Интервю със Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza (HATRIOT, ех-EXODUS)

Steve 'Zetro' Souza

What does the name of the band mean and is there any connection with the Exodus song “Scar Spangled Banner”? Tell us the story of the band in just few sentences.

– I did get the name from “Scar Spangled Banner,” but it does not necessarily have a political meaning. My definition of a Hatriot is a person who loves their country but does not always agree with the way the government does things. The name sounds aggressive and is perfect for a thrash metal project. As for the story, I met my guitarist Kosta at a show his band was playing. The kid blew me away. After the show we sat and talked metal for a few hours and I knew that the kid was the real deal. I had to jam with this guy. So the band was basically built around Kosta’s amazing ability to write and structure thrash metal songs. He is a natural at this stuff.

What fans can expect as genre and sound from the new band? Introduce the other members and where they come from! Are there any famous names in the band?

– Hatriot is a pure thrash metal project with some modern overtones. I think it is the natural next step from what I did with the Exodus “Tempo Of The Damned” record. The music is ferocious and the vocals are over the top aggression. My band mates are much younger than I am, and all of them are from the bay area. I have Kosta Varvatakis and Miguel Esparza on guitars, my son Cody Souza is on bass, and we are looking for a full time drummer now. There are no famous names in the band… yet!

What themes will your lyrics expose and where are your music roots? On what audience do you count on?

– I count on the old school metal audience. The old school thrashers. They know what to expect from me and understand it. Lyric themes? Anything that is dark – from murder to vampires. From social issues to serial killers. Anything that intrigues me I will write about it. Whatever goes on in my twisted fucking head at the time!

Hatriot

Do you work on material for an album and when we can expect it? Label? Any upcoming tour?

– Oh yes, Hatriot is always working on new material. In fact, we haven’t been playing a lot of shows lately because we have been so busy writing and revising our material for the album. We have a full record written and are shopping for a good label now. There are two large metal labels that have made offers, so we hope to decide who we are going with, and get started recording the album sometime in the late summer. As soon as we sign the deal I will be putting out a press release with all the information. I don’t want to say who the label is yet. I don’t want to jinx anything. Part of what I expect the label to do is get us on the road, so yes; there will definitely be a tour to support the record. It would be easy to capitalize on the Exodus name and just throw something out there, but we are not going to do that. We are going to have our shit together and put out a really solid album, and definitely tour to support it.

Can the fans from our region expect you soon for a concert here? Which bands you would feel good to tour with?

– Again, I plan on a world tour for this record. I won’t sign with anybody unless that is part of the deal. In this day and age it is very important to get in people’s faces and let them see the band live. I’d love to get on a tour with some other metal bands from my era. I have a lot of friends and have maintained a positive relationship with all my metal peers, so I am sure it will work out. There are a lot of great metal bands here in the bay area that are very active, and I could see Hatriot doing a tour with any of these guys – Death Angel, Exodus, Machine Head, Forbidden, Testament, and the list goes on… Time will tell. I will say that I don’t take any of this for granted at all, so I will be very thankful for any opportunities that we get with Hatriot.

Don’t you think you’re a bit late with the new project, because in the past few years we see the old school thrash is coming back and there are already leaders with released albums and stuff?

– Not at all. I’m not playing the new wave of thrash, nor am I interested in being a part of the new wave of thrash. I’m playing the same style of thrash that I helped invent close to 30 years ago. My name is solidified in the business, so I don’t think it will be an issue. I helped create thrash metal and people associate my name with thrash. I feel that Hatriot is the next natural step from the “Tempo Of The Damned” record that I did with Exodus. I am in the history books as being part of old school thrash, so I don’t feel like this is starting over. I feel that it is just the next page in the book. If it was a new band that didn’t have anybody in the group with notoriety then I could maybe see it, but not with Hatriot.

Is there going to be some kind of competition EXODUS vs. HATRIOT?

– I would never allow that. I think the fans get to enjoy two great bands now, instead of just one band. I know there are a lot of people that say they want me back in Exodus, but you know Rob does a great job and they keep chugging right along. They are doing great with the current line-up and I am very happy for them. When the book is written on Exodus, my name will be in there and I am great with that. Right now I just want the fans to check out Hatriot with an open mind. There are a lot of elements of Exodus and Testament in the music, so I feel that the fans will take to it. There is no rivalry whatsoever. Maybe in the 80’s when we were all battling for the number one spot, but not now. Now we are just happy to see each other, and happy that we are all still able to do music on this level.

How do you keep your voice in such good condition after so many years? Now it sounds even more “wicked” than before! Do you really imitate Bon Scott, as Gary Holt said in one interview?

– I am constantly practicing and keeping my voice strong. We treat rehearsal like a job, so I am constantly using my vocals and maintaining myself. I also quit drinking and try to stay in shape the best I can. Bon Scott and Udo from Accept are my big vocal influences. I wouldn’t say I imitate anybody, but their styles were definitely the foundation that I built mine on.

You worked with many bands and projects. Where did you feel most nice and comfortable? And where did you have the funniest moments?

– I would say the years between “Pleasures Of The Flesh” and “Impact Is Imminent‘. I always tell people if I could relive one year of my life it would be 1989. It was a wild ride and there are too many funny moments to pick just one. We were on top of the world back then.

How do you see the current thrash scene, as a person who’s on the thrash scene from its “birth”? What has changed through the years? Why is all that interest on this genre again?

– Well the biggest change is with the technology that is available now. The internet is such a double edged sword with music. On the positive side, you can reach fans around the globe with the click of a button. The downside is there is an overabundance of media now so people don’t really absorb music like they used to. There is no mystique to it now. Used to you had to go to the show to see a band. Now you just type their name into youtube and watch from your house. There used to be shows every night in the Bay Area back in the day. Now there are a lot less clubs and only weekend shows. I think there is a new interest in thrash because it came and went so fast initially. It was born in the mid 80’s and was gone by 1991 when grunge hit the scene. I think the old school bands still have something to say.

How do you take the “The Big Four” as a title? Are they really the biggest four in thrash?

– No. I think Testament are just as big as Anthrax are. That’s a hard one. I like the concept of the big four, and the reason I do is it puts thrash on a big stage. I am glad that Metallica recognizes the other three bands, even though these groups are nowhere near as successful as Metallica. It is a double edged sword for me. Do I think they all belong there? Probably three out of the four. What is the definition of big? Are they talking record sales? If you are talking innovators then Exodus should be in there. If you are looking at the names that have done well in thrash metal and the bands who have carried it on that level, then yes it is these four bands. I still think Testament is as big as Anthrax, and it’s not just because they are my boys and I have a history there. Those guys work constantly at their craft, and their shows are always packed. But, yes, I am in support of the big four. That concert has definitely helped thrash metal.

What do you remember from those good old times? Which was your best concert and your worst moment?

– I would say the best times would be any time I have got to play the big festivals. I remember the first time I did a festival in Holland; it was the Dynamo festival in 1988. That was the first time I got to play an outdoor festival. We headlined it. There were thirty thousand people there, and seven pits in the crowd. I can remember getting off the bus and photographers were there shooting pictures of us, backing up as we were walking. As for worst moments, there really are none. I get to play stages all over the world and it is hard to find something negative in that. I am very fortunate for what I have.

What happens with the other bands you’re part of: Tenet and Dublin Death Patrol? What is their status right now? Can we expect new albums?

– Well Dublin Death Patrol has a new record called “Death Sentence” coming out July 13th on Mascot Records. I’m not sure if there will be much time to tour and promote DDP, seeing as how Chuck has a new Testament record to promote and I am committed to Hatriot right now. Tenet was more of a project than a band, but I really enjoyed singing on that record. That was the only record in my life that I did not write lyrics for. I sang what Jed Simon gave me. All the guys in Tenet have very full schedules right now, but if time permitted I would definitely not rule out doing another album with them.

Is there anything about your second time leaving Exodus that the fans must know?

– It is all my fault. I left. It was none of their faults. I take full blame. I was in a different mindset at that point. Everybody comes up to me and expresses their opinions of how they want me back in the band or how they dislike the new singer. I think Rob Dukes has done a fine job. He’s not even new anymore. He’s been in the band over seven years now, and those are big shoes to fill – me and Baloff – so let’s move on. So the fans need to know that it was my fault. That is part of what Hatriot is all about. It is my apology to the fans. Here is my new thrash band for you all to enjoy. I am back and my mind is full on. I can’t be in Exodus right now because they have a full line-up that is ticking like a machine, so I am going to give you another group of my own… and kick your ass!

Have you ever felt in the shadow of Paul Baloff?

– Definitely. I would say I felt that way for the first couple years. Some of the fans felt that I was the ‘new singer’ up until “Impact Is Imminent.” I think when I did “Pleasures Of The Flesh,” we had a group of fans that liked my voice, but it took until “Fabulous Disaster” or “Impact” for them all to accept me as the frontman of Exodus. From there it was no turning back. I joined in 1986 and the first concert where I felt totally accepted by the fans was probably our show at The Warfield in February of 1988. Heavy metal fans, especially thrash fans, are so passionate about their music. They don’t just accept you because you are on a stage. You have to earn your keep with the thrash metal fans.

Which musicians you played with do you still keep connection?

– Oh I definitely keep in touch with all of them. I probably see the Testament guys more than I do the Exodus guys though. We are all very tight. It is still very much a family over here. We call or text and keep in contact. Thirty years later it is very cool to see these guys out at a show. We all support each other at it is a really cool thing. There are not a lot of scenes like the one in the Bay Area for sure.

Beyond the music … what person is Steve? Do you like to drink beer, what books do you read, favorite movies …

– I have lived in California my whole life so I smoke a ton of weed! I do love all horror movies and comedies. I watch a ton of sports, and I have the Oakland Raiders tattoo on my arm. I have three kids, one of which plays in Hatriot, so I am busy with the family life as well.

Tell something for METAL HANGAR 18 and all your fans in Bulgaria.

– I absolutely love the fans in Bulgaria. The Bulgaria fans are very passionate about heavy metal and are very loyal to the bands they love. I want to thank all of you for the years of support with my music, and I look forward to seeing all of you in the near future when Hatriot goes on tour. Thanks to you all! ZETRO