Death Angel - Relentless Retribution (2010)^{Release ID: 2893}

My relationship with Death Angel is not the best and so me finding a release of theirs that I enjoy is a rarity indeed and so one that needs committing to a review. To give some context to my dislike in general of Death Angel I have struggled to get on with Mark’s vocals in the main but also find the “fusion” elements of the experimentation of their sound to be often quite bizarre sounding. Overall, I have never found an album that I could say even half of which was to my liking, this lack of completeness just births frustration and I gave up bothering a long time ago.

Relentless Retribution does present me with the same challenges as before only this time around the experimentation is paired back Mark’s vocals seem to fit better this time out. I also must commend the guitar work of Rob and Ted which is brimming with energy and flair (without getting pissy) and really helps pull the album back from the precipice on more than one occasion it must be noted.

As I say, the vocals do not always nail it still and it is at these points where they start to grate that the riffs and leads really elevate proceedings, even if they do not necessarily lift anything into the outer stratosphere in the long run. The point is that Relentless Retribution makes for a great thrash metal album that sounds like it is made by a band rediscovering their form or even by a band younger than the actual age of Death Angel themselves. At times it is sharp with cutting riffs and chugging engine-like passages that make you sit up and take notice and overall, it presents as a fun experience.

Yes, there’s still elements of them going a bit too far for me (what is the thought process behind the ending to Claws in so Deep??) and this constant exploration of genres I their music I guess will just never sit well with me. However, credit where credit is due, this is a solid album that entertains and there are not many of these in the DA discography to my ears.

Death Angel makes a strong statement

Surprisingly good! My favorite of the modern era of Death Angel. They hadn't sounded this fresh the 80s and haven't again since. Their mid-tempo thrash riffs and snarling vocals are at their crispest here, and they also take a few risks that pay off like on the story-oriented "Opponents At Sides" - a song that feels more 'epic' with its longer run time and clean vocal sections. Perhaps overstays its welcome with 3-4 songs I consider filler, but there's an ample helping of great stuff here! Recommended if you enjoy some good 'ole thrash/heavy metal with an angry bite to it.

Highlights: Absence of Light, Opponents at Sides, This Hate, Truce