- 2009 Re-issue on Back on Black Records
"Live Scars" is a live album by the Thrash metal band Dark Angel, which was released in 1990. it was recorded at the Country Club live in Reseda, California on 22 April 22 1989.,, capturing the band's intense and chaotic energy during their 1989 tour.
Dark Angel's "Live Scars" is a definitive live album that encapsulates the raw power and unrelenting energy of one of the most influential thrash metal bands of the late 1980s. Released in 1990, the album showcases Dark Angel's blistering performance at the Country Club in Reseda, California on 22 April 1989. With its intense and chaotic atmosphere, "Live Scars" stands as a testament to the band's prowess on stage and their ability to captivate audiences.
The recording captures Dark Angel at the peak of their career, delivering a furious and adrenaline-fueled setlist that leaves no room for compromise. The band members, consisting of Ron Rinehart on vocals, Eric Meyer on guitars, Brett Eriksen on guitars, and Mike Gonzalez on bass, demonstrate their exceptional musicianship and tight chemistry throughout the performance. Each member brings their unique style and skill to the forefront, contributing to the band's signature sound.
Ron Rinehart's powerful vocals command attention, seamlessly transitioning between aggressive snarls and melodic passages. His dynamic range and commanding stage presence perfectly complement Dark Angel's ferocious instrumental assault. Eric Meyer and Brett Eriksen's guitar work is a masterclass in thrash metal riffing, featuring lightning-fast solos, intricate melodies, and crushing rhythms that ignite the crowd's enthusiasm. Mike Gonzalez's bass lines provide a solid foundation, adding depth and groove to Dark Angel's relentless sonic assault.
"Live Scars" captures Dark Angel's concert experience with exceptional clarity, allowing listeners to feel as if they are right in the middle of the crowd, immersed in the band's intense performance. From the opening notes to the final crescendo, the album maintains an unrelenting pace, delivering one thrash metal anthem after another. Tracks such as "The Burning of Sodom", "Death Is Certain (Life Is Not)", and "Perish in Flames" showcase Dark Angel's ability to combine aggression, technicality, and memorable songwriting into a cohesive and exhilarating sonic experience.
The live album also serves as a testament to Dark Angel's influence on the thrash metal genre. Their unique blend of speed, precision, and sheer intensity paved the way for countless bands that followed in their footsteps. With "Live Scars", fans of Dark Angel can relive the band's legendary live performances and gain a deeper appreciation for their impact on the metal scene.
The vinyl LP release of "Live Scars" by Back On Black (catalog number BOBV239LP) adds an extra layer of authenticity and nostalgia to the listening experience. Vinyl enthusiasts can enjoy the warmth and richness of the analog format, immersing themselves in the sonic tapestry of Dark Angel's live performance. The album cover, featuring the band's iconic logo and striking imagery, adds to the visual appeal of the vinyl release, making it a must-have for collectors and fans alike.
|
Music Genre: Thrash Metal |
|
Album Production Information: This album was recorded at: Country Club live in Reseda, California on 22 April 1989. |
|
Record Label & Catalognr: Back On Black – BOBV239LP |
|
Media Format: 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone RecordTotal Album (Cover+Record) weight: 280 gram |
|
Year & Country: 2009 UK |
Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: DARK ANGEL - Live Scars |
|
Band-members, Musicians and Performers
Ron Rinehart - Vocals (Ron has also performed with the bands: Hunger, Oil, Messiah)
Eric Meyer - Guitars (Eric has also performed in the Hunger band)
Brett Eriksen - Guitars (real name: Brett Sarachek and started his musical career in 1986 in a band called: Viking)
Mike Gonzalez - Bass
Gene Hoglan - Drums (Also known for playing with Death, Strapping Young Lad, Testament, Fear Factory, and more)
|
Complete Track-listing of the album "DARK ANGEL - Live Scars" |
|
The detailed tracklist of this record "DARK ANGEL - Live Scars" is:
|
High Quality Photo of Album Front Cover "DARK ANGEL - Live Scars" |
Dark Angel - Live Scars (Album Cover) This album cover is a dynamic collage of high-energy live performance images. At the forefront, a close-up of Ron Rinehart’s face captures an intense moment mid-scream, his long curly hair illuminated by stage lighting. Surrounding this central image are several smaller photos showcasing the band's members in action. One image features Rinehart gripping a microphone with a determined expression, while another shows a guitarist, head tilted back, fully immersed in playing. Another shot captures a band member in a sleeveless shirt playing a guitar under vibrant stage lighting. At the bottom, an image of a drum set in motion adds to the sense of energy. The album title, Live Scars, is displayed diagonally across the center in white, spaced-out capital letters. The band's name, Dark Angel, is written in a bold, vertical layout along the left side, creating a striking design element. The Dark Angel logo, featuring a black bat-winged shape with fiery orange and red lettering, is positioned in the top left corner, reinforcing the band's aggressive thrash metal aesthetic. |
Album Back Cover Photo of "DARK ANGEL - Live Scars" |
Dark Angel - Live Scars (Back Cover) The back cover of Live Scars features a striking yellow and black color scheme, maintaining the album’s raw and intense aesthetic. Dominating the right side is a high-contrast, grainy close-up of Ron Rinehart mid-scream, emphasizing the band’s aggressive live energy. To the left, a vertical arrangement of the band's name, Dark Angel, in bold white text adds to the structured yet chaotic visual appeal. A collage of live performance photos fills the background, tinted in yellow. The images showcase band members on stage, immersed in their performance, with hair flying and instruments in action, capturing the high-energy atmosphere of their live shows. A prominent shot of the lead vocalist gripping the microphone and another of a guitarist in a sleeveless shirt highlight the band's intensity. The tracklist is displayed in white, split into two sections: Side A features "Leave Scars," "The Burning of Sodom," "Never to Rise Again," and "Death Is Certain (Life Is Not)," while Side B includes "The Promise of Agony," "We Have Arrived," "The Death of Innocence," and "I Don't Care About You." The bold white font contrasts against the dark background, ensuring readability. In the top left corner, the Dark Angel logo is prominently featured in yellow, reinforcing the band's branding. At the bottom, the "Back on Black" label’s logo and barcode mark the album’s reissue status. |
Inner Sleeve of "DARK ANGEL - Live Scars" Album |
|
Photo of "DARK ANGEL - Live Scars" Album's Inner Sleeve |
|
Dark Angel - Live Scars (Inner Cover) The inner cover of Live Scars is a striking black-and-white composition, blending raw energy with a minimalist, high-contrast aesthetic. The background features a blurred and distorted close-up of lead vocalist Ron Rinehart, caught mid-performance with his long hair illuminated as he sings into a microphone. The motion blur effect adds a sense of intensity and movement, capturing the chaotic energy of Dark Angel's live shows. Dominating the foreground is the band's iconic Dark Angel logo, rendered in a bold, angular metallic design. The sharp lines and geometric structure of the logo contrast against the softer, out-of-focus background, creating a layered visual effect. The logo’s placement ensures that it remains the focal point, reinforcing the band’s branding and aggressive aesthetic. At the bottom of the cover, the Kahler and ESP logos subtly indicate endorsements, a nod to the professional-grade equipment associated with the band's sound. The overall design is minimal yet impactful, maintaining the raw, thrash metal spirit that defines Dark Angel. |
Photo of "DARK ANGEL - Live Scars" 12" LP Record - Side One: |
Dark Angel - Live Scars (Side A Vinyl Label) This is the label design for Side A of Live Scars, Dark Angel’s live thrash metal album. The artwork prominently features a blurred and high-contrast close-up of vocalist Ron Rinehart mid-scream, a recurring visual motif across the album's artwork, emphasizing raw intensity and aggression. In the upper left corner, the band’s iconic Dark Angel logo appears in a sharp yellow design, standing out vividly against the darker background. Directly below it, the album title Live Scars is printed in bold, white serif font, maintaining a clean and professional look. The tracklist for Side A is positioned in the lower half of the label in a centered layout, featuring the following songs:
1. Leave Scars The design effectively blends a dark, intense aesthetic with clarity for easy readability, reinforcing the band’s aggressive thrash metal identity while ensuring the record’s track information remains accessible. |
Photo of "DARK ANGEL - Live Scars" 12" LP Record - Side Two: |
Dark Angel - Live Scars (Side B Vinyl Label) This is the label design for Side B of Live Scars, Dark Angel’s live thrash metal album. The artwork follows the same intense design as Side A, featuring a blurred, high-contrast image of vocalist Ron Rinehart screaming, reinforcing the album's raw and aggressive theme. In the upper left corner, the band’s distinct Dark Angel logo is presented in bright yellow, standing out against the dark background. Below it, the album title Live Scars appears in bold white serif font, ensuring clear identification. The tracklist for Side B is displayed in the lower half of the label, centered and printed in white for readability. The songs include:
5. The Promise of Agony At the bottom of the label, the "Back On Black" logo is displayed, signifying the album's reissue. The 33 ⅓ RPM speed marking is also present, confirming the vinyl's standard playback speed. The overall design maintains a balance between dark, atmospheric aesthetics and clear typography, making it both visually impactful and functional. |
Darkness Descends (1986) is Dark Angel’s defining thrash metal masterpiece, known for its relentless speed, aggression, and technical precision. Featuring blistering guitar riffs, Gene Hoglan’s thunderous drumming, and Don Doty’s vicious vocals, the album delivers classics like *The Burning of Sodom* and *Merciless Death*. A cornerstone of extreme metal, it remains a must-listen for thrash fans.
Learn more
Under One Flag FLAG 30 , 1988 , France
Released in 1989, Leave Scars by Dark Angel is a thrash metal album with a more polished sound, featuring technical guitar work, powerful drumming, and dark lyrics exploring psychological themes of pain, suffering, and trauma.
Learn more
Back On Black – BOBV239LP , 2009 , UK
Live Scars is a live album released in 1990 by Dark Angel, capturing the band's intense and chaotic energy during their 1989 tour. Featuring tracks from their previous albums, it is a must-listen for fans of their early thrash metal sound.
Learn more
AXE Killer Records 7006 , 1985 , France
We Have Arrived is the debut album by thrash metal band Dark Angel, released in 1985. It features raw and aggressive guitar riffs, fast-paced drumming, and lyrics exploring themes of violence and destruction, marking a strong entry into the thrash metal scene.
Learn more