Year : 2025
Style : Thrash Metal
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 115 mb
Bio:
Dark Angel is an American thrash metal band from Downey, California that formed in 1981. Their over-the-top style (extremely fast, heavy and lengthy songs with lots of tempo changes, lyrics and extended instrumental parts) earned them the nickname "the L.A. Caffeine Machine". Although Dark Angel had never achieved a mainstream breakthrough in their initial career, their 1986 album Darkness Descends is widely regarded as a landmark in the thrash metal genre.After releasing four full-length albums and touring extensively throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Dark Angel disbanded in 1992. They reformed in 2002. However, Dark Angel disbanded once again, due to Ron Rinehart's vocal issues after an accident, which forced the band to cancel plans to tour further. After months of speculation, Dark Angel officially announced their second reunion in October 2013.Dark Angel formed in 1981 under the name Shellshock in Downey, California, right around the time when the Bay Area thrash movement was beginning to take place. They were forced to change their name to Dark Angel in 1983 due to another band using the name. They played in local bars and clubs, acquiring a cult following in the metal underground. The band began recording and releasing several demos before releasing their debut studio album We Have Arrived in March 1985. Dark Angel promoted We Have Arrived with its first ever tour, opening for bands like Slayer, Megadeth, Venom, Savage Grace, Corrosion of Conformity, Possessed, D.R.I., Exodus and Agent Steel.
Album:
I've been a huge Dark Angel fan for over 30 years now. So I was definitely really anticipating this new release. There were some changes in the approach for this new record, mainly in the vocals, with lead vocalist Ron adding some growls and grunts. I will admit this took me by surprise when I first heard it, to the point that I wasn't totally sure how I felt about the record. But something happened after I listened to the whole record many times over the course of about a month. It really started growing on me big time in a good way (including the harsher vocals).This album is the definition as a grower. Because once you know and get used to what to expect from the album, it's really killer, and there is a lot to like. I've seen this record getting a lot of less than great reviews, and I honestly don't get it at all. I don't get the hate. I have thought about this for a while, and what I really think has happened is that, most, if not all, the longtime Dark Angel fans have been waiting a very long time, and I feel they kind of had a strong idea of what this new record would sound like, and I really think that most, if not all fans, were excepting Dark Angel to release an album that style wise, was going to be what the next album after 'Time Does Not Heal' (1991) would have been, if it was released 2 years later, in say 1993. I really think that's what truly has happened. Dark Angel didn't give us a 1993 style thrash metal record, but a 2025 Dark Angel record.Close to 35 years have passed. The metal scene has changed and musicians' tastes can change a little over time. Dark Angel didn't totally pick up where they left off in the early 1990s for a 5th record. But they have returned in 2025 with something style wise that could have been the 8th, 9th, or 10th Dark Angel album. The riffs are heavier and the vocals are meaner, and I'm here for it. There are tons of great, catchy and memorable songs on this record. For me, some stand out tracks were — Circular Firing Squad, Woke Up To Blood, Atavistic, and the album closer, Extraction Tactics. I honestly think some of the guitar riffs on this album are some of the best and most memorable Dark Angel has released in their entire catalog so far. Another thing I enjoyed was the variation in song tempos in the different songs.Overall, it's a really great record. Is it as good as the classic thrash middle era trilogy of Darkness Descends, Leave Scars, or Time Does Not Heal? No, but I had realistic expectations, and I never expected it to be. None of my other favorites from the same era (Slayer, Exodus, Testament, etc.) for me have released anything as great as they did since the early 90s or before. Also, there is a lot of nostalgia for those classic records for most metal fans, and sometimes you can forget about that.I really want Dark Angel to release more new music. If I had to nitpick, the only thing I would change going forward, would be to tone down the growling vocals a little (some growling is awesome). And have more guitar solos next time. There were a few songs in the middle of this new album without guitar solos, and I started to miss them. Overall, a very solid return of one of the thrash metal greats from the original scene (rating — 75 out of 100). So great to have Dark Angel back. Rest in peace Jim Durkin.
Line Up:
Ron Rinehart - Vocals (1987-1992, 2002-2005, 2013-present) - See also: ex-Hunger, ex-Oil, ex-Messiahs
Laura Christine - Guitars (2023-present) - See also: ex-Meldrum, ex-Warface, ex-Nukem, ex-Dreaming Dead (live), ex-Zimmers Hole
Eric Meyer - Guitars (1984-1992, 2002-2005, 2013-present) - See also: ex-Hunger, Bloodmoon Ritual, ex-Swine
Mike Gonzalez - Bass (1986-1992, 2013-present) - See also: Viking, ex-Slaven, Bloodmoon Ritual, Dominari
Gene Hoglan - Drums (1984-1992, 2002-2005, 2013-present) - See also: Brendon Small's Galaktikon, Dethklok, ex-Daemon, ex-Meldrum, ex-Metaspherical, ex-Strapping Young Lad, ex-Tenet, ex-Mechanism, ex-Pitch Black Forecast, Death DTA (live), ex-Devin Townsend, ex-Fear Factory, ex-Forbidden, ex-Just Cause, ex-Memorain, ex-Testament, ex-Viking, ex-Anthrax (live), ex-Old Man's Child (live), ex-Opeth (live), ex-Unearth (live), ex-999 Society, ex-Death, ex-Wargod, ex-Zimmers Hole, ex-Carnage, ex-Punchdrunk / The Almighty Punchdrunk, ex-The Ani Kyd Band, ex-Glostik Willy (live)
Tracklist:
01. Extinction Level Event 04:16
02. Circular Firing Squad 04:30
03. Woke Up to Blood 05:00
04. Apex Predator 05:06
05. Sea of Heads 03:49
06. Atavistic 03:44
07. Scalar Weaponry 04:29
08. Scarface the Room 04:36
09. E Pluribus Nemo 04:59
10. Terror Construct 05:17
11. Extraction Tactics 03:36
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
