Review by Tobias on May 9, 2004.

This year of 2004 may soon be remembered for the mighty return of classic thrash led by two of the all time greatest innovators of the genre: Exodus and Death Angel. The reunion release of The Art of Dying is a guitar shredding wildfire thrasher that will grow on you faster than a hard-on.

It’s been fourteen long years since Death Angel rocked the metal world with the now classic Act III. Old fans are being reborn and new ones are coming to shape. There are times in our lives when we think about how cool it would’ve been to know about and understand the gravity of something big happening in metal as it happens. Now is that time. Soon you will see tribute bands beating each other bloody over which one gets to keep the name “The Ultra-Violence.”

The Art of Dying sports some of the best guitar work in the entire thrash universe, inciting window smashing and the like. I got so excited I broke a coffee mug against my kitchen wall… but then my wife made me clean it up and promise not to listen to Death Angel in the kitchen anymore. Riffs and solos and more riffs and licks and blazing solos and – gaaaa, it’s so metal!

In a true thrash vocal attack completely devoid of the worn out death growls or high-pitched Halford imitations, Mark Osegueda can make you act like a total idiot in public if you’ve got your earphones donned, on and cranked to eleven. There is no stopping the diversity he brings to the songs or the intensity of his thrashdom. With the variance in vocal performance from tracks with the classic edge of “Thrown to the Wolves” to the deeper register of “Land of Blood” there is one testament to Osegueda’s range (and Death Angel’s diversity) after another.

I really can’t complain about this album; it is rocking thrash fury that keeps you jumping. Sure there may be some parts that could use some refinement but this is Death Angel, a king among metal bands, and to me the flaws make it finer.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 7
Originality: 9
Overall: 10

Rating: 8.8 out of 10