Considering that it's been nearly a decade and a half since the last time Mark Osegueda, Rob Cavestany, Dennis Pepa and Andy Galeon were in the studio together as Death Angel, it's remarkable how comparatively natural _The Art of Dying_ has ended up sounding. Laced with the band's trademark inventiveness and flair for punked-up experimentation, openers "Thrown to the Wolves" and "5 Steps to Freedom" are pure old school thrash metal gold. Mark Osegueda's voice cuts an imposing figure and has never sounded more arresting, while the guitar synergy between Rob Cavestany and newcomer Ted Aguilar is as effective as anything you will find on the band's early efforts. A surprise ballad in the shape of "Words to the Wise" also rears its head, nodding knowingly in the direction of Cavestany and Pepa's post-Death Angel outfit, The Organization.

Unfortunately, taking into account the unashamedly early classic flavor of this record, it's to be expected that there are going to be some that will sneer at Death Angel's vintage approach. For the rest of us however, _The Art Dying_ is well produced, neck-snapping rollick, and quite possibly one of the finest old-school thrash albums since _Rust in Peace_.