Dark Angel | Extinction Level Event | Reversed Records

Release Date: September 5^th, 2025

Format: LP/CD/Digital

Genre: Thrash Metal

Country: United States

Dark Angel returns after a long silence, carrying an enormous legacy and a history that has been anything but simple. Formed in the early eighties, the band built its name through unrelenting speed, ferocious riffs, and the volcanic drumming of Gene Hoglan. The new album, “Extinction Level Event”, is their first full-length release since 1991, and arrives with both the weight of expectation and the memory of Jim Durkin, whose writing survives in parts of this material. With Laura Christine stepping in on guitar, the band moves forward with determination and respect for its past.

The album stays rooted in the classic style that made Dark Angel such a feral presence in American thrash. The riffs come fast, the tempo rarely loosens, and Hoglan’s drumming remains the anchor around which everything whirls. The writing keeps a sense of urgency, with sharp rhythmic turns and an aggressive tone that never drifts into chaos. Songs like “Extinction Level Event” and “Circular Firing Squad” carry the energy fans have been waiting for, showing that the band can still unleash a storm when they want to. This is not a reinvention, it is a continuation delivered with discipline.

The one part that holds the album back is the vocals. Ron Rinehart has always had a distinctive attack, although here his delivery lacks the power needed to match the instrumentation. The music moves like a machine running at full capacity, while his performance sometimes feels restrained, creating a mismatch that becomes noticeable as the album progresses. It does not derail the experience, although it keeps the album from reaching the intensity the band clearly aimed for.

“Extinction Level Event” succeeds as a comeback that honors Dark Angel’s sound and history. It brings strong musicianship, furious speed, and a clear sense of identity, even if the vocal side dulls some of the impact. Fans looking for a true continuation of the band’s legacy will find plenty of fire here. The album stands as a solid return from legends who refused to stay silent forever, and it points to a future that can build on this foundation if they refine the last missing piece.

Score: 7.0