Death Angel: Frolic Through the Park (1988)

Despite coming just a year later, Death Angel's sophomore album is significantly different in sound to their debut.  It came at a time when thrash metal was being forced to adapt.  Some bands went in more of a progressive sound (Heathen, Metallica), others opted for a more melodic one (Testament), and still others went in a light-hearted, almost goofy direction (Exodus).  Death Angel fell into a combination of the Testament and Exodus route with this album, and the quality was definitely a step down from their debut.

It is obvious from the album cover and title how much lighter the tone of this album was going to be.  Where the debut promised violence and had a gritty album cover, this could not be farther away if it tried.  There are still some dark themes present in this release, with songs like "Why You Do This" and "Mind Rape", but it is nowhere near as aggressive as the prior release.

Death Angel also began experimenting with different, non-metal styles of music.  "Open Up", in particular, features a funky bass line, something Death Angel would return to on their third album Act III.  There is also something generally lighter in tone about the band, with "Bored" and "Road Mutants" being examples of this.  I do think the cover of KISS's "Cold Gin" is very much out of place here.  It is not one of KISS's stronger songs and it completely breaks up the flow of the album.

This album is very much a product of its time.  As such it sounds dated and has not held up well over time.  This was a harbinger of things to come for Death Angel who would go further toward a more experimental sound on their next album before going on hiatus for over a decade.  Out of Death Angel's early albums, the debut is definitely the best.  This would be next.