It's been quite a while since I've gone on a proper metal journey.
It is the year of #ThrashMetal and today happens to be #ThrashThursday so...
Welcome to my Death Angel #Metaljourney 🤘
🎵 Thrashers, Death Angel
💿 The Ultra-Violence, 1987
▶️ https://song.link/y/EjIb3JPIOXw
On Death Angel's debut album you can hear a lot of early Metallica, very early Slayer, some Megadeth and the vocals are partly very Anthraxy.
What's not to like?
🎵 Final Death, Death Angel
💿 The Ultra-Violence, 1987
▶️ https://song.link/y/AowJM0A1o9A
Death Angel album number 2 is considered (another) thrash classic. It's "Frolic Through The Park" and has a very weird album cover.
And it has a speed metal song on it 👇
🎵 Why You Do This, Death Angel
💿 Frolic Through the Park, 1988
▶️ https://song.link/y/a0YGOxpL9Sw
I gotta be honest, this album is way too long and I was getting bored.
But then this song came up and they pulled me back in again 👇
🎵 Cold Gin, Death Angel
💿️ Frolic Through the Park, 1988
▶️https://song.link/y/L__byNESWGg
Ok so far I was pretty underwhelmed with "Frolic Through the Park". It took a Kiss cover to get my attention and now the follow up track is easily my favourite song on this journey 👇
🎵 Mind Rape, Death Angel
💿️️ Frolic Through the Park, 1988
▶️ https://song.link/y/ROMW8m27m44
Ok I have to admit: I am not a huge fan of early Death Angel. And another spin of "Frolic Through The Park" doesn't change that.
🎵 Witches of Knave, Death Angel
💿️️️ Frolic Through the Park, 1988
▶️ https://song.link/y/x7CdHtDtMIE
There are quite some "first three albums"-metalheads. But I can't believe that anyone would say this about Death Angel. The first two albums are ok, not more.
Ranking:
1. The Ultra-Violence
2. Frolic Through the Park
Album number 3 is called "Act III" and it starts like a John Bush era Anthrax album.
2 minutes in and I already like it much more than any of the first two.
🎵 Seemingly Endless Time, Death Angel
💿 Act III, 1990
▶️ https://song.link/y/0sPEID-fl9Q
Funny thing: when song 1 remembered me of John Bush, song 2 is so clearly Joey Belladonna.
Props to Mark Osegueda for pulling this off!
...and just like that, there's a funk-metal song. This album is something else!
🎵 Discontinued, Death Angel
💿️ Act III, 1990
▶️ https://song.link/y/9-hOLbVU12Y
The only song on "Act III" I don't like is "Room With a View".
The rest is thrashtastic 🤘
Act III is at least 3 tiers above the first to and will have a very strong argument for being my #1 Death Angel album by the end of this journey.
🎵 Disturbing The Peace, Death Angel
💿️ Act III, 1990
▶️ https://song.link/y/ILpOA7Aw7d0
Ranking:
1. Act III
2. The Ultra-Violence
3. Frolic Through the Park
10/n #DeathAngel #Metaljourney
After a fantastic 3rd album Death Angel split up.
They regroup again and come back in 2004 with "The Art of Dying".
It starts with an absolute banger 👇
🎵 Thrown to the Wolves, Death Angel
💿 The Art of Dying, 2004
▶️ https://song.link/y/ej-MDXaYE58
11/n #DeathAngel #Metaljourney
Wait, that's an unusual voice... Oh, that's drummer Andy Galeon on vocals! Is that a first? I haven't noticed before.
Anyhow, I'd have prefered Mark Osegueda on the mic, because to be honest, Andy didn't really add anything and Mark is a fantastic.
The same is valid for the following track Land of the Blood.
🎵 Spirit, Death Angel
💿 The Art of Dying, 2004
▶️ https://song.link/y/EuYAGA8_ITA
12/n #DeathAngel #Metaljourney
A fantastic song closes a fantastic comeback album.
The album adds some serious groove while on the other hand speed metal elements are basically gone. All in all it's well balanced.
🎵 Word to the Wise by Death Angel
💿️ The Art of Dying, 2004
▶️ https://song.link/y/VcXv3ZV0_DM
Ranking:
1. Act III
2. The Art of Dying
3. The Ultra-Violence
4. Frolic Through the Park
13/n #DeathAngel #Metaljourney
After "The Art of Dying" it is time for "Killing Season".
#ThrashMetal was revived in the 2000s, and Death Angel played their part in it.
🎵 Buried Alive, Death Angel
💿 Killing Season, 2008
▶️ https://song.link/y/hjvgHZ3cwI8
14/n #DeathAngel #Metaljourney
Here's what I have to say about "Killing Season":
Killing Season is a mad thrasher, holy cow!
🎵 Resurrection Machine, Death Angel
💿️ Killing Season, 2008
▶️ https://song.link/y/Vs8r8_Y295w
Ranking:
1. Act III
2. Killing Season
3. The Art of Dying
4. The Ultra-Violence
5. Frolic Through the Park
15/n #DeathAngel #Metaljourney
Next up: Relentless Retribution
It has to be said: Mark Osegueda's vocals aged like fine wine. On the first few albums he was more like a Belladonna/Hetfield/Mustaine tribute act. But ever since their comeback he really found his own style. And it rips, he's one of the best.
🎵 Claws In So Deep by Death Angel
💿 Relentless Retribution, 2010
▶️ https://song.link/y/Ve7olfzgiyg
16/n #DeathAngel #Metaljourney
While listening to this album I got a call from school that my kid got sick because of the heat. Because there is no AC in the school. If you read this in the future: there is a massive heatwave going on while I am typing this.
I finished "Relentless Retribution" today and again, it is a banger of an album.
🎵 Where They Lay, Death Angel
💿️ Relentless Retribution, 2010
▶️ https://song.link/y/1LLAtiwF4QU
Ranking:
1. Act III
2. Killing Season
3. Relentless Retribution
4. The Art of Dying
5. The Ultra-Violence
6. Frolic Through the Park
Thomas
Brian Nicar