| Written by Alex Stojanovic DEATH ANGEL IS: Mark Osegueda - Vocals Rob Cavestany - Lead guitars Ted Aguilar - Rhythm guitars Will Carroll - Drums Damien Sisson - Bass Release Date: May 1, 2025 Label: Nuclear Blast Records Website: deathangel.us Imagine a normal day and you're just minding your own business, and all of a sudden, a band you love announces new music, whether it's just a single, or the combination of a single and album announcement. It's always exciting! |  |
A few months back, we got a new single from the Bay Area boys in Death Angel, titled "Wrath (Bring Fire)", which is their first serving of new music in six long years since the release of Humanicide. For the last few years since the pandemic, the band have been working on what will be their tenth album, and follow-up to Humanicide, and they've been catching up on all the missed touring opportunities since the pandemic. In 2024, it seemed like the wait for the next album would be extended yet again when it was announced that Mark Osegueda is the new frontman for Kerry King's solo band.
Until the new album arrives, whenever that is, this new track serves as the tie-over. It's very much true to the Death Angel formula that they've been following with the last four records. That being said, it feels like a track that could've fit on any one of them. Mark Osegueda has always been one of the best and most dynamic vocalists in thrash, but I honestly feel that his vocal performance on this track, while strong in terms of power, lacks the dynamics that he's known for, and in turn, also makes for a performanc that lacks hooks. He's pretty much riding on more of a single note. Musically, the song doesn't feel as dynamic as most of the strongest tracks on the last few records, as it's fast all the way through.
For a first single in six years, I didn't feel that this song contained the strength that some of the band's previous first singles off the last few releases like "River Of Rapture", "The Dream Calls For Blood" and "The Moth", all of which were straight up crushers. It kind of sits in between the labels of "dud and "smash". Whether they're maybe trying to save the more potent tracks for the actual album itself remains to be seen. However, in terms of energy, the masters still have plenty of that in the tank.
Until the new album arrives, whenever that is, this new track serves as the tie-over. It's very much true to the Death Angel formula that they've been following with the last four records. That being said, it feels like a track that could've fit on any one of them. Mark Osegueda has always been one of the best and most dynamic vocalists in thrash, but I honestly feel that his vocal performance on this track, while strong in terms of power, lacks the dynamics that he's known for, and in turn, also makes for a performanc that lacks hooks. He's pretty much riding on more of a single note. Musically, the song doesn't feel as dynamic as most of the strongest tracks on the last few records, as it's fast all the way through.
For a first single in six years, I didn't feel that this song contained the strength that some of the band's previous first singles off the last few releases like "River Of Rapture", "The Dream Calls For Blood" and "The Moth", all of which were straight up crushers. It kind of sits in between the labels of "dud and "smash". Whether they're maybe trying to save the more potent tracks for the actual album itself remains to be seen. However, in terms of energy, the masters still have plenty of that in the tank.
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