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A single, solitary tout trying to ply his trade
outside a eerily silent Garage doesn't fill one with
confidence for a band who are making their "triumphal
return to form" with their first world tour in over a
decade on the back of latest release The Art Of
Dying.
Despite the morose aura that permeates from the box
office, one band with everything to prove are London
based thrashers Descent. They're off to a good start
if the bouncers' reaction is anything to go by, barely
a bar into their set and he is furiously unwrapping
his disposable earplugs amidst a barrage of somewhat
less than affectionate expletives.
Providing some high class grindcore that is all too
rare these days, stopping only to interject "If you're
not drinking beer or headbanging; you're rubbish!",
Descent are pedigree metallers. Finale number Reveal
is undoubtedly the highlight of their set, and
displays the kind of original thrash groove that
'nu-old-skool' bands like Killswitch Engage are
built upon.
Many a balding, stud clad Death Angel fan can be seen
yawning and hoping they make it in on time to the IT
office in the morning as a lengthy set change puts
somewhat of a dampener in the air. All is
forgiven, however, as the classical symphony pumps through the
PA, and amidst red smoke and many a raised fist, the
Bay Area metal legends take to the stage
dreadlocks-a-flailing, to "Revel and Celebrate in our
past, present and future!".
They certainly don't disappoint: The opening track
captures the fans a treat, drawing them to the stage
like flies to a flame. Freedom quickly follows and
proves to any critic that, despite being passed it, these
boys care about this mid week gig, and work the crowd
like they only just got signed.
Lead single from their first album in 14 years,
Thicker Than Blood goes down even better than the band expect, with Mark Osegueda slipping in a
suprised "Thank you!" as he is deafeningly rewarded
after holding out the mic for audience vocals in the
chorus.
Classics like Ultra Violence's Veracious Souls and Disturbing The Peace from their seminal 1990
release Act III go down an absolute storm, belted
out with passion and joy by band and fans alike. For a
band who are such veterans of much bigger venues,
Death Angel sound and look amazing, and more
importantly, genuinely care about the half full Garage
on this overcast summer night.
They may be ebbing ever closer to being labelled
old farts, (despite the fact that colleagues
Metallica and Slayer are still playing
from strength to strength) but tonight Death Angel are
akin to a fine malt whisky; with age only serving to improve and enrich their flavour.
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