The Art of Dying (album)

For other uses of "Art of Dying", see Art of Dying (disambiguation).
The Art of Dying
Studio album by
Death Angel
ReleasedMay 4, 2004
StudioSan Francisco Soundworks, San Francisco, CA
GenreThrash metal
Length55:09
LabelNuclear Blast
ProducerBrian Joseph Dobbs and Death Angel
Death Angel chronology
Act III
(1990) 		The Art of Dying
(2004) 		Archives and Artifacts
(2005)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Rock Hard8.0/10[2]

The Art of Dying is the fourth studio album by the American thrash metal band Death Angel, released on May 4, 2004.[1] It was the band's first album with original material in 14 years since 1990's Act III. The album reached number 50 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart in 2004.[3]

Death Angel guitarist Rob Cavestany once explained the origin of the album title as follows:

"That was actually an idea that (drummer Andy) Galeon brought in. He had seen an interview with Bruce Lee around that time, and he was speaking about this philosophy that he had gotten from the Tibetan Book of the Dead (a.k.a. the Bardo Thodol). He was describing the passage about the path you choose in your life, and the way that you live your life as the art of dying. Whereas if you are living in a morbid kind of way as though you're just on your way to your death slowly but surely, every day that you walk the earth, well, becomes the art of dying. Sometimes it's just the way that you treat your life that determines your destiny."[4]

The Art of Dying sold around 2,100 copies in its first week in the U.S.[5]

Track listing

No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Intro/Thrown to the Wolves"Rob CavestanyCavestany7:26
2."5 Steps of Freedom"Andy GaleonCavestany, Galeon, Dennis Pepa4:47
3."Thicker than Blood"Mark OseguedaCavestany3:44
4."The Devil Incarnate"CavestanyCavestany, Pepa6:07
5."Famine"GaleonCavestany, Galeon, Pepa4:31
6."Prophecy"GaleonGaleon5:11
7."No"OseguedaCavestany3:25
8."Spirit"GaleonCavestany6:24
9."Land of Blood"GaleonCavestany, Pepa3:39
10."Never Me"OseguedaCavestany5:17
11."Word to the Wise"CavestanyCavestany4:56
Total length:55:09

Credits

Death Angel
  • Mark Osegueda – lead vocals
  • Rob Cavestany – lead guitar, lead vocals on "Word to the Wise"
  • Ted Aguilar – rhythm guitar
  • Dennis Pepa – bass, lead vocals on "Land of Blood"
  • Andy Galeon – drums, lead vocals on "Spirit"
Production
  • Brian Joseph Dobbs – producer, engineer, mixing
  • Boon Spooner, Tony Espinoza – assistant engineers
  • Dan Burns – digital editing
  • Dave Collins – mastering

References

  1. ^ a b Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Review: The Art of Dying". AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2009.
  2. ^ Kaiser, Boris (2004). "Review Dynamit : Death Angel - The Art of Dying". Rock Hard (in German). No. 204. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  3. ^ "The Art of Dying – Chart & Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2009.
  4. ^ Donnelly, Justin. "Death Angel Feature Interview". Blistering. pp. 1 of 2. Retrieved September 8, 2009.
  5. ^ "DEATH ANGEL To Perform Two Completely Different Sets On Japanese Dates". Blabbermouth. March 7, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2013.