DARK ANGEL bassist Michael Gonzalez has dismissed criticism of the group’s comeback single, saying he’s “proud” of the music he and his bandmates have created.
Final Friday (April 11),DARK ANGEL launched “Extinction Degree Occasion”, the title monitor of their first new album in 34 years, which is due later in 2025 through Reversed Information. The LP was recorded and blended on the Armoury Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, govt produced by DARK ANGEL drummer Gene Hoglan, produced and engineered by Rob Shallcross and blended by Mike Fraser.
Upon its arrival, the “Extinction Degree Occasion” title monitor was met with a blended response from DARK ANGEL‘s longtime followers, with one fan writing on Fb: ” I used to be simply listening to ‘Time Does not Heal’ this week, man, Ron‘s [Rinehart, DARK ANGEL singer] vocals have been prime notch. Listening to this music i used to be like: ‘Is that basically Ron? What occurred to his voice?’ Let’s hope the album has higher songs, this one was boring and generical. Completely not value ready 34 years.” One other fan chimed in: “All that hype, then this. yawn. No [late DARK ANGEL guitarist Jim] Durkin, no [DARK ANGEL]. Hold it up.” A 3rd fan wrote: “It is OK. if it was a younger band, I’d say that is an important begin however for DARK ANGEL, it is disappointing. No one expects a brand new thrash gem like ‘Darkness Descends’ or a tech cult traditional like ‘Time Does Not Heal’, however one thing like ‘Depart Scars’ could be superior and revered.”
“The Metallic Command” radio present host Tony Webster supplied a scathing evaluate of “Extinction Degree Occasion” on Fb, calling it “completely horrendous. It is 4 minutes and 16 seconds of my life that I want I may get again after listening to it,” he wrote. “It is badly written, uninspired and proper now most individuals are speaking about how horrible it’s.”
Among the DARK ANGEL followers have been extra complimentary of the band’s new music, with one fan writing on Fb: “Yeah vocals are a bit loopy however the riffs are on level.” One other fan wrote: “The vocal is a bit totally different to what Ron Rineheart seemed like however that was 34 years in the past. It feels like DARK ANGEL which suggests they’ve their very own explicit sound reasonably than sounding like one other 1,000 commonplace steel bands. I can not wait to listen to the album.” A 3rd fan wrote: “It must develop on me however at the moment my opinion is contrived from their very own formulation with much less altogether good vocals. No catchy phrasing or cohesive riffing. Doesn’t suggest it will not develop on me or that the remainder of the album will not be good. General, I’m happy that they are again and hope they make a couple of extra runs at it.” A fourth fan mentioned: “Folks can piss on this all they need however I prefer it. A couple of many years move and folks anticipate all the pieces to remain the very same? Bollocks. It is steel and crushes a lot of the new crap on the market as we speak.”
After one particular person wrote on Fb, “I gotta surprise if persons are slamming on the brand new DARK ANGEL music solely as a result of their on-line buddies are as a substitute of forming their very own opinions primarily based on truly giving it a whirl”, Gonzalez weighed in under the publish, writing: “It’s what it’s. We made an album for us and the place we’re at now. Whether or not it is liked or hated, I am happy with what we have carried out.”
The “Extinction Degree Occasion” title monitor was written by Durkin a decade in the past, lengthy earlier than he suffered from extreme liver illness, and, to the shock of everybody, handed away in 2023.
“Jim Durkin left us with this badass tune,” Hoglan mentioned in a press launch final week. “It’s so DARK ANGEL and I am simply so enthusiastic about it. We made it the lead-off music on the file, not as a tribute to Jim or due to sentimental causes — like, ‘Right here is the music that Jim left us’ — however as a result of it is only a completely killer music. He wrote it ten years in the past, and by as we speak’s requirements it is nonetheless ball-crushing.”
The “Extinction Degree Occasion” paintings and format was designed by Cain Gillis, with ideas by Hoglan.
Earlier this month, Hoglan advised the “Everblack” podcast about “Extinction Degree Occasion”: “It is a fairly ferocious file. I am stoked with it. It took lengthy sufficient for it to come back out, however now that we’re getting nearer to the discharge, issues are beginning to get nearer to finalized with it.”
Durkin died on March 8, 2023 on the age of 58. An authentic member of DARK ANGEL, Durkin performed on the band’s first three albums — 1985’s “We Have Arrived”, 1986’s “Darkness Descends” and 1989’s “Depart Scars” — earlier than departing the group in 1989. He was a part of DARK ANGEL‘s lineup when the band reformed in 2013, and had been enjoying with them, on and off, ever since.
Previous to his demise, Durkin had been sitting out a few of DARK ANGEL‘s gigs. He was changed on the reveals by Hoglan‘s spouse Laura Christine, who has since joined DARK ANGEL as a everlasting member.
DARK ANGEL launched two albums with Don Doty on vocals — the aforementioned “We Have Arrived” and “Darkness Descends” — earlier than he exited the group and was changed by Ron Rinehart (after a quick stint with Jim Drabos in 1987). The band issued two extra studio LPs — “Depart Scars” and “Time Does Not Heal” — earlier than calling it quits in 1992.
Picture by Alex Solca
