The Bay Area produced some of the most important thrash-metal bands of the ‘80s, including Metallica and Exodus, and Death Angel figures right in with those greats. While the semi-clean howls of lead vocalist Mark Osegueda, the ominous chug of their multiple rhythm guitarists, and the firecracker howls of lead guitarist Rob Cavestany all scream classic thrash, a bit of New Wave of British Heavy Metal lurks beneath the band’s less caustic moments. Though they broke up after 1990’s Act III, their triumphant return in 2004 heralded the reemergence of a distinctly American brand of hellish metal.