The American thrash metal legends in Exodus announced they have parted company with vocalist Rob Dukes, who recorded three albums with the veterans since joining in 2005, following the band's bitter second split with Souza.

A statement from Exodus guitarist Gary Holt reads as follows:

"As a band, we all had to make a very difficult choice to part ways with Rob Dukes. We have nothing but love and admiration for him and the deepest gratitude for the hard work he has put in and the great work on some killer records. But at this time, Tom, Lee, Jack and myself thought a change was necessary and the unanimous choice going forward was to welcome back Steve Souza to the fold!"

Souza added: "I spent a great part of my life with Exodus, that blood flows through me, even not being in the band for the past 10 years, you can’t erase that chemistry. I’m very excited!"

Since leaving Exodus in 2005, Steve Souza has kept busy with such projects as Dublin Death Patrol and Hatriot.

Exodus are currently working on their eleventh studio album, which will be the sixth to feature the returning vocalist.