 Dublin Death Patrol
 DDP 4 Life
 Review by Mike Korn
Ah, the joys of small town living - a relaxed pace, the comfort of knowing all your friends and neighbors, a closeness to the land...and raging thrash metal? Well, if you happened to live in Dublin, California (not to be confused with the rather more notorious Dublin, Ireland...though you will find pictures of shamrocks and leprechauns in this album) back in the 80's, heavy metal was definitely part of the town's fabric. So numerous and close-knit were the town's youthful metalheads that the "Dublin Death Patrol" was formed...a brotherhood of thrash and high spirits, "bonded by blood,” in the words of one famous local metal band.
Unlike many adolescent dreams, the idea of the Dublin Death Patrol stayed alive with all the members as they moved throughout their lives. Some of them went on to live their metal dreams to the fullest. Singer Chuck Billy went on to front the legendary Testament while Zetro Sousa gained fame as the acid-lunged screamer for Exodus, one of the founding bands of the entire Bay Area thrash movement. Willy Lange played bass for the cult Frisco metal band Laaz Rockit. The others all drifted into other pursuits, though they all kept their metal roots alive.
In 2007, the Dublin Death Patrol is on the prowl again! DDP 4 Life is a fun, simple album full of aggressive metal tunes with a lot of variety. The production is excellent and the vocal pairing of Billy and Zetro is inspired, resulting in a kind of "dream team" for thrash fans. Others involved with DDP include Chuck Billy's brothers Andy and Eric, drummer Troy Lucketta of Tesla, Phil Demmel of Machine Head, Steve Robello, Greg Bustamante, John Hartsinck and more. You see, the DDP is more like a clan or a gang than an actual band. Anybody who was in Dublin back in the day who hasn't given up on metal can play a part! DDP 4 Life is proof positive that you can go back again. Not only can you go back but you can bring anybody who still likes to throw the horns and bang the head with you. Grab this one and raise a brew to the old days!
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2007 Volume 4 at lulu.com/strangesound.
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