile;^[3] in retrospect, Zetro has admitted the blame for the circumstances, saying that it was his discontent at the time that caused the problems.^[4][5]

On June 8, 2014, it was announced that Souza has rejoined Exodus.^[6] He appeared on Exodus' tenth studio album Blood In, Blood Out, which is his first album with the band since 2004's Tempo of the Damned.^[7]

Dublin Death Patrol

In 2006 he and Chuck Billy formed Dublin Death Patrol, an American thrash metal band. Alongside Willy Lange (Laaz Rockit). In 2007 they went on a world tour and did Fields of Rock in the Netherlands alongside Heaven & Hell, Korn, Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne, Machine Head, Black Label Society, Hatebreed, Megadeth, Papa Roach, Slayer, Motörhead, Mastodon, Velvet Revolver, Dream Theater, Suicidal Tendencies, Amon Amarth, DragonForce, Ill Niño, and DevilDriver.

Tenet

In August 2008, Souza became the lead singer for the metal band TENET along with members Byron Stroud (Strapping Young Lad, Fear Factory, Zimmer's Hole), Jed Simon (Strapping Young Lad, Zimmer's Hole), Glen Alvelais (Testament, Forbidden) and Gene Hoglan (Death, Unearth, Dethklok, Strapping Young Lad, Dark Angel, Testament, Zimmer's Hole, Old Man's Child). The album was eventually released in July 2009.

Hatriot

Souza, along with fellow members Kosta Varvatakis, Justin Sakagawa, Nicholas Souza and Cody Souza, has started a thrash metal project called Hatriot. Hatriot released their debut album, Heroes of Origin, on January 25, 2013. The group's second album, Dawn of the New Centurion, was released on February 21, 2014 via Massacre Records.

Other projects

Souza hosted the Thrash Against Cancer benefit in 2005 at The Pound in San Francisco, and appears onstage with Testament every time they play the Bay Area.^[8]

Style

Souza's voice is reminiscent of AC/DC's former vocalist Bon Scott, and can be heard on the AC/DC covers that Exodus recorded, including "Overdose" on 1989's Fabulous Disaster, and "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" on 2004's Tempo of the Damned.

Discography

With Exodus

• Pleasures of the Flesh (1987)
• Fabulous Disaster (1989)
• Impact Is Imminent (1990)
• Good Friendly Violent Fun (1991)
• Force of Habit (1992)
• Tempo of the Damned (2004)
• Blood In, Blood Out (2014)

With Testament

• Legacy Demo (1985)
• The Legacy (1987) (credited for writing 6 out of 9 of the songs, but did not perform)
• First Strike Still Deadly (2001) (provides vocals for re-recordings of "Alone in the Dark" and "Reign of Terror".)

With Dublin Death Patrol

• DDP 4 Life (2007)
• Death Sentence (2012)

With TENET

• Sovereign (2009)

With Hatriot

• Heroes of Origin (2013)
• Dawn of the New Centurion (2014)

References