Review by: Val Tapia
Photos by Mike Bengoechea / @mike.bengo.photography
Promoter: 13th Floor Entertainment (https://www.13thfloorentertainment.com/ )
Venue: The Nile Theater, Mesa, AZ (https://www.theniletheater.com/ )
Date: Sunday September 7th, 2025
It was an evening of thrash metal’s “second wave” at Mesa’s Nile Theatre on Sunday Sept. 7. Headlined by Dark Angel, the veteran quintet is now on tour in support of its brand new (and overall, fifth) studio album Extinction Level Event, released on September 5.
Kicking off its 80-minute set with We Have Arrived, the title track from Dark Angel’s 1985 debut album, the band wasted no time barreling into another title track with 1991’s Time Does Not Heal.
It’s hard not to be impressed with the monster musicianship of longtime Death Angel drummer Gene Hoglan. In many ways, he’s the anchor of the band. His playing was pretty much impeccable throughout the set.
The band, which also includes guitarist Eric Meyer (the only member that has played on all five of Dark Angel’s albums to date), lead singer Ron Rinehart, bassist Mike Gonzalez and guitarist Laura Christine, really gelled with one another and seemed stoked to be onstage for their first U.S. tour in over 30 years.
If I had to guess, I’d say that roughly 400 fans attended the show. I’m sure the band was grateful that new songs like Extinction Level Event, Circular Firing Squad and Woke Up To Blood were pretty well received— judging by the very active moshpit that night.
Overall, they played a fair selection of songs from all five of their albums. Longtime fans were certainly thrilled to hear songs like Darkness Descends, The Death Of Innocence and Merciless Death.
Rinehart went down memory lane as well, telling the audience about Dark Angel’s early days playing in Phoenix at the Mason Jar. He was grinning from ear-to-ear throughout the show, all while heading out into the crowd for a few high fives and fist bumps with fans.
Concluding the set with Perish In Flames, it was clear that fans went home pretty happy. Most likely, it’s not the last time we’ll be seeing Dark Angel either. Perhaps even sooner than later.
Speaking candidly though, I have to say that opener Sacred Reich arguably gave Dark Angel a run for the money. Frankly, I imagine it’s not easy following a hometown band who also has a nearly 40-year history.
To that point, both of these bands go way back, with “Reich” bassist/vocalist Phil Rind referring to the members of Dark Angel as “dear friends”.
Opening their 45-minute, 9 song set with The American Way, Sacred Reich were in top form from start to finish. Make no mistake: this band thrives on incorporating scathing social commentary in their music.
Songs like Independent, Ignorance and Love…Hate pull no punches, and are every bit as viable and relevant today as they were when they were first released. Maybe even more so now, with the U.S. more divided than ever before.
Interestingly, the moshpit was also way more active (and intense) during Sacred Reich’s set than Dark Angel’s, truth be told.
It’s also important to note that Rind was fearless with his onstage banter, noting his disdain and disgust with “our government wasting resources going after brown people”. Yes good readers, he didn’t mince words.
In short order, many in the 40 and 50-something audience roared in approval. It was quite a sight to see.
Also on the bill were Hirax and Void. Of the two, Hirax was the better band. Lead singer Katon W. De Pena is the sole original member of Hirax that originally formed in 1984. Lots of lineup changes throughout four decades, however, they went over fairly well with fans.
The final verdict? 3.5 out of five stars.
Dark Angel
Photos by Mike Bengoechea / @mike.bengo.photography, All Right Reserved
