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Class 6(66)

Dark Angel: Time does not heal

15/07/11  ||  InquisitorGeneralis

Introduction

If you have a desire for technical, progressive, spastic, and plain awesome thrash you need to check out Dark Angel’s final album and undisputed masterpiece “Time Does Not Heal”. This is a crazy record that bounces off of the walls, and then punches holes in them and fucks ‘em. Hard. Dark Angel are one of those bands who should be praised as innovators, but seem to have fallen out of the general metal consciousness. But, with excellent guitar work and a little fella by the name of Gene Hoglan on ze drums, they should be a band every extreme metal takes a listen to. I think their final studio record “Time Does Not Heal” is the band’s crowning achievement. Others may differ. Others may also lick my balls. Master of Thrash Disaster Habakuk has already popped the Class6(66) cherry for Dark Angel with his outstanding coverage of Darkness Descends, now it is time for me to flip things over and get real on that ass.

Songwriting

9. At first listen, you might think that the songs on here are just too damned spastic. Dark Angel were known as the “L.A. Caffeine Machine” for fuck’s sake. Coincidently, staffer Daemonomania is known as the “Brooklyn Man-Cream Machine”. Anyway, being all over the fucken place was my first impression of this record. I also didn’t like the taste of pussy the first time I ate it. Guess what? That first impression changed too. “Psychosexuality” (perfect segue huh?) was the first song that really roped me in to “Time Does Not Heal” because it is one of the more straightforward tracks. “Pain’s invention, madness” is another heavier number. I know many others who will probably disagree, but I think Dark Angel are at their best when they ease on the wankery and settle into a moderately-paced groove.

Production

8. Very good, but not perfect. I could use a heavier drum sound but the guitars make up for that. The vocals sound a tad hollow as well, but still there are no serious problems.

Guitars

9. Dark Angel are full-on addicted to packing as many riffs as possible into their already long songs. If you like bands like Ahab where you get one guitar riff played slow as fucking shit spilling down an Eskimo’s leg, go fuck yourself because this is not your style. Meyer and Erikson form a formidable duo that dispense large amount of tasty, thrashy licks at both high and low speeds. The guitar sound and tone is also sexcellent, with things having just enough of a rough, gritty edge.

Vocals

7. Ron Rinehart’s vocals are the weakest aspect of Dark Angel’s sound. They don’t suck, actually for a more melodic style they are pretty good, but there are times where they just seem a bit off from the music behind them. With music this heavy and intense, you would expect a heavier delivery. I don’t hate ‘em, but there is no serious vocal love here either.

Bass

8. You need some serious bass power in your rhythm section if Gene Hoglan is pummeling the drums alongside you. Mike Gonzalez delivers the goods and is definitely up to the task. It seems to be me that this era of tech/thrash in the late 80’s and early 90’s really but an emphasis on good bass playing (Steve DiGiorgio and Ron Roder come to mind) and even though he is not as well known as others, Gonzalez continues the strog tradition of good bass playing in the realm of technical thrash metal.

Drums

8.5 While Gene Hoglan’s work on here is pretty fucken awesome, it is a slight notch below the mind-blowing things he would do with Death a few years later. His fills are not as tight and precise as those that would be unleashed on “Symbolic” and “Individual Thought Patterns”, and his double bass work is not as prominent either. Still, Mean Gene is a huge part of Dark Angel’s sound and success and his work, like his body, on “Times Does Not Heal” is grade-A prime sirloin goodness.

Lyrics

9. Deep, man! On here, Dark Angel were definitely going for lyrical themes beyond the metal basics of violence, death, and Satan. Philosophy, religion, internal conflicts, morality, and sexuality are all covered here in pretty cool form. Chuck Schuldiner is still the master of serious, intelligent metal lyrics. But, Dark Angel do a nice job on “Time Does Not Heal” stepping up the intelligence level. Aces.

Logo

7. Just like the cover (see below), you would expect something a bit more evil from Dark Angel. Still, the logo is pretty metal in a 80’s kind of way so I can’t diss on it too much.

Cover

6. An album this bad-ass deserves a cover a bit more evil than a picture of a female college co-ed who looks like she is having problems studying for a final exam. The shit behind her looks pretty cool though.

Booklet

N/A. Don’t have it.

Overall and ending rant

Plain and simple, “Time Does Not Heal” is a cool record. It appeals to a wide spectrum of metal fans. If you like Death, Voivod, Coroner, Megadeth, Sadus, or Herb Alpert this is a record you should definitely check out. It is a shame that Dark Angel’s 21st century reunion was cut short because I would cream my Haines to see “Pain’s invention, madness” or “An ancient inherited shame” in a live setting. Sadly, ‘tis not to be and a great fucken album like “Time Does Not heal” is going to have to fulfill my Dark Angel desires. Fortunately, it’s seriously up to the task.

8,5

  • Information
  • Released: 1991
  • Label: Combat
  • Website: Dark Angel MySpace
  • Band
  • Ron Rinehart: vocals
  • Eric Meyer: guitars
  • Brett Eriksen: guitars
  • Mike Gonzalez: bass
  • Gene Hoglan: drums
  • Tracklist
  • 01. Time Does Not Heal
  • 02. Pain’s Invention, Madness
  • 03. Act of Contrition
  • 04. The New Priesthood
  • 05. Psychosexuality
  • 06. An Ancient Inherited Shame
  • 07. Trauma and Catharsis
  • 08. Sensory Deprivation
  • 09. A Subtle Induction

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