METALHEADS FOREVER, one of the biggest metal entities out there (having today more than 153k members, led by David Maloney) and Alpha Omega‘s partner since February 2018, have posted online their April 2019 issue, featured by Alpha Omega’s STEVE DI GIORGIO, WELICORUSS, PITCH BLACK PROCESS interviews, alongside DEATH ANGEL, ROTTING CHRIST and many more!
Bay Area thrash metal legends DEATH ANGEL will release their long-awaited 9th full-length album, »Humanicide« on May 31st with Nuclear Blast Records. Today, the band has unveiled the artwork, tracklisting and the record’s first new single, the title track, via visualizer. The new record will be preceded by DEATH ANGEL’s U.S. tour with OVERKILL and ACT OF DEFIANCE.
Watch the visualizer for “Humanicide”:
With their forthcoming album »Humanicide«, DEATH ANGEL has maintained their throne in the universe of Thrash while still managing to remain progressive in their style. They apply a wide variety of different elements to their music, always pushing to add newness to their sound. This time around they’ve included everything from acoustic bits, to guest musicians, to even (for the first time) the notes of a piano. All 10 songs flow seamlessly yet each leaves its own distinct impression. The first single and title track “Humanicide” triumphantly represents the entirety of the album, immediately energizing the listener. Osegueda remarks: “I wanted to write something that metal fans could really grasp onto. Something dark and intense, that still makes sense. Right now I think it’s so apparent that the earth is in a sickened state.”
“When I wrote the music for our song “Humanicide,” I was shooting for an album opener that would have all the elements of an epic thrash opus. This meant a classic metal style intro leading into a ferocious “Bay Area Thrash Riff-o-Rama” complete with a crazy middle build up section to ramp up the circle pit until it’s all whipped up into a frenzy by the time the frenetic guitar solo hits, then concluding with a maniacal musical section leading into the outro. All it needed was the lyrics and vocal delivery to match the intensity and Mark went above and beyond the call of duty! Some of his best work in my opinion. One of my favorite DA songs for sure, it feels like the follow up to our song “Thrown to the Wolves”. Can’t wait to play it live!” – Rob Cavestany
For the 4th album cycle in a row, DEATH ANGEL returned to their producer and friend Jason Suecof (DEICIDE, TRIVIUM) of Audiohammer studios for the recording and mixing, along with the mastering of the legendary Ted Jensen (SLIPKNOT, PANTERA) of Sterling Sound who added the final touches and brought it all to life, with artist Brent Elliott White (LAMB OF GOD, MEGADETH) providing the ominous cover artwork.
“I’m ecstatic to present Death Angel’s 9th studio album, »Humanicide«. This collection of songs represents the band in its current state – united, vital, intense and (still) hungry like the wolf! I wanted this record to be quite diverse stylistically while obviously keeping with the parameters of metal. DA has been known to push the envelope and we absolutely did this time. So many emotions expressed through our music, very much looking forward to adding these songs into our live set list. As I savor this rare feeling of satisfaction, we proudly unleash this beast upon thee!” – Rob Cavestany
»Humanicide« track listing:
1. Humanicide
2. Divine Defector
3. Aggressor
4. I Came For Blood
5. Immortal Behated
6. Alive and Screaming
7. The Pack
8. Ghost of Me
9. Revelation Song
10. Of Rats and Men
11. The Day I Walked Away (Bonus Track)
After the success of last year’s concept tour, it returns in 2018 again: “MTV Headbangers Ball” on tour! This year the concert reincarnation of the 80’s cult TV show has managed to get SODOM, DEATH ANGEL and SUICIDAL ANGELS on the tour bus.
Newly re-structured Ruhr Area thrash heroes SODOM with their celebrated metal veteran Tom Angelripper, recently achieved in setting Rock Hard Festival ablaze! It was the very first time the band have performed with two guitarists on stage. Fans can expect a highly entertaining show with a special set list. US metal act DEATH ANGEL will also come along to present their tight and stirring thrash metal, which they have been playing since the 80s and they are poised – as always – to take no prisoners. The youngest band in the line-up will be Greek underground champions SUICIDAL ANGELS, which were lately celebrated as the opening act for the mighty SATYRICON!
SODOM stated, “XXX”
DEATH ANGEL commented, “We’re comin’ back, we’re comin’ for you! We’re very proud to announce that we’ll be part of the »MTV Headbangers Ball Tour 2018«. SODOM, DEATH ANGEL and SUICIDAL ANGELS comin’ your way. November & December, see you there!”
SUICIDAL ANGELS added, “Here we go again, sharing some wonderful news with all of you! There could be no better way than this, to end the »Division Of Blood« era and head to a new album. The perfect way to end this year and the perfect line up for an absolute thrash metal mayhem! Wait till the announcement of the 4th band, ha! It’s gonna be killer.”
The next headliner will be announced soon, stay tuned!
»MTV Headbangers Ball Tour 2018«
w/ SODOM, SUICIDAL ANGELS
30.11. D Leipzig – Hellraiser
01.12. CZ Zlín – Hala Euronics
02.12. H Budapest – Barba Negra
03.12. PL Wrocław- A2
04.12. D Hamburg – Markthalle
05.12. NL Tilburg – O13
06.12. UK London – Electric Ballroom
07.12. D Oberhausen – Ruhrpott Metal Meeting
08.12. D Geiselwind – Christmas Bash
09.12. A Vienna – Arena
10.12. D Ravensburg – OberschwabenHalle
11.12. D Wiesbaden – Schlachthof
12.12. D Saarbrücken – Garage
13.12. D Ludwigsburg – Rockfabrik
15.12. CH Lausanne – Les Docks
16.12. D Munich – Backstage
Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice recently spoke to DEATH ANGEL singer Mark Osegueda at The NAMM Show 2018 on January 26 at the TASCAM and Nuclear Blast Booth.
Watch the interview here:
When asked if Death Angel has been working on new Material a follow-up to their last album The Evil Divide released in 2016
“That is what this year is pretty much dedicated to for Death Angel. We started the writing process we are at the very embryonic stage of it but planning to have the whole thing written, recorded and mixed by the end of the year 2018. “
When asked what was it like fronting a Thrash band in his Teenage years with Death Angel
“It was incredibly a wonderful, wonderful experience I did not know anything else. We were very fortunate that people liked our music and we were signed and we out a record when the thrash metal scene was coming out. Thrash was getting big everywhere. We were part of this underground thing that was happening getting to travel the world, play music and meet fans that were our age and a little bit older. “
When asked how accepting it was 30 years ago when the band started out to be a young US Pilipino band playing thrash
“We were from San Francisco bay area, which was a melting pot and a creative force in music and art at that time. In the Bay area, it was no big deal. Then we started traveling and touring North America, it was a completely different bag of beans when we hit certain parts of the States that did not really know what to make of us. A night walking to a truck stop in the South back then at two in the morning a bunch of ethnic teenage kids the looks we would get was definitely something special. “
When asked about the musical direction of the next album
“This will be the forth album with this lineup, the most albums ever by DEATH Angel with the same lineup. We are going to stay with the same producer Jason Suecof. We are going to stick to the same formulas, it is going to be aggressive in your face but I think our arsenal has a lot more varied like on the last album The Evil Divide, the song LOST. We always have our own subtle nuances that we throw in that other thrash bands just don’t do and I think that‘s what separates us from them. I do not know if it is a better thing but it is an original thing and that is what we always strive for.”
On December 1st, at around 11am we (Tarja and me), set off on the road on the coldest day of this year so far, leaving Liguria which normally is always sunny, but that morning the coast saw a rare phenomenon of nature, by several waterspouts! We also had some unexpected snowfall, and at some point we even feared we might not make it to the destination, but having been commissioned by the great Steve Di Giorgio in person, to bring him a pack of strings, we could not absolutely stop the journey! We managed to get to Trezzo (Milano) at about 3pm, and seeing already a decent queue at the gate, despite the door-opening at 6:30pm plus the freezing weather, predicted that ahead us would be a very very intense evening.
But let’s get to the point … unfortunately because of the interview with Steve Di Giorgio, we missed the whole performance of DEATH ANGEL, but some of our friends who were among the audience, told us that the band delivered an absolutely fabulous show, storming the stage, and preparing it fully for the killer evening, leaving nobody unsure of what is to come.
We left TESTAMENT‘s tour bus and entered the venue just in time for ANNIHILATOR going onstage, a group that I personally have never particularly followed, but the front man Jeff Waters’ killer machine offered us a real glowing show! They didn’t have much time available but they made it big, without losing a second. They opened with “One to Kill”, a song taken from the last album “For the Demented”, and then continued with the powerful “King of the Kill”, they really took the stage fully. Our compatriot Fabio Alessanrini behind the drums was impeccable, and placed a perfect base on which to build precise riffs, which is common only to a few bands. The crowd were honoured by a setlist that oscillated between new songs and old classics with a constant pogo moshing, closing the set with “Phantasmagoria”, sure to have warmed both the stage and the ears of the audience.
And finally it’s the turn of the San Francisco quintet, TESTAMENT, a band that needs no introduction! The stage for this “Brotherhood of the Snake” Tour is massive, absolutely the right venue for their 15 songs plus encores, with which the immense Chuck Billy and partners slam us in the face, opening with the wonderful “Brotherhood of the Snake” (the title track of the last masterpiece by TESTAMENT who do not seem to feel the weight of the years, but on the contrary), followed without respite by “Rise Up” and “The Pale King”, the crowd of the nearly sold-out Live Club, varied between old and new generations of metalheads, engaged in endless mosh pits, unique moments of respite were the great solos of each individual band member. A few technical problems during the first few songs on Chuck’s voice, which was practically overwhelmed by the devastating volumes of the instruments, and of a battery that crushed the rest throughout the show. The guys are in excellent shape, and there was total delirium during the performances of the monolithic “Low” and passing through “Souls of Black” and “New Order”, approaching to the end with “Over the Wall” …
The evening ended like every fairy tale, at the stroke of midnight, an evening that took us back through the years, by this formidable trio of bands on the stage, that will surely see the audience be back again, if the great combo like this should be repeated in the future.
If you missed it, listen to the interview, Tarja Virmakari, had with Steve Di Giorgio, at this location.
DEATH ANGEL Setlist:
Father of Lies
The Dream Calls for Blood
Claws in So Deep
The Ultra-Violence (beginning only)
Thrown to the Wolves
Mistress of Pain
The Moth
ANNIHILATOR Setlist:
One to Kill
King of the Kill
No Way Out
Set the World on Fire
W.T.Y.D.
Twisted Lobotomy
Alison Hell
Human Insecticide
Phantasmagoria
TESTAMENT Setlist:
Brotherhood of the Snake
Rise Up
The Pale King
More Than Meets the Eye
Centuries of Suffering
Electric Crown (preceded by Alex Skolnick solo)
Into the Pit
Low
Stronghold
Throne of Thorns
Eyes of Wrath (preceded by Eric Peterson solo)
First Strike Is Deadly (preceded by Gene Hoglan solo)
Urotsukidôji (preceded by Steve DiGiorgio solo)
Souls of Black
The New Order
Encore:
Practice What You Preach
Disciples of the Watch
Encore 2:
Over the Wall
Watch a video footage “Death Angel, Annihilator, Testament @ Live club” – courtesy of Emanuele Mandelli from Sussurrandom TV:
Bay area thrash giants TESTAMENT have released a video announcement for the upcoming European “Brotherhood of the Snake Tour 2017” with ANNIHILATOR and DEATH ANGEL. Watch the video below. TESTAMENT will tour in support of their latest album. “Brotherhood Of The Snake” received raving reviews from all over the world and hit the charts in numerous countries upon its release in October 2016.
Brotherhood of the Snake Tour 2017 TESTAMENT ANNIHILATOR DEATH ANGEL Presented by: Metal Hammer, EMP, Musix, Metal.de, Nuclear Blast, RTN-Touring
11.11.2017 DE – Weissenhäusser Strand, Metal Hammer Paradise*
12.11.2017 BE – Antwerp, Trix
14.11.2017 DE – Berlin, Astra
15.11.2017 PL – Warsaw, Progresja
16.11.2017 SK – Kosice, Collosseum
17.11.2017 PL – Wroclaw, A2
18.11.2017 HU – Budapest, Barba Negra
19.11.2017 CZ – Brno, Sono Centrum
20.11.2017 AT – Vienna, Arena
22.11.2017 DE – Wiesbaden, Schlachthof
23.11.2017 DE – Munich, Backstage
24.11.2017 DE – Saarbrücken, Garage
25.11.2017 DE – Stuttgart, LKA Longhorn
26.11.2017 SI – Ljubljana, Kino Siska
27.11.2017 DE – Nürnberg, Löwensaal
28.11.2017 CH – Pratteln, Z7
30.11.2017 IT – Bologna, Estragon
01.12.2017 IT – Milano, Live Club
02.12.2017 CH – Fribourg, Fri-Son
03.12.2017 FR – Toulouse, Bikini
04.12.2017 ES – Madrid, La Riviera
06.12.2017 FR – Lyon, Transbordeur
07.12.2017 FR – Nantes, Stereolux
08.12.2017 FR – Paris, Bataclan
09.12.2017 DE – Oberhausen, Ruhrpott Metal Meeting
10.12.2017 NL – Haarlem, Patronaat
*TESTAMENT only
Order the album today digitally via iTunes or Amazon. Various physical formats (Digibook, Limited Box Set, Limited Mailorder Box Set, Vinyl) are also available from Nuclear Blast: http://nblast.de/TestamentBOTSNB
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST – Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements!
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 