Death Angel - The Bastard Tracks (2021) [FLAC] {Ward Records GQCS-91124~5}
Release Info:
RLSDATE: 2025/10/04 RTLDATE: 2021/12/29
GENRE: Heavy Metal SiZE: 622 MB
SOURCE: CD RUNTiME: 1:09:07
RiPPER: EAC 1.8 ENCODER: FLAC 1.5
DRiVE: ASUS SW-16D1X-U ORiGiN: Japan
RELEASE: Ward Records GQCS-91124~5
MATRiX: GQCS-91126 -RC01- IFPI LY21
with log/cue/nfo/m3u/sfv/300 dpi scans.
DistortedSoundMag (dot) com adds. . .
It turns out that Mark Osegueda does a pretty good impression of Ronnie
James Dio. Tucked away at the end of this album, DEATH ANGEL cover BLACK
SABBATH's Falling Off The Edge Of The World and it's great. It's a loving
tribute to their heroes, played with obvious enthusiasm, and the singer
does a terrific job handling the high notes. They sound like they're
having a blast and it's easily the highlight of a record best described as
"entertaining but inconsequential."
The Bastard Tracks is theoretically a live album, but it’s an odd one. It's
a document of a streaming event they held in May 2021. Originating from
San Francisco's Great American Music Hall, the veteran thrashers performed
for just over an hour and the set was almost entirely devoid of the usual
favourites. Seemingly Endless Time, Thrown To The Wolves and their ilk were
left out, replaced with tracks that had either never been played, or left
off the setlists for years.
This makes The Bastard Tracks something of a curiosity. Live albums usually
function in one of two ways; either as a souvenir for the gig-goers or as
an introductory "Best Of" for newcomers. Here, neither of those scenarios
apply. There was no audience in attendance and the lack of crowd noise
means it doesn't sound like a live album. And as the songs are mostly deep
cuts, it's not a good summary of their best-known music either.
In fairness though, for the discerning DEATH ANGEL fan, it's a rewarding
listen. Hearing Guilty Of Innocence being played live for the first time
in over a decade is wonderful, while the debuts of Alive And Screaming and
Faded Remains are great. It also raises the question of why so many of
these tracks get overlooked? Fallen for example is excellent and, in this
context, comes across like a neglected classic.
Admittedly, there are a couple of odd choices. Succubus for example isn't
one of their stronger efforts, while Volcanic is a momentum-killer, but
even so, it's a well-rounded selection. Plus, it's nice to see that DEATH
ANGEL aren't constrained by their glory days. Two-thirds of the material
originates from albums recorded after 2010 and it's striking how little of
it is from their 80s era. This isn't a nostalgia trip, they've got a
refreshing confidence in their more recent recordings and aren't afraid to
show it off.
If you want a more traditional DEATH ANGEL live album, this is not the one
to get. If you're after a snapshot of what they got up to during the
pandemic however, look no further. In all honesty, there probably isn't a
massive audience for The Bastard Tracks, this is more of a curio for
diehard thrashers. It's very good but at the same time, more an extra-long
footnote than anything essential. That SABBATH cover is killer though.
Ripper's Notes:
The Great American Music Hall is my all time favorite venue. If you are
ever in "the city" and get a chance to catch a show there, don't fail to
do so.
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