STEVE 'ZETRO' SOUZA Talks HATRIOT Drummer Search, Thrash Metal Revival

Jim Rowland of Über Röck recently conducted an interview with former EXODUS and current HATRIOT frontman Steve "Zetro" Souza. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Über Röck: I notice from checking out your website you're looking for a full time drummer right now, how's the search going?

Zetro: The search is going good. We put an ad out on Blabbermouth and on our web site, and the response has been what we expected. The thing is I am 48 years old and I don't have time to fuck around. I don't need somebody coming in all excited, and then a few months down the road go, "Well, I'm not cut out for this." We are looking for somebody who has both the chops and the right attitude, plus they have to have their personal life set up to be able to tour. HATRIOT is going to be a live touring band. It's not a "throw the record out and exploit the EXODUS fan base" kind of thing. Not at all. HATRIOT is going to build it the right way. So to answer the question, yes we have had a lot of people ask about the drummer slot. I am just real picky as to who we let into our fold.

Über Röck: The four-song demo you currently have up on ReverbNation sounds pretty savage. What type of label interest have you had so far?

Zetro: Thank you very much! The songs on the demo are just the beginning of what we have going on. We have a whole slew of other songs written now, and have even put out a killer video for one of them, called "Blood Stained Wings". To be honest, there are a lot of labels that have been knocking at our door. I expect to have a deal signed in the next few weeks. There are two well-respected metal labels right now that are very interested, and we like what they are offering. The thing is I am not interested in just throwing a product out there and milking the EXODUS fan base. I won't sign a deal unless we are guaranteed to go on tour and support the album. I want full creative control as well. Expect a deal to be signed in the very near future!

Über Röck: Thrash metal has enjoyed something of a revival in more recent years, with many young fans and bands really embracing the spirit of thrash. What do you put that down to?

Zetro: You know, I get asked this a lot, and I think it is because the first wave of thrash came and went so fast. I mean, it started in the mid-'80s and was gone by 1991 or so. The older bands still have something to say, and I feel that's why they are still able to put out great music so many years later. Now the fans that were young kids back then have bands of their own, so these new bands are naturally influenced by the old sound and it has come full circle. Of course, with technology and things like they are today, it is a totally different ballgame when it comes to marketing the music. I don't know that there will ever be another band as big as the "Big Four" or anything, because the business structure just isn't there anymore, but it is really cool to see these new bands carrying the torch of what we helped invent back in the old scene.

Read the entire interview from Über Röck.