Dark Angel - Leave Scars (1989)

What a brave move this was. It did take them almost 3 full years to release yet another album and in that time they probably realised that thrash couldn't get any heavier before becoming a part of the increasingly popular death metal movement. Most people probably expected something similar to Darkness Descends, but when compared to the raw predecessor, this one is far more eventful and interesting. Lasting about 50 minutes, starting with the "deflorator" The Death of Innocence and then followed by two anthem-like songs (their choruses at least) Never to Rise Again and No One Answers.
The lyrical quantity is unnecessarily large, even larger than on the previous album, and therefore demanding a high compression of everything Gene Hoglan wrote. Amazingly, you can make out more parts, despite the sloppy but slightly better production.
Now, if there's anything worth emphasising it's the brute presentation, which already was Dark Angel's trademark, accompanied by an increased technicality without even the slightest loss in epicness. The addressment is best suitable for The Promise of Agony and, if you already thought that that was the best they can do, in Cauterization - one of the heaviest instrumentals thrash has to offer. Period.
Those two are are my top two picks on the disc for sure.
Oh and for the topping, they've also covered Immigrant Song from Led Zeppelin.