Search - Dark Angel :: Live Scars

Live chaos

Patrick Stott | Rolleston, Canterbury, New Zealand | 07/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Thrash metal was born in the live arena. Too few live recordings of thrash bands were released. Fortunately, the live tempest of the blackened lords of thrash Dark Angel was preserved for eternity in this all too brief, but essential mini live album.Just a few songs, recorded at the peak of the band's powers in 1989, is an amazing document of the sheer intensity and sonic violence this legendary band could produce. You can literally feel the sweat dripping from the walls and smell the bloodlust of the frenzied crowd of bemulleted thrashers.Strangely, this recording had the best production job of any Dark Angel release up to that point. The riffs will start rabid thrashers drooling, as they cut through crystal clear, as do the leads. Gene Hoglan's drumming is incredibly precise, but also complex and brutal. Ron Rinehart's vocals also surpass his studio efforts.A nice inclusion on this album is the title track from Dark Angel's first, and now nigh on impossible to find, first album "We Have Arrived". It holds up very well against the later material.A short, sharp blast of thrash fury. This is the near perfect live mini album."