After three decades of traveling and taking a break, Dark Angel returns for a North American tour. “Extinction Level Event Tour” will span from coast to coast. The band has been going through a lot of changes, and after touring overseas, they are finally come back home. As the tour starts in September 2025, soon after will be the release of their next album, Extinction Level Event, which has been in the works for 34 years. Touring with them, boasting a diverse blend of metal styles: Sacred Reich, Hirax, Vio-Lence, Midnight, Void, and Interceptor.
Renowned for their ferocity and precision, the band’s signature blend of speed, technicality, and intensity made them beloved by headbangers around the world, as evidenced by the t-shirts and patches brandished by fans in the years since the band’s original run. The blistering “Circular Firing Squad” gave the thrash faithful another taste of the new album when it dropped last month.
The title song from the new album, “Extinction Level Event,” was released this summer, with mixed emotions from fans. The band has been eager to release it as the title track, and many of the songs on the album were written by guitarist Jim Durkin, who passed away in 2023. The album is dedicated to Durkin and his contributions to the thrash metal scene. It also features Durkin’s replacement, Laura Christine, wife of drummer Gene Hoglan.
After Jim Durkin’s passing, none of the original members of the band are touring. Eric Meyers (guitarist), Gene Hoglan (drummer), Ron Rhinehart (vocalist), Michael Gonzales (bassist) — the current and longest-serving members — along with Laura Christine (guitarist), are keeping Jim Durkin’s dreams alive. Dark Angel was established in 1981 along with Bay area fellow thrash metal bands. Commonly compared to Slayer in style, they soon found themselves opening for bands like Megadeth, Venom, Possessed, D.R.I., and Exodus.
The band is eager to perform in North America again and to be back home, showing that thrash metal is still alive and well. The band also hopes you enjoy their new songs and run out and buy their fifth album, Extinction Level Event.
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