METAL FORCES
Number 45 DECEMBER 1989

by Mike Exley


LIVE WITHOUT MERCY
==================
Mike Exley talks to a musical force even more powerful than the recent and
horrific Californian Earthquake, the unit you all know and love as Dark Angel,
as they raid the music halls of the UK. 

It's pure coincidence that I'm able to use those introductory words and I hope
no one thinks that I'm making light banter about a subject that has touched the
hearts of thousands, because it was horrific for the people of San Francisco.
Hopefully it hasn't touched the music scene of that area with tragedy (God
forbid that it has!), and I'm sure a lot of our readers would support the fans
of heavy metal in that area morally if nothing else.

One thing is true though, purely on a musical front, DARK ANGEL have to have a
simularity.  Punishing rhythms from the feel of drummer Gene Hoglan, a rousing
twin guitar attack revitalized by the recent addition of ex-VIKING guitarist
Brett Eriksen (who replaced Jim Durkin) and some excellent throaty vocals all
lead to one thing on the music scene these days, and that is - power!!

Would Dark Angel be so aggressive behind the microphone though?  I grabbed Gene
and vocalist Ron Rinehart for an update at their excellent Milton Keynes show.
The tour seems to be going very smoothly guys?

Ron: "Yeah, and we're real happy with that because it makes a change for us,
touring with a great bunch of guys like NUCLEAR ASSAULT.  Their attitude is
really good, there's no ego problem and for us it's made this tour a lot easier
in many ways because we wanted the first time we toured over here to be
something special, and so far that's what we've got."

Gene: "Prestige Management had been trying to get us over for a long time, we
were coming, then we weren't and stuff in the past, but Nick Peel at Prestige
just kept pushing you know.  He always wanted a major tour for us and so far
it's paid off.  Obviously we've lost some ground, maybe two years with some
people, time when we could have toured after 'Darkness Descends', but I think
this tour will go a long way to making up for that time.  Certainly MFN,
Combat and all the people who support the band were of that opinion."

What does it mean to get over to Europe at last?

Ron: "I think the most important thing is that we've finally reached one of the
big goals for the band.  We've always had goals, but this one always seemed
like one of the harder ones, now we'll have to come back, that's our next
goal."

Many bands on their first UK tour find differing crowds with mental crowds and
critical crowds, how did Britain treat you?  

Gene: "People are sick out here guy - I can't believe it you know.  America
seems so much more controlled.  I think it has to do with the venues actually.
At home, clubs are closed down and people stopped from thrashing and diving all
over the place, here it seems a lot more tolerant.  Okay, so some places were
strict, like Hammersmith, but most venues let a controlled amount of thrashing
and diving take place, which always fires us up.  We've got on really well with
the crowds, sometimes we feel a little over awed with what people say, but it's
nice to be given credit when you put on what in your opion is your best.  I
don't know if they're just polite sometimes, but we've had little of the harsh
shit we get from American people about some of our live shows back home,
especially where sound is concerned."

I must admit to being surprised by the good sound after what I'd read!

Ron: "I'm glad because it's just unfortunate really.  I admit, at L'amours just
after Jim left, the first show I think, we had a poor sound, but here and on
the Canadian tour the sound was great.  Our sound guy John Martin, who is a
god by the way, did that tour and it was wicked.  We did a radio show for
Westwood One and that came out better than on the album, I kid you not.  Here
our sound is okay, we're not using our own gear, but it's cool, we like it!"

Ron: "We matured really, and our sound benefitted.  I know that sounds cliched,
but I tell you now, this band is much more controlled.  For example, I'd say we
definately play slower these days (what? Mike).  There's no point in blistering
speed as far as we're concerned because it's not entertaining.  Take 'The
Ultimate Revenge' for example, we couldn't believe how fast and uncontrolled we
were that night.  Quite honestly we sucked you know, because it was too much."

You mentioned your Canadian/US tour there.  That of course had its problems,
namely DEATH - the band that is.

Gene: "I don't want to really go into it or air dirty laundry but I would like
to say one thing.  I think that it's very immature to get into something you
can't handle and their management did that with all the crap they've been
spreading since they split from that tour."

Did they affect your sales by pulling out?

Gene: "No.  Some people got pissed off, you know, but they didn't understand
the decision DEATH had made.  We just told people they'd pulled out for their
own reasons and left it at that. They've created most of the shit since."

Ron: "I can't understand people who speak like their manager did.  We had
contracts we had to stick to but DEATH, or should I say Chuck, because it was
he, tried to steamroller over all that.  Rick Rozz didn't agree with that, he
apologized to us, and he quit after that, he was not fired.  I'll leave it
there though, because this interview is for DARK ANGEL right?"

Right.  Let's move onto the exit from the band of Jim Durkin, ex-guitarist and
long term friend.  You lost him temporarily to start with and then full time
eh?

Ron: "It was basically personal problems that started it off, I guess. Jim had
a lot of disillusionment with the scene, but he also had to sort out some
personal stuff and unfortunately that meant leaving the band for a while, or
so we thought."

Gene: "I'd known Jim for years, our relationship was never on the rocks, it
never fell apart, it was just that I had to accept that Jim would be taking
time out to sort out his difficulties.  It became water under the bridge and we
knew we'd not be working together again, but I still keep in touch with Jim.
I'm sure all those people who stuck with us those five years or so would like
to know that he's doing well now, and I certainly support Jim as a friend."

It was only temporary to start with though?

Gene: "As far as we were concerned, yes, because we had to let Jim make his
decision.  Unfortunately he chose never to come back.  We never really knew
he'd quit the band, we spent a lot of time trying to find out what was
happening, but it was very much up in the air and with tours there had to be a
decision made.  We called up Brett because DARK ANGEL can never be a four
piece, it was only natural to fill the position as quickly as possible to
bring the best of DARK ANGEL to the fans. We got on the horn to VIKING and the
result was that Brett dropped everything and flew out to help us out - I liked
that a lot and I think that's why Brett is still in this band now.  He was
still with VIKING doing their second album, 'Man Of Straw', he has his own
life, but he gave himself to DARK ANGEL.  He stayed up for five nights learning
the material and he fitted like a piece of pie - that was pure professional
dedication and friendship meeting."

You never asked Brett to join the band at that time?

Ron: "No.  The main reason for that is our strong friendship with Brett and
with VIKING - we would never ever fuck with friends."

How strong is Brett's position in DARK ANGEL now then?

Gene: "Well, now it's much stronger.  Brett is a full time member of DARK
ANGEL, apart from the contract side of things he's totally a part of the line
up and I hope he'll soon be our second guitaris t.  VIKING sadly are no more,
I believe they split up having completed the LP, so Brett is welcome to be
with us forever."

Brett: "This is only a very recent thing really.  VIKING broke up only very
recently and I decided that being an integral part of DARK ANGEL was the most
important thing in my life, so here I am.  I've started linking up with Gene,
writing some new songs, and so far it's very positive, not only for me but
also for the band."

How do you view the present situation Gene?

Gene: "I feel that we're far more professional.  Jim and I weren't the most
professional writers of material, we'd blend but not really work on riffs.
Brett and I put our heads together and we work on a riff.  We're coming up to
our fourth album, we have to be more professional, and slowly it's coming.
We're trying to push our musical boundries, we're not trying to be laid back
or anything, we're still as brutal and intense as before, but we can't write
another 'Darkness Descends' or 'Leave Scars', it has to be and album with a
little more musical dexterity for the future."

Ron: "We have to be different you know when it's all been done like much of
speed metal, you cannot look backwards for ideas.  I've always been sceptical
of speed for speed sake and DARK ANGEL will never fall into that trap.  We're
still trying to be hitting.  I mean, there's no subtlty in DARK ANGEL Ha! Ha!
It's just that there has to be a future."

The band has always had an aggressive image I feel - does that suit you
really?

Gene: "Aaarrgh!! Yes! Seriously, we could be tampering with our careers by
staying fast and heavy as we are, but that's what we do, we want to keep our
own integrity intact.  I'm not going to apologize for how we are.  We want to
stay like this, production will improve definitely (I think we'll use a
producer next time), but apart from that we'll stay the same.  Our official
attitude in this band has always been 'if you don't like our album you can
just die, fuck off', and I think that's pretty much how it'll stay until we've
got all this out of our systems, and I'm certainly not ready to quit."

Who could add anymore to that - classic!!