What may seem an unlikely pairing to most, is a match made to order for Steven “Zetro” Souza. The Dublin, California native and lead singer of heavy metal band, Exodus could not be happier with calling the 95361 “home.”

An avid Harley rider, Souza first happened upon the Central Valley while out on rides with some buddies.

“We would ride motorcycles anywhere. So this guy tells me there’s this place in Riverbank called Flavors and the prices are so much cheaper than they are in the Bay Area,” he shared of the well-known Riverbank dispensary.

Like many who’ve grown up in the Bay Area and are saddened by the growth there, Souza shared there were many things about Oakdale that drew him to purchase a home here.

“There’s no Walmarts here. There’s no Targets here,” he said. “I’m not necessarily recognized. We’ve had a couple times; it happens but it’s not overly so. I’m very approachable to any of the fans.”

The heavy metal artist further noted that when he was growing up in Dublin, the population was 11,000 versus the 70,000 living there now.

And while he may not be as vastly recognized in his new ‘hometown’ of Oakdale, Souza shared close to 40 years later, he still appreciates the fans of the band’s music.

“I always make sure that an experience with me is never a bad experience,” he said of meeting fans. “I try to listen to what everybody has to say and just be cool with it.”

While he is known throughout the heavy metal scene, Souza said his love of music started at the young age of eight when his father bought him Led Zeppelin’s album ‘IV.’

“You know how you think that certain people were made to do certain things? And I totally believe in that, honestly,” he said of his love and career in the music industry. “I always had it in me.”

Describing his father as a biker who listened to Black Sabbath, the Allman Brothers and Led Zeppelin in the garage, he said that was the music that helped shape him.

“So I got into that and I always listened to the heavier stuff,” Souza said, noting that during that time artists such as David Bowie, Alice Cooper and Kiss were considered “acid rock.”

Making a career of music would prove to be what he loved most, starting with a band by the name of Legacy.

Over the course of just shy of the past 40 years, “Zetro” Souza has performed with a few bands, yet most of his albums and tours have been with Exodus. After a brief break Exodus got back together in 2002.

“My investments were different at this point,” Souza said, sharing that with a wife and three kids to support, he had joined the Carpenters Union in the East Bay. It was a trade which came with good pay, steady work and a retirement plan.

As luck would have it, for a brief stint of two years, the rock-n-roller was able to play with Exodus while maintaining his job as a carpenter.

“It seemed every time I went on tour, I came home with less money than if I worked. I had a decent savings account and it was getting depleted,” he shared.

In 2004 “Zetro” returned to being Steven Souza, husband, father and carpenter. But then in 2014 the album, Blood In, Blood Out demo’d and he returned as the lead singer of Exodus.

“I even told my boss, keep my tools warm for six months. My last episode with these guys turned into a financial nightmare for me and I don’t want that,” he shared. “Then after the first tour we did, I was like … They learned how to make money.”

Now 10 years later, Souza continues to tour with Exodus and will return to the studio to record something new later this spring.

“What I do, is I can do this as long as I can do this, because I’m still good,” he said, sharing he works at not only staying in shape, but staying healthy and working at his craft regularly. “Music is forever. As long as Exodus is still putting out good stuff, there’s going to be an audience for that. Hence the Stones, hence the Who, hence whoever. We’re still carrying it; we can still deliver so it doesn’t matter.”

The longtime musician said a headlining performance of one hour, fifteen to one hour, twenty minutes of heavy metal music, is unlike anything else. Describing coming off stage covered in sweat from the intensity of the music and what they give to the crowd.

“The whole spirit of rock ‘n roll is kind of diminished,” he said. “Heavy metal has never lost that. Heavy metal music is so, the crowd becomes as much a part of the show as the band is.”

Before each performance he goes over the expectations of the metal show with the crowd.

“You animals, and I see ya. Somebody goes down, pick ‘em up,” Souza shared of what he says to each crowd. “Somebody gets hit and feels woozy, help ‘em out. We’re all in this together. Everybody wanna crowd surf, ya we love ‘em. These guys up here, these security guys, they need something to do. When they’re coming over, give them something to do, but make sure everybody lands correctly and nobody’s crushing anybody’s heads over here. Are we all good? Are we ready to continue the violence? … and I do that every night.”

For now, it something that still works well for him.

“I guess when I can’t do it at that level anymore, I guess I’ll be able to tell myself honestly. I’m going to be 60 and I’m killing it now better than I’ve ever killed it,” he confided.

Yet when he’s not touring, “Zetro” is most happy in his Oakdale home.

“I’ve been sitting in traffic since I was 16 years old and I’m done with it,” he said. “Since I don’t have to go anywhere, I’m cool here. I’m comfortable here.”

He admitted when not on the road, he enjoys peace and quiet and not having a lot of people around him.

“I like this area. It’s very cool and laid back.”