Death Angel – Humanicide Review

By: Elberton Cisnero

Hailing from Daly City, California, Death Angel’s first foray was from 1982 to 1991 with a brief hiatus they launched again in 2001. Death Angel has released nine studio albums, two demo tapes, one box set and two live albums. The band has gone through several line-up changes, leaving guitarist Rob Cavestany as the only constant member; he and vocalist Mark Osegueda (who joined the group in 1984) are the only members of Death Angel to appear on all of their studio albums. The bands current line up includes: Rob Cavestany – vocals; Mark Osegueda – lead guitar and vocals; Ted Aguilar – rhythm guitar; Will Carroll – drums and Damien Sisson – bass.  Humanicide is their ninth studio offering and its what every Death Angel fan expects, thrash metal in its truest form.

The opening track is “Humanicide,” the title track for the album. Blasting off with a wall of sound, with melody driven guitar, the feel is all metal and Death Angel’s influences of bands like Iron Maiden is front and center. Carroll’s drumming is active but never gets in the way. Cavestany has a full-throated vocal style, as he enters with an impressive scream. The bands songwriting is strong with varying sections, changing feels and density, with catchy melodies and flowing lyrics. Osegueda’s guitar solo and fills are energetic and filled with melodic stylings. The tune makes for an explosive introduction to the album that continues to deliver meaningful musical moments.

“The Day I Walked Away” has a wonderful 12/8 metal pulse that pushes the song along with force from the rhythm section of Carroll and Sisson. The dual guitar work from Aguilar and Osegueda is outstanding and the two are always creative in their parts and how they interact.  Osegueda and Cavestany share the melody in a nice call and response style verse and harmonies in other parts. Osegueda turns in another fine guitar solo. The talent in the band runs deep, and it is good to hear a band work together and complement each other’s strengths to create impressive music.

Its easy to see why Death Angel carries on its legacy. Touted as one of the key bands in the Bay Area thrash metal movement of the 1980s, their music is much more far reaching these days. Keeping the thrash metal movement strong with their latest offering, Humanicide. The band proves once again why they are kings of metal!

Release Date: May 31, 2019

Label: Nuclear Blast

About the author

Elberton Cisnero

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