Speaking with Nikki Blakk of San Francisco’s 107.7 The Bone, EXODUS singer Rob Dukes, back with the band since January, shared an update on the recording sessions for their next album, the successor to 2021’s Persona Non Grata.
“[We are] tracking vocals [right now],” Dukes said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “Well, they’re pretty much doing everything, so they got the drums done and then some guitars and they’re doing the rhythms and all that. And then me and Jack [Gibson, EXODUS bassist], him doing the bass, we kind of trade off and on days, ’cause I can only go for two or three hours and then I’m kind of spent for the day until the next day.”
Dukes was then asked how many songs the new EXODUS album will have, to which he responded: “It’s 11. And it’s f**king heavy as f**k, man. I mean, it is f**king heavy and dark and cool. But what’s surprising to me about it was there was a little bit of MOTÖRHEAD-y rock stuff going on. I’m, like, ‘Oh, cool, man. This is a little departure from the norm.’ It was really cool. And so I get to step outside the box a little bit, which is nice, man. It’s kind of cool. Good challenge.”
Looking back on his return to EXODUS after a decade away, Dukes said: “It’s like a crazy thing to happen. I didn’t expect it. I didn’t know I was getting a phone call before I got it. And I had to think about it, you know what I mean? I have a whole life that I built up. So it was kind of, like, ‘All right, well, let me talk about it and think about it.’ And then I was, like, ‘All right, cool. Let’s do it, man. Let’s go have fun.’ Yeah.”
“I found out right around Christmas,” he continued. “I forget what day it was. It was right around Christmas, though. But yeah. And, yeah, I immediately started listening to… They gave me a list of songs that are possibly in the setlist moving forward, and then the setlist for this show. I’ve been listening every day and just trying to remember the words and the phrasings and stuff.”
EXODUS announced that Rob Dukes will be replacing Souza on January 15, with the following statement on their social media: “EXODUS have parted ways with Steve “Zetro” Souza. We thank Steve for his years fronting the band and all the killer music we made during that time. We wish him only the best in the future and much success with anything he does.
“And please help us welcome Rob Dukes back to EXODUS! We are beyond stoked to have Rob back ripping up the stage with us and he’s looking forward to crushing everything like only he can.
“Next chapter begins, new record rolls along as planned and the beatings will continue.”
Dukes 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.
EXODUS released their latest studio album, Persona Non Grata, in November 2021.
Source: metaladdicts.com
