Prepare to be pummeled from all sides — in all the best possible ways — at a Death Angel show. Formed in the early 1980s, the iconic Bay Area thrash-metal band whips audiences into a frenzy thanks to speedy tempos, slashing riffs, and cathartic vocals. In fact, it's not out of the ordinary to see band members onstage headbanging in tandem with fans.

Death Angel tours include a spring 2019 headlining U.S. trek and a slot supporting Overkill's spring 2019 U.S. shows. The group has spent the better part of three decades gigging alongside heavy music royalty — from early shows opening for thrash titans Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Exodus, to more recent shows alongside Sepultura, Testament, and DevilDriver.

Death Angel Background

Death Angel emerged from the Bay Area's fertile music scene in 1982. Although the band's sound originally skewed toward straightforward metal — early inspirations included Iron Maiden and Tygers of Pan Tang — the troupe quickly embraced the burgeoning thrash-metal movement bubbling up around them. This led to 1985's Kirk Hammett–produced Kill As One demo and a contract with Enigma Records, which released Death Angel's landmark 1987 debut LP, The Ultra-Violence, a jaw-dropping display of speed, precision, and aggression.

Like their thrash-leaning peers, Death Angel soon diversified their sound and incorporated slower tempos, bluesier hard rock flourishes, and even stripped-down arrangements — culminating in 1988's "Bored," a favorite on MTV's Headbanger's Ball, and the major label-released 1990 LP Act III.

After taking much of the '90s off, Death Angel regrouped in 2001, more rejuvenated than ever. Lead guitarist and founding member Rob Cavestany and vocalist Mark Osegueda, who's been with the band since 1984, have steered the band into even heavier territory, courtesy of multiple collaborations with heavy music go-to producer Jason Suecof. Today, Death Angel command respect as elder statesmen of the metal scene, although resting on their laurels is not an option — or of interest.