The 1986 Listening Post - Dark Angel - Darkness Descends

Dark Angel - Darkness Descends

#499/2147

November 17 1986

Dark Angel

Darkness Descends

Genre: Thrash Black Metal

2.75 out of 5

Highlights:

Black Prophecies

I hated their last one, I like this a little more.  Now, it’s not like I have enmity toward “Black Metal” or “Thrash”, obviously. When it’s done well, it can be great. To be honest, when the “singer” isn’t croaking his nonsense I actually think these guys have something going on. Apparently there was a new drummer who added a lot more punch and drive and I feel that in the music. But I hate the vocalist so very very much. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/darkness-descends/1005312128

The 1985 Listening Post - Dark Angel - We Have Arrived

Dark Angel - We Have Arrived

#95

March 1985

Dark Angel

We Have Arrived

Genre: Speed Metal

2 out of 5

Highlights:

No Tomorrow

You know what? Just cuz you wanna be a speed metal band doesn’t mean you can be that speed metal hero you hope to be. 

And if you announce that you “have arrived” with your album title, you better live up that declaration. 

Dark Angel HAS, indeed, arrived.

In the bargain bin. 

Well, that’s not entirely fair. I did quite enjoy the thrash of “No Tomorrow” and was somewhat surprised at the relatively competent acoustic part of “Hell’s On It’s Knees”. It does a completely expected pivot to thrash, how could they not? It’s not like they could sustain anything close to traditional song construction out side staccato lyric spitting and shrieking. But the opening was a nice diversion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pPsR1MW_9A