DEATH ANGEL

I remember buying Death Angel's ‘The Ultra-Violence’ debut back in 1987 and listening to an incredibly young and energised band from the, as it was then becoming, legendary Bay Area. Over two subsequent albums Death Angel were so relevant to where metal was going and they were hungry. They seemed unstoppable. But they were stopped in the 90s like so many great bands. On their return in the 2000s, I must admit I listened to their comeback, ‘The Art of Dying’, with some trepidation but I should have had no such worries. On that album and subsequent tour they still had fire and purpose and, if anything, now had the weight of wisdom. All this is relevant because fast forward to 2013 and their new album, ‘The Dream Calls for Blood’ is a fired up thrash assault, played with unbridled conviction and total control of pace and heaviness. Mark Osegueda shows once more that, alongside Testament's Chuck Billy, he's one of the best thrash band vocalists out there, balancing power, dynamics and just enough snarl to impassion the songs. In a way Death Angel left their more out there and progressive edge alone after their ‘Act III’ album and are now concentrating on the power of the band although they still treat us to acoustic interludes such as ‘Execution’. Death Angel exude old school thrash sensibilities but with such a new vibe that they leave most bands just standing in their wake. ‘The Dream Calls for Blood’ may have a slightly different line-up from classics such as ‘The Ultra-Violence’ and ‘Frolic Through the Park’ but Death Angel still know how to destroy with their thrash attack. Very few bands have this much fire at the beginning of their career and even fewer retain it. Death Angel, though, make their passion for their art look effortless.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Nuclear Blast

Album

THE DREAM CALLS FOR BLOOD

Review by Paul Sims

RUNNING TIME:

47:26

RELEASE DATE:

11th Oct 2013

TRACK LISTING

1) Left for Dead
2) Son of the Morning
3) Fallen
4) The Dream Calls for Blood
5) Succubus
6) Execution/Don't Save Me
7) Caster of Shame
8) Detonate
9) Empty
10) Territorial Instinct/Bloodlust

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

USA

"Very few bands have this much fire at the beginning of their career and even fewer retain it. Death Angel, though, make their passion for their art look effortless."