Dark Angel (band)

Dark Angel
Also known as	Shellshock
Origin	Downey, California, United States
Genres	Thrash metal, speed metal, progressive metal
Years active	1983–1992, 2002–2005
Labels	Combat Relativity

Dark Angel was an American thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California. Their over-the-top style (extremely fast, heavy and lengthy songs with lots of tempo changes, lyrics and extended instrumental parts) earned them the nickname "the L.A. Caffeine Machine".

After releasing four full-length albums and touring extensively throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Dark Angel disbanded in 1992. They decided to reform ten years later, however, Ron Rinehart's vocal issues after an accident forced them to cancel plans to tour further. The band has been on an indefinite hiatus since then.

Biography

Early years (1983–1985)

Dark Angel formed in 1983 in Downey, California, right around the time when the Bay Area thrash movement was beginning to take place. They played in local bars and clubs, acquiring a cult following in the metal underground. The band began recording and releasing several demos until 1985, when they released their debut studio album We Have Arrived.

Critical acclaim and break up (1986–1992)

In 1986, Dark Angel released their second studio album, Darkness Descends, which is widely considered to be their seminal release. Around the same, several other thrash metal bands such as Metallica also released seminal albums and started to gain more popularity.

At this time, Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine asked Eric Meyer to join Megadeth, but he declined in order to stay with Dark Angel. According to an interview done by Voices from the Dark Side, Eric Meyer claims he did not feel comfortable with the situation.^[1]

Following the release, three more efforts would follow: Leave Scars in 1989, a live album, Live Scars in 1990, an apparent pun of their previous album, and what would eventually become the band's final album, Time Does Not Heal, in 1991. Time Does Not Heal shows increasingly progressive song structures (famously advertising its "246 riffs")^{[citation needed]} and Hoglan's lyrics dealing with psychological issues and trauma.

In 1992, despite working on a fifth album,^[2] Dark Angel announced they were breaking up to pursue individual careers.

Post-break up (1993–2001)

Since 1993, Hoglan had been collaborating on a number of musical projects. He achieved greater attention during the mid-1990s playing with Death, at the same time that bandleader Chuck Schuldiner was taking that group into a more progressive style. Subsequently, he recorded one album with the thrash metal band Testament, and made the acquaintance of Canadian multi-instrumentalist Devin Townsend, forging a lasting friendship. He has since recorded several albums with Townsend, both as part of the speed/industrial/death metal band Strapping Young Lad and under Devin Townsend's name.

Rinehart formed the band Oil in 1997 after converting to Christianity.^[3]

Brief reunion and second hiatus (2002–2005)

After a 10 year hiatus, Dark Angel reformed in 2002 with a new lineup featuring Ron Rinehart on vocals, Eric Meyer on guitarist, Danyael Williams on bass and Gene Hoglan on drums.

During the reunion, Dark Angel performed the Metallica song "Creeping Death" which appeared on the 2004 Metallica tribute album Metallic Attack: Metallica - The Ultimate Tribute.

By 2005, Rinehart had begun suffering health problems. According to Danyael Williams, Rinehart didn't recover from his injury and was forced to retire from music because the doctors told him he shouldn't sing again if he wanted to walk, thus ending Dark Angel's reunion.

Members

Last known line-up

• Ron Rinehart - Vocals (1987–1992, 2002–2005)
• Eric Meyer - Guitars (1984–1992, 2002–2005)
• Danyael Williams - Bass (2002–2005)
• Gene Hoglan - Drums (1984–1992, 2002–2005)

Former members

• Vocals
  • Don Doty (1981–1987)
  • Jim Drabos (1987) Former vocalist for Los Angeles Thrash Metal band Deathforce. Now is a police officer in Southern California.

• Guitar
  • Jim Durkin (1981–1989, 2002)
  • Brett Eriksen (1989–1991)
  • Cris McCarthy (1991–1992)

• Bass
  • Rob Yahn (1981–1986)
  • Mike Gonzalez (1986–1992)

• Drums
  • Mike Andrade (1981–1983)
  • Jack Schwartz (1983–1984)
  • Lee Rausch (1984)
  • Justin Mann (1985)

Discography

Studio albums

• We Have Arrived (1985)
• Darkness Descends (1986)
• Leave Scars (1989)
• Time Does Not Heal (1991)

Live albums

• Live Scars (1990)

Compilation albums

• Decade of Chaos: The Best of Dark Angel (1992)

Demos

• Gonna Burn Weed (1983)
• Demo II (1983)
• Live Demo (1984)
• Live Demo From Berkeley (1985)
• Atrocity Exhibition (1992)

Singles

• "Merciless Death" (1985)

Videos

• 3-Way Thrash (VHS) (1989)
• Ultimate Revenge 2 (VHS & CD) (1989)

Other appearances

• Metallic Attack: Metallica - The Ultimate Tribute (Creeping Death) (2004)

References

1. ^ http://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/interviews/darkangel.htm
2. ^ Encyclopaedia Metallum - Dark Angel (US) - Atrocity Exhibition
3. ^ Powell, Mark Allan (2002). "Oil". Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. pp. 647. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.