intothewellsabyss

Jul 5, 20233 min read

Death Angel — Frolic Through the Park

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…

35 years ago today, Death Angel unleashed their stellar second offering, “Frolic Through the Park”! And, I still love every minute of this album, from start to finish!

On this day (July 5) in 1988, Death Angel released their second full-length studio album, “Frolic Through the Park” via Restless/Enigma Records.

This was the band's last full-length studio album released on Enigma Records before signing to Geffen Records in 1989.

Background:

“Frolic Through the Park” marked a drastic change in style for Death Angel and is considered by many to be one of the band's darkest works.

While retaining the Speed and Thrash roots of its predecessor “The Ultra-Violence” (1987), the album saw the band implement a more experimental and diverse direction, drawing elements and influences from Funk, Progressive, Hard Rock, Hardcore Punk and then-current music (particularly early U2).

The band would continue this experimentation on their next album, “Act III” (1990).

Despite being hailed as a fan favorite, and including one of their most popular songs "Bored" (in which its music video had heavy rotation on MTV's HeadBangers Ball), the members of Death Angel (particularly frontman Mark Osegueda and guitarist Rob Cavestany) have been very critical of this album, including its sound and production.

("Bored" Canada Single)

In the band's documentary “A Thrashumentuary”, Cavestany referred to “Frolic Through the Park” as both their "bastard album" and an "odd album". While the band has rarely performed the majority of the album's songs live since their initial disbandment in 1991, "3rd Floor" and "Bored" are the only songs from “Frolic Through the Park” to have appeared in their live setlists more frequently after their comeback in 2001.

Osegueda revealed in a 2003 interview that the source of the title "Why You Do This" was a line in the film The Exorcist. "Bored" was used in a scene in the 1990 movie Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III.

Frolic Through the Park/ Mutants on the Road Tour:

During the tour in support of “Frolic Through the Park, Death Angel made a short run in California, playing shows with Forbidden (then known as Forbidden Evil), and Verbal Abuse before heading over seas for the Mutants on the Road tour through the UK and Europe. On this run, the band played with Acid Reign, Virus, Assassin, and Rumble Militia. They were supposed to play Metal Attak ‘88 with Kreator, Holy Moses and Thanatos, but they cancelled for some reason. On thi leg of the tour, Death Angel also played dates with Carcass, U.D.O., and Warfare.

The band then returned to California for the Frolic Through California Tour, where they played shows with Testament, Vio-lence, Flotsam and Jetsam, Mordred, and more.

Death Angel then embarked on the Frolic Through North America Tour, playing with such bands as Rigor Mortis, Sacred Reich, and Motörhead.

A UK run was scheduled with Motörhead, but this was cancelled.

Death Angel ended the tour, playing a couple shows with Testament and Forbidden were out in support of their upcoming debut release.

For more tour date information, with photos of tour flyers, tickets and posters, follow this link; https://intothewellsabyss.wixsite.com/intothewells/post/death-angel-frolic-through-the-park-tour

Critical Reception:

Frolic Through the Park was ranked number eight in Loudwire's top ten list of "Thrash Albums NOT Released by the Big 4".

(Death Angel on the cover of Metal Forces, September 1988)

Writing for AllMusic, Loudwire’s Eduardo Rivadavia stated;

“Death Angel's second effort, 1988's Frolic Through the Park, found the band improving on its technical Thrash formula, as their developing musical ability began to do their ambitious songwriting some justice. "Why You Do This," "Devil's Metal," and "Confused" are prime examples of the band's intricate sound, which, unfortunately, tended to sacrifice concise hooks and melody for overblown song structures and arrangements. The only exception turns out to be the album's strongest cut, "Bored," which shows a rare sense of humor and musical restraint. Also of note is the excellent playing of guitarist Rob Cavestany, who holds everything together with his tasteful and skillful axe work.”

(Death Angel on the cover of Kerrang!, June 18, 1988)

(Mega Metal Kerrang! No. 7 featuring Death Angel and more)

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

Click this link to listen to “Frolic Through the Park” via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/frolic-through-the-park/528976564

Click this link to listen to “Frolic Through the Park” via Spotify: Frolic Through The Park https://open.spotify.com/album/2Hwjv0pZd0zfr2HFe5XsOl

Click this link to watch the official music video for “Bored”: https://youtu.be/lqNubYK80VE

Click this link to follow Death Angel on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deathangel

Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells

Death Angel — Frolic Through the Park

Background:

Frolic Through the Park/ Mutants on the Road Tour:

Critical Reception:

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

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