Dark Angel
Darkness Descends
[Combat/Relativity]
Fuck Slayer. Sure, they used to be talented, but I think they've gotten so
big only because most people buy into their whole media hype and elevate
everything they've done to the level of godhood just because 'that's what
you're supposed to do'. The unfortunate side-effect of that is that so
many better bands get obscured by the 'well, they're just following
Slayer's footsteps' effect; bands like Possessed, Whiplash, and Dark Angel
(just to name a few). And as good as "Reign in Blood" may be (it IS quite
a good thrash album, but that's another review...), it pales in comparison
to another 1986 release which is truly the greatest thrash album ever
released, Dark Angel's second album, "Darkness Descends".
Crisply produced, blisteringly fast, and angry as fuck, "Darkness Descends" is the finest 35 minutes of thrash metal ever laid into vinyl and digital grooves. Songs like the title track, "The Burning of Sodom", and "Death is Certain (Life is Not)" are just mind-blowing whirlwinds of speedy riffs and shredding solos (courtesy of Eric Meyer and Jim Durkin) overlaid with Don Doty's vicious snarling vocals (and not in that Megadeth way either). Rumling underneath are Rob Yahn's bass assault and a solid wall of precision drumming by now-world-famous skinsman Gene Hoglan. And if you thought he was good in Death or Strapping Young Lad, prepare to be surprised, because I dare say he's gotten slower in his old age. Anyway, despite the speed factor, the finest song on this album is the slowest, the almost-nine-minute long "Black Prophecies", a thrasher of epic proportions (and it's not really THAT slow - slow for them is like fast for most metal bands - they really earned that "LA Caffeine Machine" nickname!).
To put a point on all of this, this album is great, a must-have for anyone addicted to classic death/thrash metal. On a side note, "Darkness Descends" has been out of print for some time, but has recently been resurrected courtesy of Century Media in Europe and Relativity in the States. Relativity should be boycotted, of course, as punishment for their foolishness in keeping this from us all these years, but I compared a promo copy of their version to my original CD and I dare say the reissue sounds better than the original (better level, thicker). Do what you want, I guess, but BUY THIS FUCKING ALBUM!!!
© 1999 lord vic
Crisply produced, blisteringly fast, and angry as fuck, "Darkness Descends" is the finest 35 minutes of thrash metal ever laid into vinyl and digital grooves. Songs like the title track, "The Burning of Sodom", and "Death is Certain (Life is Not)" are just mind-blowing whirlwinds of speedy riffs and shredding solos (courtesy of Eric Meyer and Jim Durkin) overlaid with Don Doty's vicious snarling vocals (and not in that Megadeth way either). Rumling underneath are Rob Yahn's bass assault and a solid wall of precision drumming by now-world-famous skinsman Gene Hoglan. And if you thought he was good in Death or Strapping Young Lad, prepare to be surprised, because I dare say he's gotten slower in his old age. Anyway, despite the speed factor, the finest song on this album is the slowest, the almost-nine-minute long "Black Prophecies", a thrasher of epic proportions (and it's not really THAT slow - slow for them is like fast for most metal bands - they really earned that "LA Caffeine Machine" nickname!).
To put a point on all of this, this album is great, a must-have for anyone addicted to classic death/thrash metal. On a side note, "Darkness Descends" has been out of print for some time, but has recently been resurrected courtesy of Century Media in Europe and Relativity in the States. Relativity should be boycotted, of course, as punishment for their foolishness in keeping this from us all these years, but I compared a promo copy of their version to my original CD and I dare say the reissue sounds better than the original (better level, thicker). Do what you want, I guess, but BUY THIS FUCKING ALBUM!!!
© 1999 lord vic