Written by: Mark Ashby on June 12, 2012.

Dublin Death Patrol – the side project featuring members of Testament, Legacy, Exodus, Vio-Lence, Laaz Rockit, Tesla and Heist – are finally to release their two long awaited albums.

The previously unreleased debut, ‘DDP4Life’, originally recorded in 2005, and last year’s follow up, ‘Death Sentence’, will be released on the Mascot Records label on August 14.

Taking the name from the California town where all the members live, the collaboration that is Dublin Death Patrol traces its roots right back to 1980, eventually leading to Testament vocalist Chuck Billy teaming up with Willy Lange (Rampage, Laaz Rockit), Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza (original Testament vocalist/Exodus vocalist) and three of his brothers, as well as some other local musicians.

After six months of writing, arranging and restructuring new and old songs from several years of performing together, the guys went into the studio in 2005 to record the first DDP album, ‘DDP4Life’.

Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza boldly claimed at the time that “this is what we have to give to the metal world – a kick ass, straight up, aggressive, in your fucking face album by a group of headbanging Dubliners that deserved status.” Despite Souza’s statement of intent, however, the album never saw the light of day, until now.

In 2011, DDP went back into the studio to record their second album, ‘Death Sentence’. In that same year, DDP made their European live debut, when they played the Graspop Metal Meeting.

With Chuck Billy and Souza sharing lead vocals, and Willy Lange on bass, Dublin Death Patrol is completed by guitarists Andy Billy, Steve Robello, John Hartsinck and Greg Bustamante, drummers Danny Cunningham and Troy Luccketta and bassists John Souza and Eddie Billy.

www.dublindeathpatrol.com
www.facebook.com/dublindeathpatrol
www.twitter.com/ddpband
www.myspace.com/dublindeathpatrol

Testament are due to release their tenth album, ‘Dark Roots Of Earth’ on Nuclear Blast on July 27. They play the main Ronnie James Dio stage at Bloodstock on Saturday August 11, as special guests to Machine Head.