There’s so much incredible talent to be found in the more obscure NWOBHM bands, but there are also bands and albums which have rightfully remained in the shadows, just because they are not good enough. Desolation Angels definitely belong to the first category and their eponymous debut from 1986 remains a cult dark heavy metal album with a lot of soul and fire. The band wasn’t active between 1994 and 2012, but after they reformed, one EP and two more albums were released, with now only guitarist Keith Sharp remaining form the original line-up.
Hounds Of Hell is a compilation of old songs, re-recorded by the present line-up, with an updated production. Four songs have been lifted from the cult debut, now sounding even better than their original versions, really powerful stuff like Spirit of the Deep or Valhalla showing why this band deserved more attention back in the day. The style of the band, if you are not familiar with them, is somewhat close to later period Saxon, with some moody, melancholic elements and strong riffing. Frontman Paul Taylor sounds really good, and even if he doesn’t flex an impressive range, his style suits the songs quite well. There are some obscure songs chosen from old demos, like the impressive and doomy When A World Dies and the old-school classics Fury and Chainsaw, coming from 1987-s Fury demo. The title track has never been released as a studio recording, only found as a live performance in the Feels Like Thunder compilation from 2008. Opener God’s Departure is also a re-recorded version of a song from the same compilation, showing all the band’s strengths, a truly epic and powerful track, with a great chorus and some intricate guitar work all over.
Hounds Of Hell is an excellent retrospective view upon Desolation Angels’ classic songs from the Eighties, mixed with some hard-to-find, but excellent compositions like the title track or God’s Departure. The band sounds tight, breathing new soul into these old school gems and I hope more people will have the chance to see them live. This is honest, true heavy metal from the British school, with no flash or pompousness – just hardcore dedication.
8/10
Hounds Of Hell is out now and can be ordered directly from the band HERE
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