Media
Type: DVD
Date
Released: 24/7//2015
Label:
Nuclear Blast
Death
Angel is:
Mark Osegueda | (vocals)
Rob Cavestany | (guitar)
Ted Aguilar | (guitar)
Damien Sisson | (bass)
Will Carroll | (drums)
Review:
Being
an avid appreciator of all things “making of” and “history of”, I jumped at the
chance to review this- over two and a half hours of footage combining both
those docu-genres. The first half of this engaging film covers Death Angel's
history. Yes, they were very young when they started out and yes, the band was
part of the second wave of Bay Area thrash so of course you get lots of their
contemporaries as talking heads or cropping up in photos from the time. Each
band member (as is now) are interviewed extensively and contribute interesting
comments to their history and path through the somewhat murky and ever changing
waters of the music industry. The spectre of This is Spinal Tap is never too
far away but things never get all the way there as the band members come across
as hard working and dedicated pros who often laugh at themselves and the
business. Certainly, the band has overcome a lot, for example a horrendous bus
crash which effectively curtailed their rise to the top- line up changes,
industry changes and even complete dissolution.
It
is noted that it took Chuck Billy having cancer to bring them back together,
but once reformed things were better than ever. At the heart of all this is the
music, of course. Death Angel have made some cracking records (The Ultra
Violence and Frolic through the Park are considered early classics) both early
on and recently in their career (The Dream Calls For Blood is superb). The
process of how they made ‘Relentless Retribution’ is the focus of the final
part of the doc. Jason Suecof is the studio maestro capturing the musical magic
while the band roll the songs out with new found enthusiasm due in part to a
hungry new rhythm section.
For
those with an interest in Death Angel, Bay Area thrash or musical history
generally, then this is a must watch. You will be pleased to know that it's
nothing like Some Kind of Monster, in that those involved come across well and
as likeable down to earth guys. There is not a therapist or a sweater in sight.
Much like the band's records, this is no frills; a metal documentary that does
what is says on the tin.
Words by: Richard Maw
‘A
Thrashumentary’ is available here
For more
information:
Official: http://www.deathangel.us/
