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Dark Angel's second album is not only regarded as their best work, but is often invoked as one of the best Thrash albums ever made. Their debut We Have Arrived was really just a souped-up demo recording, so this was actually the band's first chance to show off what they were capable of. Played with ferocious, chaotic intensity, Darkness Descends indeed sets a landmark in classic Thrash.

This has all the hallmarks of Dark Angel: galloping riffs, smashing rhythms, and Don Doty's distinctive bark. Only on this album the whole is more energetic and entertaining than anything else they ever did. When Dark Angel grew up and got Serious with Time Does Not Heal, they somehow became less fun. This is just fast, nasty, evil Thrash with crunch and attitude to spare. The title cut and "Merciless Death" get lots of attention, but I think "Hunger Of The Undead" and the soul-crushing "Black Prophecies" are the real gems here. Really, there are no boring songs on here, and this is all what we would call "the good part". Dark Angel may have been just aping Sodom when they recorded this, but they sure got it right. A classic of flailing, gut-ripping Thrash.