Search - Death Angel :: Art of Dying

TITLE OF REVIEW

General Zombie | the West | 08/03/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Well, looks like we've got another comeback album this year. A good one too. As you would anticipate, this isn't anything new or original, really, but it's good, and it's kinda cool to hear some new album which is almost completely devoid of any influence past the 80's.



Death Angel were one of the also-rans from the California thrash scene, arriving late, debuting in 1987. The Ultra Violence is generally considered a minor thrash classic, though their later albums are generally poorly regarded, and not considered to be true thrash.(I wouldn't no for sure. I only have the Ultra-Violence and this one) Although I can't speak for Frolic Through the Park or Act III, I can definitely say that this album isn't out and out thrash, though it is deeply rooted in it. Of the 11 tracks here, 3 are straight-up, old-school thrash.(Thrown to the Wolves, Prophecy and Spirit) No, Land of Blood and Thicker than Blood are a bit different, much more punkish and pretty groovy, coming off midway between Motorhead and thrash. The rest of the tracks fail to fall into any specific metal subgenre, though they all generally tend to have some thrash riffs, and lack any influences from Death Metal or later. They're just heavy metal. So, those looking for a straight-up, old-school thrashing will probably be somewhat disappointed, but it's still a good album.(And some of the tracks give you as good of a thrashing as you can hope for these days.)



The opener, Thrown to the Wolves, is unadulterated thrash, and by far the best track on the album. 7 1/2 minutes long, a pointless but cool acoustic intro, superb riffing, cheesy but effective gang vox in the chorus and a totally kick-ass solo(minus the pointless squealing at the beginning) Truly a brilliant track, and better than anything on The Ultra Violence. It shouldn't have been the first one on the album, though, as it creates inappropriate stylistic expectations, and raises the bar too high for the rest of the album. Thicker than Blood is the second best track on the album. The main riff is totally brilliant. Heavy, good groove solid melody too. Just a no-nonsense, driving metal track in the vein of Ace of Spades, but thrashier. The Devil Incarnate changes the pace. It's your old ominous and slow metal song. It's got vaguely hypnotic guitar lines, good vocal harmonies and a cool chorus. It thrashes it up nicely at the end too. Perhaps the third best song on the album. Prophecy is another standout, as it is the thrashiest song here other than Thrown to the Wolves. Not as good, but still solid.(It's a sad statement on the modern metal scene that merely having a good thrash song is something of particular note.) Word to the Wise is the metal ballad of the album. A good entry in the category, and it manages to avoid the standard cliches of the style. One line is really cheesy, both in content and delivery, but it pretty effective otherwise, with a very nice acoustic solo.(Cavestany work throughout this album is excellent.)



Still, I can only give this 4 stars as it's got a couple of bland, largely uninspired tracks.(Famine, Land of Blood) That, and other than Thrown to the Wolves and Thicker than Blood nothing on here is really all that great. Good, but not extraordinary. Still a worthwhile album."

DEATH ANGEL ARE BACK

Germain St-Pierre | 05/07/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a solid cd. I've had it for 3 days now and it gets better with every listen. It's not a straight Thrash album, but after ACT III why would you expect that? They manage to switch up styles very nicely and convincingly. There's a nod to punk, NWOBHM, thrash, some funkified metal, some hardcore. The singing is much better on this cd than any other DA release. There is a lot of energy coming through the music. It's nice to hear them switch up singers as well. Andy sings Spirit, Dennis sings Land of Blood, Rob sings Word to the Wise, and Mark does lead vocals on every other song. I would have given this cd 4 and 1/2 stars, but amazon won't let you. I would have given this cd 5 stars, but I feel ACT III has rights to that rating, this release is just below it. AWESOME."

Strong comeback from bayarea Filipino thrashers

jarkko raja-aho | Helsinki Finland | 05/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"1. Thrown to the Wolves, starts with mellow and light classical guitar then turns to fierce chopping of an thrash sound. Typical DA up and down notes and excelent tempo changes from fast to mid tempo. Got love it. Very quicly you find those familiar guitar hooks that mesmerises you.2. 5 Steps of Freedom, haunting guitar folloved by catching chorus. At the mid point song starts to build up and usual various tempo changes follows, included by haunted guitar from beginning.3. Thicker than Blood, sofar fastest beginning. Sort of funky/punky element included and sort of apetizer for rest to come.4. The Devil Incarnate, first song that coucht my attension at the very first listening. Slow, eager and sent of an original hate to your enemy is present. Rises you fev feets of the ground by it's vickedness. Catches up speed toward end.5. Famine, certain funk approch by bass starts beating the tempo. Little ironic glitch coming through. Semifast tempo keeps going through song, no mentionable tricks on this one untill end there's arise. 6. Spirit, luring guitar and fierce drumming followed by certified tharsh guitar by Cavestany. Pumping forward like an unstopable steem engine, you could run new time on track with energy that is released from this song.7. No, sort of punkish hardrock song. Naive guitar lines propably sound's better after few relaxing drinks.8. Prophecy, back to the more darker side of DA. Fully oiled metal machine pumping again. One of the best song on album, reminds of an earlier DA efforts. Lot's of tempo variations and melodic hooks included. Thrash song at it's most beautiful element.9. Land of Blood, strong bass starts folloving by bullyish singing with clear atmosphere of an manly additude. Fast and short song clears the stage for grand finale pair.10. Never Me, defenetely most catchy bass line on this one. Old school chops from Rob. Osegueda's familiar "lazy" tone on these vocals. Returns from chorus allways bact to strong bass and anarchistic singing line. Couple oasis of an gentlier guitar allso.11. Word to the Wise, light guitar and sad, disapointed and rough voice of Cavestany start's folloved by rising drums and up catching guitar. Overall feeling here is disapointment. You feel the dog eat dog world's pressure on shoulders but the hint of hope is luring there I guess. Ending is sad and thougthfull, very beautiful. Then it's gone and you found your self touch'd again by Death Angels way of rubbing your emotions.All together very coherent album. Since I've been listening all DA:s albums contiunosly last 10 years i was very affraid what might have they come up with. All expectations surely are satisfyed and no annoying commercial element's like rapping, DJ-schratcsing or nu-metal can be found here. Just plain pure original DA with of course new twist's of an even more advanced playing, production and song writing.Hopefully there will be more!"