Death Angel : Killing Season

=CoB Warheart= · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 8:53 pm Post subject: Death Angel : Killing Season

As a prequesite to the review I feel I should incorporate a little history of Death Anggle for those unfamiliar with their style.

Death Angel is a much overlooked thrash band that arose in the 80's right around the time that Anthrax, Metallica, and others made their rise to fame. Unlike the two above mentioned, Death angel mostly stuck to their thrashy guns, filling albums with 3-4 minute rip fests filled with frantic drumming, 200+ bpm riffs and jaw-dropping solos.

In 1990 they released "Act III" an album that is Death Angel's equivalent to Metallica's to "Load"....it got fame and maybe has a few tracks, but for the most part is a big departure from previous albums. Unlike "Load", "Act III" was an attempt at thrash, that just really failed....lame riffs.....poppy lyrics.....derivative solos....it was not good.............the band broke up soon after .

With the turn of the millenium and the resurgence of thrash metal Death Angel reunited , releasing "The Art of Dying" and finally "Killing Season", their newest release and the album I'm reviewing.

When i first jammed in "Killing Season" I was blown away by "Lord of Hate", a title track filled with sweet vocal bits, a good riff, and a cool solo. This was the Death Angel I knew and loved. Mark (the vocalist) has a very distinct voice, and odd mix between scruffy voices like James Hetfiled and more operatic ones like halford/dickinson.

The second track, "Sonic Beatdown" ensued and it was cool...a thrashy riff....nice lyrics.... ..but nothing really distinct

And then the third song came in..."Dethroned"....another decent song...but unremarkable..

Then the fourth..."Carnival Justice"....cool but not really mindblowing...

Then the fifth..."Buried Alive".....nice...but still not too remarkable..

Then the sixth...eh you get it.....

Unfortunately, the album for the most part went this way for the next 12 tracks! DOn't get me wrong...they are good songs, they are thrashy and fun and cool....but they are just about as blase and "yep thats the absolute most okay metal I've ever heard" as can be produced. There are 2 exceptions..."Soulless" is distinguishable because of its cool changes and political commentary-ish lyrics and "Ressurection Machine", the last track, is an absolute epic, perhaps as good or better than the first track.....but the rest....meh.

SO really, i can't advise picking up Killing Season unless you just need some new thrash to listen to or if you are a hardcore DA guy form way back.....there is just too much better metal to pick up....