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Biography
Infobox musical artist | name = Dark Angel| image =| caption =| image_size =| background = group_or_band| alias = Shellshock| origin = Downey , California , United States | genre = Thrash metal , speed metal , progressive metal | occupation =| years_active = 1983–1992, 2002–2005| label = Combat Records|Combat Relativity Records|Relativity | associated_acts =| website =| Former_members = Ron Rinehart Eric Meyer (musician)|Eric Meyer Danyael Williams Gene Hoglan Don Doty Jim Drabos Jim Durkin Brett Eriksen Chris McCarthy Rob Yahn Mike Gonzalez Mike Andrade Bob Gourley Jack Schwartz Lee Rausch Dark Angel was an United States|American thrash metal band from Los Angeles , California . Their over-the-top style (extremely fast, heavy and lengthy songs with lots of tempo changes, lyrics and extended instrumental parts) earned them the nickname "the L.A. Caffeine Machine".
After releasing four full-length albums and touring extensively throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Dark Angel disbanded in 1992. They decided to reform ten years later, however, Ron Rinehart 's vocal issues after an accident forced them to cancel plans to tour further. The band has been on an indefinite hiatus since then.
Biography
Early years (1983–1985)
Dark Angel formed in 1983 in Downey, California , right around the time when the Bay Area thrash movement was beginning to take place. They played in local bars and clubs, acquiring a cult following in the metal underground. The band began recording and releasing several demos until late 1984, when they released their debut studio album We Have Arrived (album)|We Have Arrived .
Critical acclaim and break up (1986–1992)
In 1986, Dark Angel released their second studio album, Darkness Descends , which is widely considered to be their seminal release. Around the same, several other thrash metal bands such as Metallica also released seminal albums and started to gain more popularity.
At this time, Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine asked Eric Meyer (musician)|Eric Meyer to join Megadeth, but he declined in order to stay with Dark Angel. According to an interview done by Voices from the Dark Side, Eric Meyer claims he did not feel comfortable with the situation. http://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/interviews/darkangel.htm
Following the release, three more efforts would follow: Leave Scars in 1989, a live album, Live Scars in 1990, an apparent pun of their previous album, and what would eventually become the band's final album, Time Does Not Heal , in 1991. Time Does Not Heal shows increasingly progressive metal|progressive song structures (famously advertising its "246 riff s")Citation needed|date=June 2009 and Hoglan's lyrics dealing with psychological issues and trauma.
In 1992, despite working on a fifth album, http://www.metal-archives.com/release.php? id=17993 Encyclopaedia Metallum - Dark Angel (US) - Atrocity Exhibition Dark Angel announced they were breaking up to pursue individual careers.
Post-break up (1993–2001)
Since 1993, Hoglan had been collaborating on a number of musical projects. He achieved greater attention during the mid-1990s playing with Death (metal band)|Death , at the same time that bandleader Chuck Schuldiner was taking that group into a more progressive style. Subsequently, he recorded Demonic (album)|one album with the thrash metal band Testament (band)|Testament , and made the acquaintance of Canada|Canadian multi-instrumentalist Devin Townsend , forging a lasting friendship. He has since recorded several albums with Townsend, both as part of the speed metal|speed / industrial metal|industrial / death metal band Strapping Young Lad and under Devin Townsend's name.
Rinehart formed the band Oil (band)|Oil in 1997 after Religious conversion|converting to Christianity .cite book |last=Powell |first=Mark Allan |title=Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music |year=2002 |publisher=Hendrickson Publishers |location= Peabody, Massachusetts|Peabody , Massachusetts |isbn=1-56563-679-1 |edition=First printing |chapter=Oil |pages=647
Brief reunion and second hiatus (2002–2005)
After a 10 year hiatus, Dark Angel reformed in 2002 with a new lineup featuring Ron Rinehart on vocals, Eric Meyer (musician)|Eric Meyer on guitarist, Danyael Williams on bass and Gene Hoglan on drums.
During the reunion, Dark Angel performed the Metallica song " Creeping Death " which appeared on the 2004 Metallica tribute album Metallic Attack: Metallica - The Ultimate Tribute .
By 2005, Rinehart had begun suffering health problems. According to Danyael Williams, Rinehart didn't recover from his injury and was forced to retire from music because the doctors told him he shouldn't sing again if he wanted to walk, thus ending Dark Angel's reunion.
Members
Last known line-up
Ron Rinehart - Vocals (1987–1992, 2002–2005)
Eric Meyer (musician)|Eric Meyer - Guitars (1984–1992, 2002–2005)
Danyael Williams - Bass (2002–2005)
Gene Hoglan - Drums (1984–1992, 2002–2005)
Former members
Vocals
*Don Doty (1981–1987)
*Jim Drabos (1987) Former vocalist for Los Angeles Thrash Metal band Deathforce . Now is a police officer in Southern California .
Metallic Attack: Metallica - The Ultimate Tribute ( Creeping Death ) (2004)
References
reflist Dark Angel Category:Thrash metal musical groups from California Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles, California Category:Musical groups established in 1983 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1992 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2002 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2005 Category:Musical quartets
