On Sunday night, California thrash metallers Dark Angel took to the stage at The Phoenix alongside fellow ’80s thrashers Hirax and relative newcomers Void as part of the tour behind their latest album (and first since 1991) Extinction Level Event. Not only was Dark Angel touring behind a new release for the first time in over 30 years, it was also the band’s first tour across North America in quite some time.
As such, you’d imagine the anticipation amongst fans would have been high, and while there were definitely a few hardcore fans front and centre, the show was sadly a little underattended, with a relatively sparse crowd making it out. Chalk that up to an aging fanbase, a Sunday night show, and a glut of recent metal shows forcing people to make some tough choices – I’d wager more than a few who skipped this show were resting up so they could take in the Judas Priest and Alice Cooper show the following night.
Still, Dark Angel made the most of it regardless, giving their all for a solid performance that included classics like “Darkness Descends” and “Death is Certain (Life is Not)” as well as newer tunes like “Apex Predator” and “Woke Up to Blood.” Vocalist Ron Rinehart also made full use of the extra space, roaming into the crowd during several songs to get up close and personal and connect directly with fans.
Rinehart pointed out that all the band members up on stage were the same guys who’ve played in the band since 1987, with the exception of guitarist Laura Christine, who replaced the late Jim Durkin. Durkin, who passed away in 2023, made his final songwriting contributions to the new album, including the title track, which was dedicated to him during the performance. The whole band sounded great, but special mention must be given to the band’s not-so-secret weapon – drummer Gene Hoglan.
“The Avengers have an Incredible Hulk, I have an incredible Hoglan!” quipped Rinehart at one point and he’s not wrong – Hoglan is a powerhouse drummer who’s also played with everyone from Testament to Death to Dethklok and is indisputably one of the GOATs of metal. Seeing Hoglan in action is never not impressive.
Also impressive were Hirax, who arguably stole the show with a blistering performance that drew from throughout their career, stretching back to 1985’s Raging Violence all the way up to this year’s Faster Than Death. While Dark Angel has kept most of their classic lineup intact, Hirax frontman Katon W. De Pena is the lone original member, surrounding himself with a bunch of young guns and running through songs like “Hate, Fear and Power” and “Destroy” with the energy of a man half his age.
All in all, it may not have been a packed house, but those who showed up were treated to a night of thrash done right – loud, fast, and unapologetically old school.
