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Reviews
Death Angel: Act III
10/05/07 || Global Domination
Act III is one of those rare albums that have stood very well against the tides of time, not a masterpiece of the era maybe, but nevertheless an outstanding effort in my opinion. Which of course, is what counts here anyway, since I’m fucken reviewing the record in the first place, right? Fuck off if you don’t dig it.
Some people (thrash purists ahoy?! Fuck off!) claim this was a departure in style, too far away from the standard thrash of the era, and prefer to call their debut, “The Ultra-Violence”, Death Angel’s finest. Well, if you didn’t see this coming after the also experimental and somewhat unfocused “Frolic Through the Park”, get a dog and fucken walking stick ASAP. This was evolution, towards the good side of the fence, I must say.
I always recommend this album as a highlight in experimental, well played thrash, attributes that always accompanied this outfit from their beginning. Death Angel was always a very skilled band, and while their first two efforts were enthusiastic but a bit flawed, they peaked here in “Act III”, taking their songwriting to the next level. Too bad we had to wait 14 years for the next step in their evolution, if the band had stayed together, they were heading to intriguing places.
All through this record we get treated to some very solid, groovy rhythm section and funky drumming, while the guitars offer some interesting riffing beyond the norm of the era’s thrash. Songs like “Stop” and “Discontinued” are prime cuts, so fucken groovy that they will make you headbang unconsciously, even if you don’t want to. Dennis Peppa fucken slaps that bass guitar like there’s no tomorrow, and Rob Cavestany is a very gifted guitar player that can shred and solo with the best. He’s Death Angel’s soul, and his versatility shines here as he also depicts more somber stuff in the acoustic based tracks in the album, the intriguing “Veil of Deception” and “A Room with a View”. The Spanish classic guitar influences on display on these two make the whole experience of thrashy ballads a lot better than many a Ulrich/Hetfield inspired dross we have been subjected over the years.
Another deserved mention goes to the vocals. Be warned, this is definitely half thrash, half something else, so if you’re looking for fucken Angelripper, he ain’t here, OK? Of course, he sings in Sodom, last time I checked. You know what I mean. Osegueda’s voice is cool, the choruses are fine, and the interplay is well worked, so it fucken rocks.
Final verdict, this is Death Angel’s finest hour on their first incarnation, and since the band has reunited, it’s yet to be seen if they can surpass it. 2004’s The Art of Dying came close, but that’s another matter that will require lots of thinking on my part, something I don’t feel like right now. Now, off with you, skunks! Get the freaking album if you want to know more.
8 experimental thrashers out of 10.
- Information
- Released: 1990
- Label: Geffen Records
- Website: www.deathangel.com
- Band
- Mark Osegueda: vocals
- Rob Cavestany: guitars
- Gus Pepa: guitars
- Denis Pepa: bass
- Andy Galeon: drums
- Tracklist
- 01. Seemingly Endless Time
- 02. Stop
- 03. Veil of Deception
- 04. The Organization
- 05. Discontinued
- 06. A Room With a View
- 07. Stagnant
- 08. EX-TC
- 09. Disturbing the Peace
- 10. Falling Asleep