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Death Angel's return to the UK feels like an overdue one, particularly since the absence of a tour here in promotion of their latest opus 'Relentless Retribution'. But good things indeed do come to those who wait as on this tour, the thrash veterans are playing their much lauded 1987 debut 'The Ultra Violence' in its entirety to celebrate its 25 year anniversary. Any London thrasher absent from tonight's show must surely kick themselves.
London's own Cypher16 may be an unknown act to many but these youngsters have already toured the US an India in their brief lifespan – all before even releasing an album. The music is an unusual blend of modern thrash metal with a few unorthodox moments. The Underworld is somewhat empty (possibly due to the football) but this fails to deter the band's spirit. Singer and vocalist Jack Doolan continually tries to engage the audience with his stage banter, successfully summoning a miniature circle pit around the venue's central pillar. However, his attempts at a wall of death are less realised. The audience applause politely after each song and the band's stage presence is severely limited, restricting any particularly hyperactive activity. Cypher16 may not have been the best support for Death Angel but they are palatable.
The anticipation is thick in the air for Death Angel and with the venue full sure enough the San Francisco quintet explodes into 'Thrashers', the perfect mood setter. The intensity is overwhelming , both on and off stage, with vocalist Mark Osegueda whipping his ridiculously long dreadlocks in every direction while stage divers and moshers make their presence known. Launching into 'Evil Priest', Death Angel's classic brand of thrash proves a strong hit with the audience. 'Voracious Souls' sees the audience crooning along with the melodic chorus and as if there was not a grand sense of unison among the beer-marinated spectators, the staple 'Kill As One' gets all fist pumping into the air.
Osegueda has always been superlatively gracious at previous London shows because, as he reminds the audience tonight, Death Angel's first show outside of America was in fact in London at the Clarendon Ballroom. Despite their advanced years, Death Angel demonstratively are not a band simply going through the motions, reliving nostalgia all for a paycheque. The members all have smiles tattooed on their faces through the show and the crowd interaction is very commendable without be gratuitous, unbelievable or affecting the performance in a negative manner. High fives are dished out to the audience whenever the band has a hand free.
Musically, the five-piece are on top form, only with Osegueda's higher range screams not sounding as clean as his younger years but this fails to detracts from the show. Although only two of the current line up appeared on the '87 classic, the newer members fill the gaps seamlessly. The ten minute instrumental title track proves they can cut their chops, to the background of the fanatics singing along to the guitars.
Announcing that an album would be played from beginning to end usually leaves no room for the unpredictable but during 'Final Death', a riff from Judas Priest's 'Breaking the Law' and 'Screaming for Vengeance' are shoe-horned in, alongside a sizeable portion of Black Sabbath's 'Heaven and Hell' complete with Osegueda singing along with the audience. The song returned to the end of 'Final Death', a remarkable unexpected turn.
The encore depicts Death Angel's latest career move, with 'Relentless Regression', 'Claws in So Deep' and 'Truce' form the 2010 album. The reaction is noticeably subdued but by forsaking 'Third Floor' or 'Seemingly Endless Time', the Americans show they are not a nostalgia act. Of course the real closer is from the 2004 comeback album 'The Art of Dying' – 'Thrown to the Wolves', particularly visceral and a great way to send the audience home. After a shower of thanks, handshakes and plectrums, the show concludes and Death Angel cannot return to London sooner. Fantastic.
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article by: Elena Francis
photos by: Dan Davies
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| published: 02/07/2012 10:38 |
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