Death Angel is often referred to as one of the key bands in the Bay Area thrash metal movement of the 1980s, and secured opening slots at club venues that decade, including opening for their peers Megadeth, Metallica, Slayer, Exodus, Testament, Overkill, D.R.I., Mercyful Fate and Possessed. They are also often credited as one of the leaders of the second wave of thrash metal movement from the 1980s, and considered to be one of the "big eight" of the genre (along with Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, Testament, Exodus and Overkill), as well as one of the so-called "Big Six of Bay Area thrash metal" (alongside Exodus, Testament, Lååz Rockit, Forbidden and Vio-lence). Following the underground success of their first two studio albums, The Ultra-Violence (1987) and Frolic Through the Park (1988), Death Angel signed to Geffen Records in 1989, and released their only album for the label, Act III, the following year. While they were touring in support of Act III, then-drummer Andy Galeon was injured in a tour bus accident and needed more than a year to fully recover. This resulted in the band's break up in 1991. However, Death Angel reformed in 2001 (without original rhythm guitarist Gus Pepa) at the Thrash of the Titans benefit concert for Testament singer Chuck Billy. The band has since released six more albums, including Humanicide (2019), to which the title track gave Death Angel their first-ever Grammy Award nomination.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Angel
Studio albums
The Ultra-Violence (1987)
Frolic Through the Park (1988)
Act III (1990)
The Art of Dying (2004)
Killing Season (2008)
Relentless Retribution (2010)
The Dream Calls for Blood (2013)
The Evil Divide (2016)
Humanicide (2019)
Empty
Death Angel Lyrics
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Try to survive in a world with no shame
Every time I see this place
I am reminded why I'm so disgraced
The world goes up in flames
One last blade in my heart
The final exhale
The sky - Is an endless space
Dark gray - Eternal dusk
Great plains - Barren like my heart
Empty - It's a black cold world
Is this some kind of dream?
Why won't someone wake me?
The world goes up in flames
On last blade in my heart
The final exhale
Release me to a new start
The sky - Is an endless space
Dark gray - Eternal dusk
Great plains - Barren like my heart
Empty - It's a black cold world
The lyrics to Death Angel's song Empty convey feelings of hopelessness and despair. The first stanza describes the singer's attempt to survive in a world that lacks morality, and how they are reminded of their own shame every time they see it. The second stanza describes the singer's desire for release from this world that is like a black, cold, and empty void. The use of the imagery of the sky as a dark, eternal dusk and the great plains as barren highlight the bleakness of the world the singer is experiencing.
The chorus of the song repeats the same four lines twice, emphasizing the finality of the situation. The use of fire as a metaphor for destruction and pain, and a blade for violence and suffering, adds to the violent imagery present throughout the song. The final exhale is a powerful metaphor for the singer's ultimate release, perhaps even through their own demise, as they seek to escape the emptiness that surrounds them.
The song takes the listener on a bleak and haunting journey through a world that lacks connection and meaning. Death Angel's use of powerful and imaginative metaphors forces listeners to confront their own feelings of emptiness and despair, making the song a moving and impactful experience for those who hear it.
Line by Line Meaning
Get up, get out feeling nothing
I feel nothing and have lost all motivation to get up and leave.
Try to survive in a world with no shame
This world is ruthless and unforgiving, with no room for vulnerability or weakness.
Every time I see this place
This place represents all my failures and regrets, leaving me feeling disgusted with myself.
I am reminded why I'm so disgraced
Every time I see this place, it reminds me of my deep sense of shame and disillusionment with my life.
The world goes up in flames
The world is descending into chaos and destruction, symbolizing how everything around me is falling apart.
One last blade in my heart
This is the final, unbearable pain that breaks me completely.
The final exhale
My last breath before I succumb to my fate.
Release me to a new start
Let me go so I can find peace and begin anew.
The sky - Is an endless space
The sky represents infinity, vastness, and possibility.
Dark gray - Eternal dusk
The darkness represents the fear and hopelessness that pervade my life, like a never-ending twilight that refuses to give way to daylight.
Great plains - Barren like my heart
The barren landscape represents my withered and hollow heart, stripped of joy and passion.
Empty - It's a black cold world
This world is a desolate and depressing place, reflecting the absence of any warmth or meaning in my life.
Is this some kind of dream?
I can't believe this is real, and I hope it's just a figment of my imagination.
Why won't someone wake me?
I long for someone to rescue me from this nightmare and bring me back to reality.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MARK OSEGUEDA, ROB CAVESTANY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind