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)
Voracious Souls
Death Angel Lyrics
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In the circle of death
They congregate to hold a feast
There lies a body in the center of the ring
Each human soon becomes a beast
They sing the song to glorify the dead
They chant, the chant eternal life
The sound of flesh sliced by the knife
Men without anguish
Men without fear
Men chosen to ride the earth
Evil confrontation nears
These mindless sinners
Sit there without
Greed, not even grief
The final incision
Having now been complete
As these ominous demons
Start to eat
A strident hum
Lurks through the room
The bloody bath to set them free
As they fulfill their long awaited dream
A bloody orgy of intense ecstasy
The lyrics of "Voracious Souls" by Death Angel depict a nightmare where a group of people gather in a circle of death to hold a feast around a dead body. As the night progresses, they become more and more savage, chanting for eternal life and watching as their leader lifts a gleaming blade and slices into the flesh of the corpse. They revel in the spectacle of death and eagerly await their own turn to partake in the ritualistic feast.
The song seems to be a commentary on humanity's darkest impulses and our capacity for violence and depravity in the pursuit of power and transcendence. The lyrics suggest that these "voracious souls" are willing to sacrifice everything, including their own humanity and empathy, in order to gain some sense of immortality or control. The imagery of the bloody orgy at the end of the song is particularly disturbing, as it paints a picture of people reveling in the act of consuming flesh, both literal and metaphorical.
Overall, "Voracious Souls" is a chilling and intense song that explores some of the darkest corners of the human psyche. It serves as a warning about the dangers of unchecked ambition and the allure of power, and it reminds us that our capacity for evil is always present, lurking just beneath the surface.
Line by Line Meaning
In the night
During the dark hours of the night
In the circle of death
Among a group of individuals who have gathered for the purpose of killing someone
They congregate to hold a feast
They come together to celebrate the taking of a life as if it were a feast
There lies a body in the center of the ring
The victim's lifeless body is placed at the center of the group
Each human soon becomes a beast
The members of the group become animalistic in their behavior
They sing the song to glorify the dead
They sing a song in praise of the person they have killed
They chant, the chant eternal life
They recite a chant that promises eternal life for the one who has died
The master sails as he lifts the gleaming blade
The leader of the group wields a shiny knife
The sound of flesh sliced by the knife
The group members can hear the sickening sound of the knife cutting through flesh
Men without anguish
They show no signs of emotional distress or regret
Men without fear
They are not afraid of the consequences of their actions
Men chosen to ride the earth
They are individuals who have been selected to carry out this act of violence on the earth
Evil confrontation nears
A violent and sinister encounter is about to take place
These mindless sinners
The members of the group have lost their sense of morality and are committing a heinous act
Sit there without
They are stationary and still, without showing any emotion
Greed, not even grief
They are not mourning the loss of the victim, but rather satisfying their own selfish desires
The final incision
The last cut is made by the knife
Having now been complete
The killing has reached its conclusion
As these ominous demons
They are portrayed as frightening creatures with evil intent
Start to eat
They begin to consume the victim's remains
A strident hum
A loud and unpleasant sound fills the room
Lurks through the room
The noise permeates the entire space
The bloody bath to set them free
The act of killing has provided a release for their pent-up aggression
As they fulfill their long awaited dream
They have achieved their goal of committing a murder
A bloody orgy of intense ecstasy
Their violent and gruesome act has brought them great pleasure and excitement
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDREW GALEON, MARK OSEGUEDA, ROBERT CAVESTANY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind