DEATH ANGEL / WARBRINGER | LIVE REVIEW
Hobos, Bridgend, Thurs 10 Aug
After the success of the gig by fellow 80s thrashers Acid Reign last year, Hobos in Bridgend once again welcomes a legendary band from that scene with an appearance by California’s Death Angel. One of its best exports, but inexplicably unable to capitalise on the popularity of the Bay Area thrash scene in the late 80s, Death Angel have nevertheless managed to retain a solid fan base of loyal fans. Their current album The Evil Divide, released in 2016, was as fresh and vital as any album produced by their contemporaries and showed that there’s plenty of mileage in this band yet.
Main support for this tour was LA’s Warbringer. One of the newer breed of thrash bands, breathing fresh life into the genre, Warbringer are truly a force to be reckoned with live. Death Angel must be supremely confident of their abilities to be following this every night. Ferocious riffing whips the moshpit into an absolute frenzy with singer John Kevill barking out orders to a willing crowd, while the obligatory wall of death finishes off a pummelling set.
Doubts are raised as to whether Death Angel can top what we’ve just seen, but these are soon dispersed as they hit the stage with the classic The Ultra-Violence. Keen not to rely on past glories, the band showcase a number of tracks from the aforementioned The Evil Divide, such as Father Of Lies, which are equally well received as the old stuff. Singer Mark Osegueda proves his voice has lost none of its power as he sings the hell out of tracks like Lost, although he is guilty of a bit of over-enthusiasm at times. Addressing the Bridgend throng like he would a Wembley crowd, along with a near 10 minute introduction of each band member, was a bit much.
On the other hand, they put so much effort into every note that the break is probably needed. Kill As One sounds as good now as it did 30 years ago, and incites the biggest pit of the night before the band finish off with The Moth. A glorious night of old school thrash metal.
words CHRIS ANDREWS photos JONATHAN HERRON
