| Dark Angel | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Los Angeles, United States |
| Genre(s) | Thrash metal |
| Years active | 1981-1992 2002-unknown (currently on hiatus) |
| Label(s) | Relativity Records |
Dark Angel was a thrash metal band from Los Angeles. Their over-the-top style (extremely fast, heavy and lengthy songs with lots of tempo changes, lyrics and extended instrumental parts) earned them the nickname "the L.A. Caffeine Machine" and the motto "too fast, my ass". Drummer Gene Hoglan is considered to be among the best underground metal drummers in the world.[1]
Contents |
History
They released 4 demo albums until their debut full-length LP We Have Arrived was released in 1984. In 1986, Dark Angel released their album Darkness Descends which joined Master of Puppets (Metallica), Reign in Blood (Slayer), Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? (Megadeth), The Dark (Metal Church) and Pleasure to Kill (Kreator) as highly important thrash metal releases of 1986 and is now considered by many to be a seminal 1980s extreme metal album. At this time Dave Mustaine asked Eric Meyer to join Megadeth, but he declined in order to stay on Dark Angel. Two more studio albums followed, Leave Scars (1989) and Time Does Not Heal (1991), showing increasingly progressive song structures (the latter album famously containing 246 riffs) and Hoglan's lyrics dealing with (especially for thrash metal) serious subject matter, often concerning psychological issues and traumas. After breaking up in 1992, Dark Angel briefly re-united in 2002. However, Ron Rinehart's injury forced them to cancel plans to tour and the band is on hold. Rinehart also formed the band Oil in 1997 after converting to Christianity.[2]
Members
Last known line-up
- Ron Rinehart - Vocals
- Eric Meyer - Guitars
- Danyael Williams - Bass
- Gene Hoglan - Drums
Former members
- Don Doty - Vocals (1981-1987)
- Jim Drabos - Vocals (1987)
- Jim Durkin - Guitars (1981-1989, 2002)
- Brett Eriksen - Guitars (1989-1991)
- Cris McCarthy - Guitars (1991-1992)
- Rob Yahn - Bass (1981-1986)
- Mike Gonzalez - Bass (1986-1992)
- Mike Andrade - Drums (1981-1983)
- Jack Schwartz - Drums (1983-1984)
- Lee Rausch - Drums (1984)
Discography
Demos
- Gonna Burn (1983)
- Demo II (1983)
- Live Demo (1984)
- Live Demo From Berkeley (1985)
- Atrocity Exhibition (1992)
Albums
- We Have Arrived (1984)
- Darkness Descends (1986)
- Leave Scars (1989)
- Live Scars (1990)
- Time Does Not Heal (1991)
Videos
- 3-Way Thrash (1989) (VHS)
- Ultimate Revenge 2 (1989)(VHS & CD)
Other
- Merciless Death (single) (1985)
- (compilation) (1992)
References
- ^ Hale, Mark (1993). "0705", Headbangers, First edition, second printing, Ann Arbor, Michigan: Popular Culture, Ink., 80-81. ISBN 1-56075-029-4.
- ^ Powell, Mark Allan (2002). "Oil", Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music, First printing, Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 647. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.
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| Ron Rinehart • Eric Meyer • Danyael Williams • Gene Hoglan Don Doty • Jim Drabos • Jim Durkin • Brett Eriksen • Cris McCarthy • Rob Yahn • Mike Gonzalez • Mike Andrade • Jack Schwartz • Lee Rausch |
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| Studio albums | We Have Arrived (1984) • Darkness Descends (1986) • Leave Scars (1989) • Time Does Not Heal (1991) |
| Demos | Gonna Burn (1983) • Demo II (1983) • Live Demo (1984) • Live Demo from Berkeley (1985) • Atrocity Exhibition (1992) |
| Other releases | Merciless Death (1985) • Live Scars (1990) • (1992) |
| VHS | 3-Way Thrash (1989) • Ultimate Revenge 2 (1989) |
| Related articles | Thrash metal • Speed metal • Relativity Records |
| Related bands | Death • Dreams of Damnation • Oil • Tenet • Testament • Devin Townsend • Viking |
