Dark Angel - We Have Arrived (1985)

Indeed they have, but I wouldn't stress the importance of their arrival that much. This album does not have much to offer when compared to their future releases. It might be due to the fact that it was released in the age of Metallica/Slayer impersonators but that is a debate I don't ever want to take part again. The overall experience is kind of dull, although having some pretty darn awesome moments, which saved We Have Arrived from becoming just another thrash release. Certainly one of those moments or even better - the whole song is Merciless Death, as it is still regarded as one of the most recognised tunes in the band's repertoire. It might sound a bit self absorbent, as does most of the album, but it did make an everlasting impression. They even reissued the tune in their following album Darkness Descends, where it finally got the recognition it deserves, with more experienced musicianship, a darker ambient (as the album title clearly implies) and a far better recording quality compared to the dry and discrete ambiance of the concerning album. To sum up their thrash anthem as "The song that kills posers" is the right thing to do. Other than that one song I couldn't omit, there is nothing that really stands out on the recording. It's a mediocre attempt in comparison to the benchmarking releases of the time and not yet the Dark Angel in its full strength, that we all love and cherish today.