DEATH ANGEL - Killing Season (2008)

DEATH ANGEL (usa)
Killing Season (2008)
Nuclear Blast Records

The triumphant return of Bay Area Pinoy Thrashers, Death Angel, after the numerous line up changes and music evolution, this band is 101% still loyal to their underground roots. They reunited at a benefit show for co-bay area thrasher Chuck Billy. Originally just for a one-time performance but the band was widely and positively received by the metal community that prompt the band to do some more shows and eventually lead to the recording of the new album.

'Killing Season' is my second time to listen to Death Angel.. First was 'Frolic In The Park.' I didn't like the album artwork, and I didn't appreciate the raw sound so I stocked my CD of Death Angel since then.

After hours of staring at a Pulp mag with Death Angel as their main feature, I decided to give it another try to listen to their stuff and 'Killing Season,' their latest album was great.

I can say that this is Death Angel's 'Black Album.' From mixing the sound and the musical style they were going, it pretty much went the same way with Metallica's multi platinum, self-titled 5th album. The bass is a little prevalent this time, and the song structures are slower, and it has more groove in them.

While core fans of their music disapprove the changes, the band has said in interviews that they recorded the album with what they feel like it should sound and not being pressured by anything.

And the end result:

Buried Alive
The intro is a bass driven build up that gives the listener a "the hunt is on" feeling, then gets to a heavy headbanging groove. Simplistic guitar patterns but very effective though Mark Osegueda lacks volume in this mix. If they put a tad bit of volume on the mic, the impact would be more effective.
The second part of the song is the old school metal speed trips and guitar solos.. The vocals is more intense this time with Mark screaming out the song.. Just lacks the aggression but the musicality is awesome, capturing the original thrash sound.

Dethroned
Haunting clean guitar intro that keeps you wandering into the musical trap of the band that, in an instance, turns the acoustic sound into sonic punches that weigh heavily into you then blasts with a superb blues oriented lead fill and hard rock song mainline. Mark did a great job here. His vocal style and hard rock guitar melody goes together like screws and bolts.. A dynamic song that really feels naturally done by Death Angel and for me is one of the highs of this whole record. A rebellious song of overthrowing power and authority..

Sonic Beatdown
One of the thrashy moments of the album, and if I remember right, the first single off this 5th album. Loud and insane, the guitar solo revives a lot of techniques and sounds that most guitarists today wished that they have thought of that.. Rob Cavestany did justice executing the solos in this song.. I love the dive guitar and the de-tuned guitar wailing.. Rob does better utilization of de-tuned scaling than Kirk Hammett..

Compared to 'Frolic In The Park,' this latest release from a band coming from a 14-year slumber is a huge improvement.. I like their new style and fresh sound better than before.. fusing old school thrash and a few hard rock influences here and there is very effective considering that these guys were around since the early 80's and they still made this album heavier than the previous ones..
Their music is better than ever and it doesn't sound 'forced' like Metallica trying to be heavy again.
"Killing Season" sounds natural, new, and still have the old school beat down..


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