Death Angel Celebrates Act III at Seattle's Showbox

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Jun 14

Written By Michael Baltierra

Death Angel at the Showbox - Seattle WA (Photo:Mike Baltierra)

Death Angel Celebrates Act III at Seattle's Showbox

Seattle's historic Showbox was transformed into a thrash metal time machine on Sunday, June 14, as Bay Area legends Death Angel brought their Act III anniversary tour to the Pacific Northwest. While the tour has often been promoted as celebrating the album's 35th anniversary, vocalist Mark Osegueda humorously reminded the crowd that due to the band's relentless touring schedule and the interruptions caused by the pandemic, "it's not technically the 36th anniversary yet."

The evening began with California's Incite, who wasted no time getting the crowd moving with their aggressive blend of groove and thrash metal. Direct support came from fellow Bay Area thrash veterans Vio-Lence, whose blistering set served as the perfect lead-in for the night's main event. Opening with "Eternal Nightmare" and tearing through classics such as "Serial Killer," "Calling in the Coroner," and "World in a World," Vio-Lence delivered exactly what longtime thrash fans came to hear—fast riffs, crushing rhythms, and unrelenting energy.

Death Angel took the stage to a thunderous welcome from a packed Showbox crowd. The band featured vocalist Mark Osegueda, guitarists Rob Cavestany and Ted Aguilar, bassist Damien Sisson, and drummer Will Carroll. Together, the quintet demonstrated why they remain one of thrash metal's most respected and enduring acts more than four decades into their career.

The centerpiece of the evening was a complete performance of 1990's Act III, an album widely regarded as one of the band's defining releases. From the opening notes of "Seemingly Endless Time" through fan favorites such as "Stop," "Veil of Deception," and "A Room With a View," the band delivered the record with remarkable precision and enthusiasm. Tracks like "Discontinued," "Stagnant," and "Disturbing the Peace" showcased the album's diversity, while Osegueda's vocals sounded as powerful and commanding as ever.

After completing Act III in its entirety, Death Angel shifted gears into a career-spanning encore featuring material from their more recent releases. "Humanicide," "Cult of the Used," and "The Moth" highlighted the band's continued evolution while retaining the intensity that made them thrash legends. The closing stretch of "Lost," "Lord of Hate," and "Thrown to the Wolves" pushed the energy level even higher, with the audience responding through nonstop headbanging, crowd surfing, and enthusiastic singalongs.

What stood out most throughout the night was the chemistry between the band members. Cavestany and Aguilar's twin-guitar attack remained razor sharp, Sisson's bass anchored the low end with authority, and Carroll's drumming provided the relentless backbone that drove every song forward. Osegueda, meanwhile, proved once again why he remains one of metal's most charismatic frontmen, effortlessly connecting with the audience between songs and keeping the energy elevated throughout the nearly two-hour performance.

For longtime fans, the opportunity to hear Act III performed from start to finish was a rare and memorable experience. For newer listeners, it served as a reminder of why Death Angel continues to occupy a special place in the thrash metal pantheon. Supported by strong performances from Incite and Vio-Lence, the evening was a celebration not only of a landmark album but of the enduring power of Bay Area thrash metal itself.