Death Angel / Exodus / The Bay Strikes Back Tokyo 2023 Final Night / 2CDR

Death Angel / Exodus / The Bay Strikes Back Tokyo 2023 Final Night / 2CDR / Shades

Zepp DiverCity Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan 24th September 2023

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The ultimate thrash paradise “THE BAY STRIKES BACK” has finally landed in Japan. Two original recordings that allow you to experience the entire scene will be released at the same time!
This double series was recorded at “Zepp DiverCity Tokyo performance on September 24, 2023.” This first work is an ultra-excellent audience recording set that completely records the DEATH ANGEL version (DISC 1) and EXODUS version (DISC 2) of the three performing bands. “THE BAY STRIKES BACK”, which brought together three of the biggest names in Bay Area thrash, was first held in 2020. Initially, the tour was limited to Europe, but it gradually expanded to include Asia this year. This is also a good opportunity, so let’s first look back on our progress.

●2020
・February 6th – March 10th: Europe #1 (26 performances)
●2021
・October 7th/November 27th: North America #1 (2 performances)
●2022
・April 9th – May 25th: North America #2 (34 performances)
・July 9th – May 25th: Europe #2 (29 performances)
・September 9th – October 15th: North America #3 (26 performances)
●2023
・September 21st – October 1st: Asia (7 performances) ←★Here★

This is “THE BAY STRIKES BACK” that has been held to date. This Japan performance was part of the “Asia” leg, and there were only two performances in Tokyo. This work was recorded in the final concert in Japan, and was also the third concert in the entire “Asia” leg.
This work, which is a vacuum-packed version of such a show, is a superb recording with a “super” rating. It also makes me want to repeat “super super super…” endlessly. After all, the person who made this work a reality is Mr. “Western Japan’s Strongest Taper”, who is well known at our store. It is said that there is no one who can record HR/HM, but this work is outstanding even in the master collection. As usual, it’s a super thick and close sound that I want to call “just like a soundboard,” but this time it’s even more “beautiful.”
The key point here is that the main focus of the live performance is thrash metal, which is known for its roaring sound. It’s also a Bay Area crunch with sharp edges. Normally it would be tyranny! Therefore, there is no way you can feel “beautiful”. However, the sound of this work is undeniably beautiful. The protruding edges are sharp and have a metallic luster, and each riff shines brightly. This may be because the performance itself is sharp, but the contours are not that great. Of course the roar! It’s not just for the sake of being able to record such beautiful thrash metal that it’s said that there is no one who can record HR/HM.
What is depicted with such “radical sound of beauty” is a full show of DEATH ANGEL/EXODUS that will leave the thrasher in tears. Both bands completely changed their sets from the first day in Tokyo, with no duplicates, but it was the second day (this work) that focused on classics and had many delicious songs. Let’s take a look at how delicious it is.

●DISC 1: DEATH ANGEL
・Classics: The Ultra-Violence/Mistress Of Pain/3rd Floor/Seemingly Endless Time
・After resurrection: Relentless Revolution/Son Of The Morning/Aggressor/Thrown To The Wolves

●DISC 2: EXODUS
・Bonded By Blood／And Then There Were None／Piranha／Metal Command
・Other classics: Only Death Decides/Brain Dead/Fabulous Disaster/The Toxic Waltz
・Others: Body Harvest / Iconoclasm / He’s A Woman-She’s A Man

…and it looks like this. On the first day, DEATH ANGEL was mostly songs after the revival, but on the second day, a large number of classics were revived. It also shows not only “THE ULTRA-VIOLENCE” number but also “3rd Floor” and “Seemingly Endless Time”.
EXODUS is even more focused on classics. Starting from the beginning with “Bonded by Blood”, 1/3 of the set was “BONDED BY BLOOD”, which was a huge performance. Only two songs have been released since the band’s comeback, and they’ve also included rare revival songs such as “Only Death Decides” from “IMPACT IS IMMINENT.” And towards the end of the song, he sings the 3rd album’s special numbers “Fabulous Disaster” and “The Toxic Waltz” in a row.
And the last one was a surprise. They’ll be playing a cover of SCORPIONS’ “He’s A Woman-She’s A Man.” I thought it was their first public performance in Japan, but apparently it was their first live performance. Not just precious, but Mark Ozegueda of DEATH ANGEL also appears. The gorgeous co-stars will captivate you (and by the way, Mark’s pronunciation of “Arigato!” is as beautiful as a Japanese person’s).
“THE BAY STRIKES BACK” by three of the most important Bay Area thrash bands. It was true to the rumors… no, it was an even more amazing live performance. Before I knew it, I had gotten used to making excuses like “I’m amazing considering my age,” but there was no need for them to make excuses like that. He smashed it with a sharp and kick-ass thrash paradise. The final day in particular is already becoming legendary due to the large number of classics played. The TESTAMENT edition “Shades 1864” released at the same time as this work is a double series in which the best modern masters have recorded such a full show with close attention to the music. An absolute sister album that metal fans living in 2023 should avoid. Please, get beaten to your heart’s content!

★Superb audience recording of “September 24, 2023 Zepp DiverCity Tokyo Performance”. This is the latest work by our well-known “Western Japan’s strongest taper”, and it has a super thick and close sound that is like a soundboard. The edges of Bay Area Crunch are sharp and full of metallic luster, and each riff shines brightly. Both of them play a lot of classics, and if you combine it with the sister work TESTAMENT edition “Shades 1864”, you can fully experience the full show that is whispered to be the best gig at THE BAY STRIKES BACK

遂に日本上陸を果たした究極のスラッシュ・パラダイス“THE BAY STRIKES BACK”。その現場を丸ごと体験できるオリジナル録音が２タイトル同時リリース決定です！
今回の２連作が記録されたのは「2023年９月24日Zepp DiverCity Tokyo公演」。第一弾の本作は、出演バンド３組のうち、DEATH ANGEL篇（DISC 1）／EXODUS篇（DISC 2）を完全収録した超極上オーディエンス録音セットです。ベイエリア・スラッシュの顔役３組が一堂に会した“THE BAY STRIKES BACK”が最初に開催されたのは2020年。当初はヨーロッパだけのツアーでしたが、徐々に拡大して今年はアジアにも進出しました。良い機会でもありますので、まずはその歩みを振り返ってみましょう。

●2020年
・２月６日ー３月10日：欧州#1（26公演）
●2021年
・10月７日／11月27日：北米#1（２公演）
●2022年
・４月９日ー５月25日：北米#2（34公演）
・７月９日ー５月25日：欧州#2（29公演）
・９月９日ー10月15日：北米#3（26公演）
●2023年
・９月21日ー10月１日：アジア（７公演）←★ココ★

これが現在までに行われてきた“THE BAY STRIKES BACK”。今回の日本公演は「アジア」レッグの一部で、東京２公演のみでした。本作が収録されたのは日本最終であり、「アジア」レッグ全体では３公演目にあたるコンサートでもありました。
そんなショウを真空パックした本作は、「超」付きの極上録音。それも「超々々々々……」と際限なく繰り返したくなるほどの。何しろ、本作をモノにしたのは、当店お馴染みの“西日本最強テーパー”氏。HR/HMを録らせた右に出る者はいないと言われる名手中の名手なわけですが、本作はその名手コレクションでもズバ抜けている。いつも通りに「まるでサウンドボード」と呼びたい超極太＆ド密着サウンドなのですが、今回はさらに「美しい」。
ここでポイントなのは、ライヴの主は轟音で知られるスラッシュメタルということ。それもエッジがギャリッギャリに立ちまくったベイエリア・クランチなのです。本来であれば暴虐上等！のハズであり、「美しい」なんて感じるはずがない。ところが、本作のサウンドは紛れもなく美しい。立ちまくったエッジがシャープな上に金属光沢を湛え、リフの一発一発がギラッギラに輝いている。演奏自体がキレまくっているせいもありますが、それにしても輪郭のタチ方がハンパではない。轟音当然！なスラッシュ・メタルをこうも美しく録るとは、確かに「HR/HMを録らせた右に出る者はいない」と呼ばれるのも伊達ではありません。
そんな「美の過激サウンド」で描かれるのは、スラッシャー感涙のDEATH ANGEL/EXODUSのフルショウ。両バンドとも東京初日とはダブり一切ナシでセットを丸ごと入れ替えていましたが、クラシックス重視で美味しい曲が多かったのは２日目（本作）の方でした。どれほど美味なのか、ここで整理しておきましょう。

●DISC 1：DEATH ANGEL
・クラシックス：The Ultra-Violence／Mistress Of Pain／3rd Floor／Seemingly Endless Time
・復活後：Relentless Revolution／Son Of The Morning／Aggressor／Thrown To The Wolves

●DISC 2：EXODUS
・ボンデッド・バイ・ブラッド：Bonded By Blood／And Then There Were None／Piranha／Metal Command
・その他クラシックス：Only Death Decides／Brain Dead／Fabulous Disaster／The Toxic Waltz
・その他：Body Harvest／Iconoclasm／He’s A Woman – She’s A Man

……と、このようになっています。初日のDEATH ANGELはほとんど復活後の曲ばかりでしたが、２日目はクラシックスが大量復活。それも『THE ULTRA-VIOLENCE』ナンバーばかりではなく「3rd Floor」や「Seemingly Endless Time」も披露してくれます。
さらにクラシックス偏重なのがEXODUS。初っぱなから「Bonded by Blood」でスタートし、セットの１/３が『BONDED BY BLOOD』という大盤振る舞い。復活後の曲は２曲だけに止め、『IMPACT IS IMMINENT』の「Only Death Decides」などの珍しい復活曲も繰り出してくる。そして終盤は3rdアルバムの必殺ナンバー「Fabulous Disaster」「The Toxic Waltz」の２連発でノセまくってくれます。
そして、サプライズだったのがラスト。SCORPIONSのカバー「He’s A Woman – She’s A Man」を演奏するのです。日本初公開……かと思いきや、どうやら彼らにとっても初めてのライヴ演奏だった模様。単に貴重なだけでなくDEATH ANGELのマーク・オゼグエダも登場。豪華共演で魅せてくれます（それにしてもマークの「アリガトウ！」は日本人のように綺麗な発音です）。
ベイエリア・スラッシュの最重要バンド３組による“THE BAY STRIKES BACK”。噂に違わぬ……いや、それ以上に凄まじいライヴでした。いつの間にか「年齢を考えたらスゴい」と言い訳を付ける事にも慣れきっていましたが、彼らにそんな枕詞は必要なし。キレッキレでバッキバキなスラッシュ・パラダイスで叩きのめしてくれました。特に最終日は、クラシックス大量投入で早くも伝説として語られ始めている。本作と同時リリースのTESTAMENT篇『Shades 1864』は、そんなフルショウを現代最高の名手がウデに寄りをかけて記録しきった２連作なのです。2023年に生きるメタル者なら避けて通ってはいけない絶対の姉妹作。どうぞ、思う存分ぶちのめされちゃってください！

★「2023年９月24日Zepp DiverCity Tokyo公演」の超絶級オーディエンス録音。当店お馴染み“西日本最強テーパー”氏の最新作で、まるでサウンドボードな超極太＆ド密着サウンド。ベイエリア・クランチのエッジがシャープな上に金属光沢を湛え、リフの一発一発がギラッギラに輝いている。両者ともクラシックスをたっぷり多めに演奏しており、姉妹作のTESTAMENT篇『Shades 1864』と併せれば、THE BAY STRIKES BACKでもベスト・ギグと囁かれるフルショウを完全体験できます。

Disc 1(48:56)
DEATH ANGEL

1. Intro
2. The Ultra-Violence / Mistress Of Pain
3. 3rd Floor
4. Relentless Revolution
5. Son Of The Morning
6. Aggressor
7. Seemingly Endless Time
8. Thrown To The Wolves

Mark Osegueda – Vocals
Rob Cavestany – Guitar
Ted Aguilar – Guitar
Damian Sisson – Bass
Will Carroll – Drums

Disc 2(72:50)
EXODUS

1. Intro
2. Bonded By Blood
3. Body Harvest
4. And Then There Were None
5. Piranha
6. Only Death Decides
7. Iconoclasm
8. Brain Dead
9. Metal Command
10. Fabulous Disaster
11. The Toxic Waltz
12. He’s A Woman – She’s A Man (with Mark Osegueda)

Steve “Zetro” Souza – Vocals
Gary Holt – Guitar
Lee Altus – Guitar
Jack Gibson – Bass
Tom Hunting – Drums

Shades 1863