Death Angel - The Dream Calls For Blood

Published September 28 2013

*=Staff's pick	Left For Dead* Son Of The Morning Fallen The Dream Calls For Blood Succubus* Execution - Don't Save Me* Caster Of Shame Detonate Empty Territorial Instinct/Bloodlust*

Genre	Thrash Metal	Mark Osegueda	Vocals
Tracks	10	Rob Cavestany	Guitar
Running time	47 Min.	Ted Aguilar	Guitar
Label	Nuclear Blast	Damien Sisson	Bass
Release	09 October 2013	Will Carroll	Drums
Country	USA	-	Keyboard
Producer	Jason Suecof, Rob Cavestany
Similar artists	Exodus, Hirax

Bay Area veteran thrashers Death Angel's 7th studio effort takes off where the latest release, 2010's Relentless Retribution left. This unit has passed through rocky roads along its existence and never had that big break and great success that a few of its equals were privileged to have. This release also marks both bassplayer Damien Sisson's and drummer Will Carroll's second effort with the band and perhaps this lineup will stay solid through thick and thin.

The Dream Calls For Blood is a statement to today's thrash scene and a rather typical Death Angel album where the band stays true to its hammering sound. It's filled to the brim with whipping fury and numerous crushing riffs. Intense, aggressive and explosive to a point where mellowness is not an option. With a frequent full throttle, a dismounted brake pedal and an endless amount of fuel, they keep themselves in an upright position and on attack all throughout this record that really contains no low points.

Although the absolute top levels aren't reached on a constant basis, they wash away all doubters, as they tear themselves apart to create a solid thrash metal assault. With Rob Cavestany writing all songs and with his involvement in the production, the guitars, with leads and cool plays in between the verses, naturally wind up in the center of attention, together with lead singer Mark Osegueda, whose angry, raw and direct appearance sets a brand of determination on this release as well.

The production functions as a chain between a classic sound deriving from the eighties and new elements of today's engineering and I like what I hear. Significant variation isn't this band's trademark and if you can't stand a record that definitely doesn't span over an endless ocean of musical directions, this release won't be your first choice. This is something that indeed stays fixed within its own genre without intentions to build new bridges.

See also review of: A Thrashumentary , Relentless Retribution , Killing Season
See also: interview with Rob Cavestany

Performance	Originality	Production	Vocals	Songwriting
7	6	7	7	7

Summary
7 chalices of 10 - Tobbe