Exodus guitarist Gary Holt recently discussed how the band’s songwriting process has evolved following singer Rob Dukes’s return to replace Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza. He emphasized the collaborative nature of their current approach in an interview with Rebel Radio.
Holt explained how the band’s creative process has become more inclusive. Multiple members now contribute to both music and lyrics.
“Well, you know, if I’m writing a song, it just starts with a riff. If Lee [Altus, Exodus guitarist] writes a song, it starts with a riff as well,” Holt said. “Lee wrote a lot of material for this and the follow-up album. Rob wrote a lot of lyrics. Lee wrote some lyrics. Tom Hunting [Exodus drummer] wrote lyrics. Jack [Gibson], our bass player, is a huge sounding board for arrangement advice and stuff.”
The guitarist emphasized the democratic nature of their current songwriting approach.
“So everybody contributes, and there’s no ego where, like, I have to write all the stuff,” he continued. “In the past, I wrote most of the albums ’cause I had to. I’ve always welcomed more input. And the more chefs in the Exodus kitchen, the better.”
Holt also addressed how the band adapted their writing style to accommodate Rob Dukes’s expanded vocal range.
“I write the same, no matter who’s singing. I mean, I’m gonna write the lyrics that I write,” he explained. “But on this album, we learned early on that Rob was capable of so much more than what we knew he could do, which we knew he could do ultra-aggressive, violent thrash better than anybody. But he showed all this additional range that he had developed, and so you do start running with it a little bit. And the album was such a collaborative feature anyway — there were so many creators on this record, and it really gave the sound its distinct flavor.”
This collaborative approach represents a significant shift for the Bay Area thrash metal veterans. The band has experienced multiple lineup changes throughout their career.
Wikipedia’s 2025 heavy metal timeline documented that Exodus parted ways with longtime vocalist Steve “Zetro” Souza for a third time on January 15, 2025. This marked one of the biggest recent lineup changes for the band. This departure paved the way for Rob Dukes’s return to the fold, bringing with him the expanded vocal range that Holt praised in his recent interview.
The band has remained active throughout 2026. Revolver Magazine reported that Exodus toured Canada with Megadeth and Anthrax earlier this year. The publication noted that the band should have more activity ahead, suggesting possible new material or upcoming releases in the pipeline.
Gary Holt continues to serve as the driving force and stable anchor for Exodus through these multiple lineup shifts. His role as the band’s key longtime guitarist has been reinforced by recent coverage in 2026. This places him front and center as the group moves forward after the vocalist change. This stability has allowed the band to maintain their creative momentum while embracing a more collaborative songwriting process.
The current lineup’s emphasis on collective creativity marks a departure from previous eras where Holt shouldered most of the songwriting responsibilities. This evolution reflects not only the band’s maturity but also their commitment to harnessing the diverse talents of all members to create what Holt describes as the album’s “distinct flavor.”
