Death Angel - The Art Of Dying (2LP) - Translucent Yellow Vinyl

Death Angel’s The Art of Dying is the kind of comeback record that doesn’t make excuses. Released in 2004 on Nuclear Blast, it snaps back into the Bay Area thrash conversation with a mix of muscle, melody and real-world grit that feels earned after a long break. The band had been dormant since Act III in 1990, then reunited for the Thrash of the Titans benefit in 2001, and you can hear that pent-up energy channelling through every chorus and chug.

The lineup alone tells a story. Mark Osegueda sounds ferocious and nimble, as if he never left the stage. Rob Cavestany’s riffing is razor-sharp and restless, the kind of guitar work that made the early records so influential. Ted Aguilar locks in as the second guitarist, giving the attack extra weight, while Dennis Pepa’s bass has that punchy, street-level thrum that always grounded the band’s speed. Andy Galeon remains a weapon behind the kit, quick on the feet and tasteful with the cymbal work, a reminder that Death Angel’s rhythm section could groove without losing the plot.

The set opens with Thrown to the Wolves, which has rightly become a fan favourite and a live staple. It barrels forward with that classic Bay Area gallop, but the hook is unmistakably Death Angel, tuneful without softening the bite. If you grew up on The Ultra-Violence and Frolic Through the Park, it feels like a bridge back to those days, just with cleaner production and a thicker guitar sound. The album leans into that balance throughout, the tempo shifts working like little adrenaline shots rather than detours.

What makes The Art of Dying special is the sense of camaraderie baked into it. You can hear old friends finding their footing again, not by retracing the past but by building on it. There is a toughness in the lyrics that mirrors the band’s own history, all perseverance and defiance, but there is warmth too. Thicker than Blood hits that sweet spot, an anthem that nods to the band’s tight-knit origins and the community that kept the flame burning while they were away. It is catchy in a way that most reunions aren’t brave enough to attempt.

Production-wise, the record sits comfortably in that early 2000s metal space, crisp and punchy, vocals up front, guitars stacked just right. It lets Galeon’s kick patterns cut through and gives Cavestany the room to weave in little melodic phrases between the riffs. Nothing feels overcooked. If you spin it on a decent system, the low end snaps and the choruses pop, the way good thrash should. It makes you want to hunt down The Art of Dying vinyl, because this kind of attack begs for a needle drop and a living room headbang.

The critical reception at the time was welcoming, and rightly so. Longtime fans heard the band they loved, not a nostalgia act. Newer listeners found a record that could hang with the heavier releases of the day while still flying the classic flag. In hindsight, The Art of Dying laid the groundwork for the band’s busy second act, from stacked festival bills to a string of well-received albums that followed. It is the sound of a group reclaiming its identity in real time.

There are plenty of neat details for gear tragics and riff-heads too, like the tightness in the palm-mutes and those quick harmonic flares that Cavestany slides in almost offhandedly. Osegueda’s phrasing carries that soulful edge that set Death Angel apart from their peers back in the day. Even the mid-tempo stretches keep a coiled tension, so when the speed kicks back in, it hits harder. It is tough, lively and just musical enough to stick with you after the volume comes down.

For collectors, Death Angel vinyl is always worth a dig, and this era sounds fantastic on wax. If you’re browsing a Melbourne record store on a Saturday arvo or scrolling to buy Death Angel records online, keep an eye out for The Art of Dying sitting alongside the early classics. Death Angel albums on vinyl tend to move quickly, and with good reason, they reward repeat spins. In a scene that can sometimes mistake heaviness for heart, this record brings both, and that makes it a keeper in any stack of vinyl records Australia collectors prize.