Bay area thrash has come full circle as bands like EXODUS, TESTAMENT and the like are enjoying big success. Come 2004, one of the most intriguing bands of that genre released a comeback record, putting them back on the map. Come ’08, a new release by this DEATH ANGEL band hits the airwaves, and shatters all notions that the reunion record was a fluke. “Killing Season” is one of the best thrash records - not just this year, but also of all time. Taking lightning-fast changes from their debut, “The Ultraviolence”, and structure/harmony from their most accomplished release, 1990’s “Act III”, DA hits for the cycle. “Killing Season” shows a much tighter and more focused band, and the tracks deliver a truckload of neck-snaps in short spaces of time. In short, they deliver a huge bang for the buck. At the end of each song, you can feel yourself leaning back and uttering, “Wow!”. Mark Osegueda’s vocals seem to be getting better with age; his performance here is much better than ‘04’s “The Art of Dying”. The riffs are dizzying, with breaks and intricate guitar arrangements taking forefront so precise and well-executed, they amaze the ears. Aguilera and Cavestany deliver some real head-turning solos, especially in “Sonic Beat down” and “Dethroned”.

The production afforded here is top-notch. You can hear every string and cymbal, with Osegueda’s voice layered perfectly over the music and never obscured. The acoustic parts of “Lord of Hate” and “Dethroned” sound like the guitars are jangling in your back seat. Jeez, I really have no complaints about this disc, other than it should have come about 1992 or so, as a follow up to “Act III”. Well, nothing’s perfect, but this is damn good.

- Murtaugh

OFFICIAL SITE: www.deathangel.com

RELATED ITEMS: DEATH ANGEL - "The Art of Dying", 2004