Video: Reunited DARK ANGEL Performs At MARYLAND DEATHFEST

Reunited thrash metal pioneers DARK ANGEL performed their first U.S. show on May 23 at Maryland Deathfest in Baltimore. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

DARK ANGEL guitarist Jim Durkin commented on the band's new logo and 2014 return: "I can't tell you how happy I am about the return of DARK ANGEL in 2014. These are a great bunch of guys and I wouldn't have it any other way.

"We went back to our roots and got Ed Repka involved in the redesign of the classic logo.

"DARK fuckin ANGEL have been working very hard on the music, I cannot wait to bring this monster back to the fans."

DARK ANGEL reformed for a limited number of appearances in 2014 in the U.S. and select festivals in Europe.

The confirmed lineup for these rare and unique, select 2014 shows is:

* Gene Hoglan (drums)
* Eric Meyer (guitar)
* Jim Durkin (guitar)
* Ron Rinehart (vocals)
* Michael Gonzalez (bass)

During an appearance on the September 8, 2013 edition of the "Heavy Metal Mayhem" radio show, Hoglan spoke about the DARK ANGEL reunion, saying: "The most important thing for, I think, any of us, and especially me, and I know a couple of the other guys that are involved that the legacy of the band is very important. And if the band has attained some of kind of underground legendary status over the years, then if we do wanna return, a lot of people have great expecations of us, we'd better exceed those expectations.

"Like Ron Rinehart said, the definition of 'good' is 'not bad.' [laughs] We don't wanna come out and even be great; we wanna be No. 1. And that's a very heartening attitude.

"If some of the people that might wanna get involved with this… You've gotta do it for the right reasons. This is for the fans. And we're gonna come out and disappoint the fans, don't do it. If we're gonna come out and make the fans go, 'Yes, I expected something great and I got godly.' Then there's a reason for doing it."

DARK ANGEL released two albums with Don Doty on vocals — 1984's "We Have Arrived" and 1986's "Darkness Descends" — before he exited the group and was replaced by Ron Rinehart (after a brief stint with Jim Drabos in 1987). The band issued two more studio LPs — 1989's "Leave Scars" and 1991's "Time Does Not Heal" — before calling it quits in 1992. Rinehart, Hoglan and Meyer reassembled DARK ANGEL more than a decade ago but were forced to abandon their reunion plans after health issues reportedly put an end to Rinehart's singing career.