Death Angel is an American thrash metal band from Daly City, California, in… Read Full Bio ↴Death Angel is an American thrash metal band from Daly City, California, initially active from 1982 to 1991 and again since 2001. Death Angel has released nine studio albums, two demo tapes, one box set and three live albums. The band has gone through several line-up changes, leaving guitarist Rob Cavestany as the only constant member; he and vocalist Mark Osegueda (who joined the group in 1984) are the only members of Death Angel to appear on all of their studio albums.

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)

Stop
Death Angel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Stop! drifting fool
The truth I must bestow in you
Many times I've seen
Men as you then I smashed their dreams
Reason of no cause
Besides I myself set the laws
You won't be set free
From internal fears implanted by me

Feeding off his hand
As if he was your master
Serving his demand
I want to talk about it

I'll guide you only right
Yes my child to the light
Many seem to fear
What if their peers happen to hear
That he believes in the truth
Oh what a shame to rebellious youth
Take it from me
The cowards are those who cease to see

I can't tell you what to do
I can't tell you what to say
Only can advise you
Help you along the way
Smash the mental wall
That was forged in your brain
Tune into reality
And break free from the pain

Giving all possessions to just a name
Tune into reality a mortal human reigns

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to the song "Stop!" by Death Angel speak to a common struggle of people who are trying to break free from harmful thought patterns and societal expectations. The song begins with the singer addressing someone who seems to be drifting aimlessly through life. The truth he must bestow on this person is that he has seen men like him before and has "smashed their dreams." The reason for this harsh treatment is that the singer himself has set the laws that govern this person's existence, and he has created in him an "internal fear." This fear keeps him from seeking out his own truth and leads him to "feed off [his] hand" as if he were his master.

Despite the dark message of the opening verse, the song then takes on a slightly more positive tone. The singer declares that he will only guide this person in a positive direction, towards the light. He acknowledges that there may be people who will judge him for his beliefs, but he insists that the true cowards are those who refuse to see the truth. The chorus is a call to action for the listener: to "smash the mental wall that was forged in [their] brain" and "tune into reality."

The final lines of the song suggest that the root of this mental imprisonment is a blind devotion to material possessions and the artificial constructs of society. The final message is that we must recognize our own mortality and live in reality instead of chasing after empty promises of wealth or status.

Line by Line Meaning

Stop! drifting fool
I need your attention and focus

The truth I must bestow in you
I must share the reality with you

Many times I've seen
I have had multiple experiences in my life

Men as you then I smashed their dreams
Like you, I have crushed many men's hopes

Reason of no cause
Without any justification

Besides I myself set the laws
I have made my own rules

You won't be set free
I won't let you escape

From internal fears implanted by me
Your internal fears were ingrained by me

Feeding off his hand
Depending on him like a parasite

As if he was your master
Like he owned you completely

Serving his demand
Doing everything he says