Death Angel The Ultra-Violence

Death Angel ‘The Ultra-Violence’ (Under One Flag, 1987)

Surprisingly, Death Angel were the best band of the day when Pringle, Gorgoroth and I went to see the awful No Mercy festival at the London Astoria. I say surprisingly because I have never rated them a single bit. I always liked songs, but Death Angel chuck out riff after riff as if they’ve got ADHD and never really produce songs you can really get your teeth into. It’s quite possible they did have ADHD as they were all about 14 when this album was released, a fact that the metal press never ceased to go on about.

The record is in mint condition and I’m sure was picked up during the fabled ‘Metal Section’ visit to Vinyl Villains. ‘Kill as One’ is a great thrash track and features some insane screaming from Mark Osegueda and ‘Mistress of Pain’ is a classic which I listened to many times on ‘Speed Kills 3’.

The rest of the album is underwhelming, including a 10 minute instrumental, and they went on to get much, much worse. Goes to show how bad an incomprehensibly drunk John Connor and a brutally loud and distorted Testament must be when this lot rise to the top during a gig.

Peace