DEATH ANGEL Frontman Comments On Bassist DENNIS PEPA's Departure

San Francisco photographer/writer Raymond Ahner of Ground Control Magazine conducted an interview with vocalist Mark Osegueda of the San Francisco Bay Area metal band DEATH ANGEL on October 28, 2008, prior to bassist Denis Papa's last show with the group. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Ground Control MagazineAlright. Well, I just read that Dennis Pepa has left the band?

Osegueda: Yeah, unfortunately this is Dennis' last show with the band, which is...sad, but, you know, when one reaches the end, one reaches the end. I know I've done it before (laughs). I wish him well, we all do, and he wishes us well. We are going to carry on and start auditioning new bassists, but we are going to keep writing until we find one, and we will continue when we find one and start doing some shows when they come our way.

Ground Control Magazine: So what have you guys been up to since the summer European tour ended?

Osegueda: Man... so the tour was four months straight, and since then we all decompressed (laughing),tried to get used to each other, and everyone definitely took some down time to get re-excited again. We just started rehearsing again about a month and a half ago. Rob [Cavestany, guitar] has already started writing riffs and working on some stuff for the next album, which is where our focus is right now. We are doing this one-off show with DEVILDRIVER, who asked us to do it and we said hell, why not. It gives us a chance to kick some of the dust off.

Ground Control Magazine: Any highlights or standout-shows from the tour?

Osegueda: Well, we did a lot of festivals. Standouts would have to be Hellfest in Paris, which was our first festival ever in Paris. We have played a lot of indoor shows there but never an outdoor one, and that was incredible. We played a festival in Bilbao, Spain, and that was really special for all of us. KISS and DIO played it the same day we did. KISS was our first concert, and we got to meet them and take pictures with them that night, and by the end of the night I was pretty hammered. It was a blast, and also got to talk to [Ronnie James] Dio for a while, and get some pictures with him. I think that was probably the favorite show for everyone.

Ground Control Magazine: Well let's talk about "Killing Season" a bit. I know it's kind of old news by now, but can you give me your overall thoughts on the album?

Osegueda: To tell you the truth I couldn't be more proud of any album we've done. I've got such an attachment to it because it's the most I've ever contributed to any DEATH ANGEL record. The feeling we all had going into the studio with the material we had, and then the feeling we all had being in the studio with producer Nick Raskulinecz was probably the best working relationship we have had with a producer. I think we hold a special place for it. It's been received very well critically, a lot better than "The Art of Dying" was, but that record had to happen for this one to happen. I couldn't be more proud of "Killing Season".

Read the entire interview from Ground Control Magazine.

Dennis Pepa played his last show with DEATH ANGEL on October 28, 2008 at the Grand Ballroom in San Francisco, California. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be viewed below (courtesy of "Rudeness20006"). Photos of the concert are available at this location (all pictures taken by Alan Ralph).

Dennis Pepa released the following released to BLABBERMOUTH.NET regarding his decision to leave DEATH ANGEL:

"I've been with DEATH ANGEL since its inception in the '80s and believe it is time for me to move on. Throughout my career with the band, I've brought a punk-influenced edge to the DEATH ANGEL sound, and as an open-minded musician in need of change, I'd like to diversify and explore other opportunities within and beyond the genre of metal. The DEATH ANGEL guys are my family, both literally and figuratively speaking, and I wish them luck on their future endeavors. Many thanks go out to Nuclear Blast Records and the fans, who have extended their support and friendship — I look forward to being involved in new music projects and continuing to connect with all of you."

Released on February 26, 2008 via Nuclear Blast Records, DEATH ANGEL's latest album, "Killing Season", sold approximately 2,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release according to Nielsen SoundScan. The album was recorded at Studio 606 in Northridge, California with producer Nick Raskulinecz, who has previously worked with FOO FIGHTERS, RUSH, VELVET REVOLVER, SHADOWS FALL and STONE SOUR, among other acts.

"The Ultra-Violence":

"Lord Of Hate" (last song performed with Dennis Pepa):