Walking out of Slim's with my ears ringing after the show, I immediately started to think about how I was going to start this review. I usually like to prelude my reviews of metal and punk shows with some ego stroking, and by writing (and rambling) on and on about how hardcore or "old school" I think I am because I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and my friends and I watched as the whole thrash-metal scene unfolded pretty much right in front of our eyes. I will also usually try to name drop some of the bands that I saw back in the day, or boast about how I saw those bands play in tiny little clubs way before they ever started to play arenas. But not this time. Rather than go on and on about how I've seen Death Angel more than 20 times over the years or about how I stage dived at a few of their shows at The Stone and Ruthie's Inn well over 20 years ago, I am going to cut the bullshit and am going to give you, the reader, the perfect four-word prelude to this review: Death Angel Fucking Ruled.
Fellow Bay Area thrash legends Forbidden were the perfect band to open for Death Angel. Playing together with the original lineup of Russ Anderson on vocals, Greg Locicero and Glen Alvelais on guitars, and Matt Camacho on bass (drummer Paul Bostaph, who is now drumming for Testament has been replaced by ex-Testament skin basher Gene Hoglan) for the first time since the Thrash of the Titans show in 2001, Forbidden proved that they are in no way back at it for nostalgia purposes, and thrashed away just as hard if not harder then they did way back in 1987. Although he can't quite hit the high notes anymore, Russ still sounded pretty damn good, and hearing him belt out "Off the Edge" gave me a total flashback of the last time I saw them, which was at The Omni in Oakland many, many moons ago. Locicero and Alvelais provided a pretty fucking killer guitar attack, and showed the packed-to-the-rafters crowd that they still have more than enough riffage left in them. Speaking of the crowd, they (and myself) loved every minute of it, and more than a handful of them were engaging in some serious old school headbanging. Highlights of their set for me included "Through Eyes of Glass," "March Into Fire," "One Foot In Hell" and "Feel No Pain," and as they walked of stage after "Chalice Of Blood," Forbidden totally left me wanting more from them. I'm pretty stoked to see this band reformed, and hopefully will get a chance to see them live again.
Trying to make my way from the front of the stage to the bar, I thought to myself that this is what a metal show is suppose to be like. Slim's was already a hot, smelly, sweaty mess, and only one band had been on stage. Although everyone in the place was elbow to fucking elbow, there was an excitement in the air that I have not felt at a show in a very long time, and that's saying a lot, because I still I go to a ton of shows. After slamming my beer and making my back to the front of the stage, I had a sense that something big was about to happen, and I was right.
Hitting the stage and immediately launching into "Lords of Hate," of their just released Killing Season album, Death Angel seemed to be on a mission, and had an intensity on stage that I don't think I have ever witnessed from them before. After assaulting the crowd with "Seemingly Endless Time" from Act III, the band tore through "Buried Alive," (no, not the Venom song) “Dethroned,” and “Carnival Justice,” also all off of "Killing Season," and all I could do was watch and listen in total amazement. Rob Cavestany was absolutely manic on guitar, and how he manages to play with such precision while being as animated as he is blows me away. Bassist Dennis Pepa was also in a frenzy, acting as though he was playing bass for a hardcore band, and covering every inch of the stage in a total blur, while drummer Andy Galeon brought back memories of a certain little Danish drummer, though unlike him, Galeon obviously still has his skills. Rhythm guitarist Ted Aguilar, although he kind of plays the straight man on stage, was on fire as well, and watching him trade riffs with guitar god Cavestany made me realize how good of a guitar player he really is. Flipping off my camera was a nice touch.
After catching his breath from a pretty brutal rendition of "Voracious Souls," singer Mark Osegueda finally took a breather, as well as a swig from his bottle of Gin. Mark may very well be the best front man in metal today, and his energy is the fuel that feeds the Death Angel fire. After surveying the crowd and smiling, he let them know they were beautiful, "In a metal sort of way." I've always respected Osegueda's sincerity on stage, and when he talks about how much he and the band appreciates both their fans and their hometown, you can hear the emotion in his voice. He (and the entire band) has an unparalleled respect for the people that support them, and to me, that speaks volumes.
Sonically beating down the crowd with a mix of the new material such as "Soulless," "When Worlds Collide" and "The Noose" with older classics "Kill As One" "Mistress of Pain," "Disturbing The Peace" and "Bored," Death Angel showed the crowd not only how far they have come musically after all these years, but also how good their new material is. Together the 5 of them could not have been any tighter up there tonight, and they showed everyone in the room just how full of fucking talent they are. After almost two solid hours on stage they brought the evening to an all-too-soon close with "Sonic Beatdown," "Thrown To The Wolves" and "Resurrection Machine." Although I heard from a friend that "Thrashers" was played as part of the encore the following night, it was a perfect end to a damn near perfect evening as far as I'm concerned.
In closing, please see the last four words of paragraph number one.
More on Death Angel here: www.deathangel.com
More on Forbidden here: www.myspace.com/forbidden__evil
