''Frolic Through the Park'' is the second studio album by the American
thrash metal
Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...
band
Death Angel
Death Angel is an American thrash metal band from Daly City, California, initially active from 1982 to 1991 and again since 2001. Death Angel has released nine studio albums, two demo tapes, one box set and three live albums. The band has ...
, released in 1988. This was the band's last full-length studio album released on
Enigma Records
Enigma Records (also known as Enigma Entertainment Corporation) was a popular rock and alternative American record label in the 1980s.
History
Enigma Records launched as a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent music importer/d ...
before signing to
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label established by David Geffen and owned by Universal Music Group through its Interscope Geffen A&M Records imprint.
Founded in 1980, Geffen Records has been a part of Interscope Geffen A&M since 1999 and h ...
in 1989.
Overview
''Frolic Through the Park'' marked a change in style for Death Angel and is considered by many to be one of the band's darkest works. While retaining the
speed
In everyday use and in kinematics, the speed (commonly referred to as ''v'') of an object is the magnitude
Magnitude may refer to:
Mathematics
*Euclidean vector, a quantity defined by both its magnitude and its direction
*Magnitude (ma ...
and thrash roots of its predecessor ''
The Ultra-Violence
''The Ultra-Violence'' is the debut studio album by American thrash metal band Death Angel, released in 1987. The album was recorded while all members were under 20, with drummer Andy Galeon just 14 years old. It was mixed at George Tobin Studi ...
'' (1987), the album saw the band implement a more experimental and diverse direction, drawing elements and influences from
funk,
progressive,
hard rock,
hardcore punk
Hardcore punk (also known as simply hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier p ...
and then-current music (particularly early
U2). The band would continue this experimentation on their next album, ''
Act III'' (1990).
Despite being hailed as a fan favorite, and including one of their most popular songs "Bored" (in which its music video had heavy rotation on
MTV's ''
Headbangers Ball''), the members of Death Angel (particularly frontman Mark Osegueda and guitarist Rob Cavestany) have been very critical of this album, including its sound and production. In the band's documentary ''A Thrashumentuary'', Cavestany referred to ''Frolic Through the Park'' as both their "bastard album" and an "odd album". While the band has rarely performed the majority of the album's songs live since their initial disbandment in 1991, "3rd Floor" and "Bored" are the only songs from ''Frolic Through the Park'' to have appeared in their live setlists more frequently after their comeback in 2001.
Osegueda revealed in a 2003 interview that the source of the title "Why You Do This" was a line in the film ''
The Exorcist
''The Exorcist'' is a 1973 American supernatural horror film directed by William Friedkin and written for the screen by William Peter Blatty, based on his 1971 novel of the same name. It stars Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb, Kitty ...
''. "Bored" was used in a scene in the 1990 movie ''
Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III''.
Reception and awards
''Frolic Through the Park'' was ranked number eight in ''
Loudwire''s top ten list of "Thrash Albums NOT Released by the Big 4".
Track listing
Personnel
;Death Angel
*Mark Osegueda – lead vocals
*Rob Cavestany – lead guitar, backing vocals, producer
*Gus Pepa – guitar
*Dennis Pepa – bass, backing vocals
*Andy Galeon – drums, backing vocals, producer
;Additional personnel;
*Bob Ross – "Shores of Sin" intro and outro
;Production
*Davy Vain – producer, mixing with Death Angel
*Michael Rosen – engineer, mixing
References
{{Authority control
Death Angel albums
1988 albums
Enigma Records albums