June 14, 2007 Dublin Death Patrol Seizes Santa Ana / All Access Magazine
Story and photos by Maya Dawn Henderson / Photo by Gene Ambo
 |
Dublin Death Patrol (DDP), featuring thrash pioneers TESTAMENT vocalist Chuck Billy and former EXODUS singer Steve "Zetro" Souza have joined forces in a new project called DUBLIN DEATH PATROL (DDP). The band, which also features such other Bay Area well-knowns, such as Phil Demmel (guitar; MACHINE HEAD, ex-VIO-LENCE) and Willy Langenhuizen (bass; RAMPAGE, LAAZ ROCKIT), are currently headed across the pond to play some dates and festivals. The new band recently showcased the act here in their home state. I caught up with the enormous crew at their first live show at Santa Ana’s Galaxy on June 3rd. The group's complete lineup is as follows; Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT, RAMPAGE, GUILT) on vocals, Steve "Zetro" Souza (LEGACY, EXODUS) also on vocals, a plethora of guitarists; Andy Billy (SACRED DOG, RAMPAGE, GUILT), Greg Bustamante (RAMPAGE) and Steve Robello (OUT OF CONTROL), Phil Demmel (MACHINE HEAD, VIO-LENCE, DEATH PENALTY, METAL WARRIOR) all on guitars. Willy Langenhuizen (RAMPAGE, LAAZ ROCKIT) and John Souza (little brother of Zetro) on bass. Just the one drummer; Danny Cunningham. An outstanding Bay Area line-up. What came out was a true inferno of a show packed with killer riffs that would make any worshipper of that Exodus/Testament genre salivate riotously!
 |
R.I.P., their set opener, started out with typical jun-jun riffing and stayed strong throughout. These guys and the atmosphere they created just blew me away immediately. Their sound was mixed so well they almost sounded CD quality. Seeing and hearing the dynamic duo of power vocalists Chuck Billy and Steve Souza on stage together, respectively made the long trip down to the South Bay worth it. The singers jackbooted, strutted and swaggered to surprisingly focused and coherent lyrics, inviting you to throw out everything you thought you knew about metal, and just focus on the brutish basics. This was some crazy energy exuding off the Galaxy’s stage. DDP’s music itself was straight-ahead thrash that trepanned itself without any subtlety, through your skull. They did a mid-tempo masher called Iron Fists. It featured some very cool Bay-Area riffs, combined with some combustible white-hot lead leads. They had all the insane solos and complex riffs and what have you but it was all masked behind this layer of awesome Heavy Fucking Metal that made it, oh so enjoyable, and heavy, real heavy.
Their set list was a combination of a few songs from their various discographies, like Alone In The Dark, off Testament’s Legacy and Corruption from Exodus. They showcased some brand new cuts and didn’t leave out a couple thrash renditions of unequivocal metal classic classics like UFO’s Lights Out and Thin Lizzy’s Cold Sweat. They did keep the set pretty short and sweet. There seemed to be a fairly repetitive formula to Dublin Death Patrol’s music, which revolved a around chunky groove that gets left choking on the dust, kicked up by the speed bursts. It's almost a metronome's 4/4 time with a tight, two-note riff to go along. Some of their aggressive riffs and solos were untouchable. Quite a feat, being there were so many guys on stage. The choreography reminded me of being at an Anthrax show at the Omni (in Oakland), circa 1985! The mosh pit was a scene and remained in a rumbling state throughout the show. Fists In The Air, Willy Lang!
 |
Some of the songs included choruses that were catchier and easier on the ears but these guys never stopped for two seconds to give into something that didn’t sound like 100% Thrash Metal. When they debuted their title track, DDP 4 Life, there was no buildup or pause to let one's head get accustomed to ~ only frantic, malignant, jugulating rhythm and lyrics belted out bordering on the edge of hysteria. This tune will put a smile on any seasoned head banger’s face. The same was true of the song Mentally Unstable. This tune had a schizophrenic song structure and syncopated chord progression swathed with bison Chuck Billy’s guttural vocals. This was another phenomenal cut unrelenting in its heaviness. The last song of the night was Unnatural Causes, where the band exploded in beloved metal double-time. A heavily distorted chorus served up in traditional early Exodus/Testament style.
This live performance was unexpectedly amusing and just plain bad ass. They seem to have formulated a whole new grammar of noise for a whole generation of future metal practitioners.
For me, it was a great chance to get back to my thrash roots. If you should happen to get the opportunity to catch them, seize it. The evening with Dublin Death Patrol held some amazing metal moments that epitomize the magic of every night anyone has spent screaming and sweating in a mosh pit. www.dublindeathpatrol.com
~ Maya Dawn Henderson~