The unexpecting town of Flint is home to one the nation’s most celebrated independent music venues. The Machine Shop is a nationally acclaimed medium-sized concert hall that has been hosting, supporting, and celebrating bands for over twenty years. They accommodate a variety of acts and tend to favor heavier genres. This diamond in the rough was the perfect spot for Thrash Metal legends Death Angel to put on a headlining show. The boys from the Bay Area brought their magic to Michigan on one of their off days from the Klash of the Titans run. Kreator and Sepultura teamed up for a thrash-filled tour with Death Angel and Spiritworld as special guests. The hard-working quintet sprinkled in a few headlining gigs during the month-long tour and The Shop was lucky enough to snag one of them.
It was a pleasantly cool evening when the doors opened at the iconic venue. Festivities got started with two local favorites hitting the stage. Exploding Zombies and Die-Sect detonated their sets with a fiery fury and contagious pluck. Both bands provided a likable rambunctiousness and suitably revved up the crowd for the headliner to come.
The lights went down, and the floor shook as Death Angel unleashed their metal madness. A delightfully deafening roar rose from the band and crowd as the song ‘Lord of Hate’ erupted. The swiftness, keenness, and density in the strings of Rob Cavestany and Ted Aguilar were immediately felt. A wave of severe passion and potent energy washed over the attentive onlookers. Each attendee became immersed in the relentless riffs, deep grooves, and thundering double bass work. The low end was precisely executed by Damien Sisson on the bass and Will Carroll on the drums. Their pleasurable speeds hammered hard as their attention to detail delved into the gut where their power rumbled. The vocal range of frontman Mark Osegueda is supernatural. The man dominated the stage with his deliberate stare, smile, and sparkle. He held everyone’s attention with his unwavering falsetto, spirited screams, and dynamic intensity. A genuine joy was exhibited by everyone throughout the set.
Each member moved with intentionality and delight. They possess a showmanship that kindly grasps at and connects you to their authentic and passionate performance. Cavestany threw himself into each piece with a rare kind of exuberance that highlighted the aggression and complexity of his playing. Osegueda declared that the evening was a Thrash Metal celebration, and they prepared a banquet of delicious songs from all over their discography. ‘Mistress of Pain’, ‘Humanicide’, and ‘Absence of Light’ were just a few of the many fan favorites that they played. The group has been around for years, yet they have not graced the stage at The Machine Shop since 2008. It was their first time with their current line up and their magical meshing as a band resonated with everyone. The sweeping guitars, Osegueda’s sustained notes, and thoughtful thrumming made the night fly by. Their set was over all too soon. The crowd was left wanting more but were still very grateful for what they were given. Everyone beamed with sweaty faces full of excitement and satisfaction. The reasons why this band is a leader and anchor in the Thrash Metal scene was apparent. Hopefully, it will not be another fifteen years before they come back!
Buy Death Angel music here:
WORDS AND PHOTOS BY RAGIN ROSIE