Death Angel - Relentless Retribution

Death Angel’s Relentless Retribution is old school thrash with a very contemporary production.  The albums songs have gotten me so excited to hear Death Angel perform them live, yet despite all of the efforts of mixing and recording, truly there is nothing that can capture Death Angel’s enormous live energy.  Fans are going to adore this album, as it lives up to its title.

“Relentless Revolution” the first track filled me to my brim.  While “Claws in So Deep” has a lot of singing, it reminded me of Machinehead.  Despite some odd lyrics it still made me want to push anyone that came near my desk and pump my fist in the air while standing on my chair.  Graceful breaks in the chaos like “Truce” merely up the intensity of the rest of the album.  Listening to “Into the Arms of Righteous Anger” has me itching to see it live; this song is my favorite on the album.  The riffs, refrain and breakdown halfway through had me knocking down coworkers and tackling the water cooler. 

Drenched and still banging my head throughout the solo made me conclude pretty early into the album it’d be best to listen to the rest of it in a secure location that wouldn’t get me fired.  “River of Rapture” is what I heard live as their “encore song” and on the album it was just as dangerous.  It sounds very much like the perfect fusion of original 80s trash riffs with climbing arpeggios and palm-muted riffs.   I love that Death Angel tries to remain true to it’s sound but also progressed forward, the best example is hearing a contemporary breakdowns, followed by 80s trash breakdowns for the circle pit break, and incredible solos.  Mark Osegueda’s super aggressive vocals sound amazing on this album.

While I continued down the street climbing up signs, flipping over mailbox’s, and chasing dogs, Death Angel’s “This Hate” made me feel like I was back in the pits at their show.  This also is my favorite song off of the album, as it was hard to pick just one for this album.  It made me feel great knowing that true thrash is still out in the world.  Relentless Retribution will show contemporary bands trying to pretend they are thrash bands how it is done.  “Death of the Meek,” was a history lesson wrapped into one song, hearing influences of 6 or 7 bands as the song progresses (Black Label Society, Megadeth, Slayer, Dream Theater), and all the while clearly hearing Death Angel.  Ugh that pinch harmonic riff really does tickle me in all the right ways!  So in conclusion, fans of thrash, fans of guitar riffs, fans of mosh, fans of Death Angel, go invest and enjoy this album-- but please be careful where you listen to it.

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*Comments:

September 21, 2010

Reviewer: Lynora

Release Date: September 3rd, 2010
Label: Nuclear Blast Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Relentless Revolution
2.  Claws in so Deep
3.  Truce
4.  Into the Arms of Righteous Anger
5.  River of Rapture
6.  Absence of Light
7.  This Hate
8.  Death of the Meek
9.  Opponents at Sides
10.  I Chose the Sky
11.  Volcanic
12.  Where They Lay

Total playing time:  56:40