Rewind to 1991. As Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax were enjoying household-name status, thrash metal appeared to be entering a period of infinite creative fertility. Toward the top of the genre's second tier stood Death Angel, which positioned itself for a breakthrough with the highly developed, progressive-leaning release Act III before a road accident abruptly ended the band's career. Death Angel's three albums to that point still loom as classics today, largely because the original lineup -- five Bay Area cousins of Filipino descent -- played furiously speedy metal with a heightened sense of groove and rhythmic sophistication that few, if any, acts have matched since.
Now on its third album since reforming in 2001, Death Angel comes to town on its first proper headlining tour in 20 years, ready to make up for lost time with a lengthy, career-spanning set list.
Comments (0)