Death Angel - Relentless Retribution

The long awaited album by Death Angel is out by the amazing title of “Relentless Retribution”. The first impression of the album left me kind of speechless, thinking: “Hmmm… here we have something special” and I was right. The more I listened to the album I understood what that “special” ingredient was. It was simply old school Bay Area Thrash Metal.
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\r\nMark and Rob, the two original members of Death Angel are doing a fantastic job, as you can hear great riffs and Mark still has that amazing voice of his that is the trademark of Death Angel. The two newer members of Death Angel on Bass and Drums (Damien and Will) are doing a good job as they still bring a new “direction/ mood” to the band without loosing the Thrash edge.
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\r\nThe album opens up with the title track called “Relentless Retribution” and it is full on in your face thrash metal. Probably the today’s definition of what is old school Thrash Metal. As Mark sais “We won’t be up-ended and we won’t be denied,
\r\nRelentless Revolution, Join us or step aside”
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\r\n“Claws In So Deep” is the second song of the album and clocking up to nearly 8 minutes. The song is a straight forward Thrash song with back up vocals and rhythm changes. Here we have exceptional guitar work amazing riffing and solos. The band got together and composed a great song. Towards the end the song takes a Death Angel twisted as it uses some classical instrumental guitar part to put an end to this Thrash song. That sudden change is great and it fits the mood of the song fully. So well done Death Angel
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\r\n“Truce” well here we have 3 minutes and 31 seconds of what Death Angel does best. This song will make you headbang until the end. Pay attention to the amazing drumming and great bass lines from the newer Death Angel members. Mark here does his normal voice and his much higher pitch. This song in a way can be identified as a song that was composed ages ago and brought into the light now a days.
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\r\n“Into The Arms Of Righteous Anger”: This song has a much more angrier mode that will make you put your fists into the air and do some damage. This song is more into the Thrash mode embarked by Death Angel on their previous album, but still a great song.
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\r\n“River Of Rapture”: This one follows the mode left from the “Into the Arms …” song but in a much more “screaming” point of view from Mark’s side. The song is great straight to the point, but nothing really special about it.
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\r\n“Absence Of Light”: A bit slower tempo song with many guitar changes. Very good drumming with many roles and double bass kicks when required. Mark here uses his higher vocal pitch throughout the song. The guitar solo will catch you by surprise it is simply great. Loads of whammy and faster soloing toward the end of it.
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\r\n“This Hate”: Well the title here says everything. Nothing really to write for this one, simply just listen to the song.
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\r\n“Death Of The Meek”: Well, well something the best stuff are left for the end. This is what Death Angel did here. A full on, Thrash metal song from start to finish. Great guitar riffs, lyrics, drumming, basically great performances from every single member.
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\r\n“Opponents At Sides”: A different approach to a song. More melodic with cleaner guitar picking and “dirtier” vocal lines. This is a more radio friendly song but still true to its old school roots.
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\r\n“I Chose The Sky”: After the mellow side, Death Angel returns back to their Thrash metal side straight to the point. Great riffs, simple guitar lines followed by amazing solos and great lyrical chorus that sticks in your mind.
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\r\n“Volcanic”: As normal Death Angel do an acoustic part, here the acoustic part is simply great and it goes under the name of “Volcanic”.  The vocals are simply great and as for the guitar work well no words will cover it.
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\r\n“Where They Lay”: This is the final song of the album, and I believe that they left the best song to close the song. As it is a fast, heavy and nasty Thrash metal song.
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\r\nAfter listening to this album a lot of times, I came to the conclusion that it is way better album that the “Killing Season” and the “The Art Of Dying” and that Death Angel have finally returned to their Bay Area Thrash metal roots by composing great songs. This album lives up to your Thrash metal expectations, simply just purchase it.
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\r\nLine up:
\r\nMark Osegueda: Vocals
\r\nTed Aguilar: Guitar
\r\nRob Cavestany : Guitar
\r\nDamien Sisson: Bass
\r\nWill Carroll: Drums
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\r\nJason “Ripper” Kasioptas\r\n