Description

Formed in Washington, D.C, Angel was employing a dazzling mix of glam rock, hard rock, and progressive rock. Their outrageous, white-satin-heavy image and equally over-the-top stage shows, made them one of the more colorful arena rock bands of the mid-70s and early 80s. Discovered by Kiss bass player Gene Simmons, the group issued their eponymous debut album in 1975. A heady slab of heavy pomp rock with lengthy songs swathed in Giuffria’s atmospheric keyboards and featuring the longtime stage favorite Tower, it was followed in 1976 by Helluva Band, which continued in a similar vein, with the group’s famous white satin stage clothing making its debut on the album sleeve. On Earth as It Is in Heaven saw a distinct change in musical direction, as the band adopted a a more pop/rock-oriented sound, and introduced a clever logo that read identically when upside down. A legal dispute with PolyGram prompted the band’s breakup in 1981. Giuffria attempted to revive the band in 1984, but the abortive reunion led to the formation of the more successful House Of Lords. Brandt and DiMino re-formed Angel in the late 90s to record In The Beginning, with the help of guitarist and songwriter Richard Marcello. They staged an Angel reunion of sorts by persuading former colleagues Robinson and Meadows to play on the track Set Me Free. Frank DiMino’s classic distinctive vocals are better than ever. Barry Brandt’s Bonham influenced drums pound all throughout this album. Overall the band has an harder edge here than they had in the late 70s and early 80s.

Track list:
1. The Crow
2. The Rain Song
3. Hero
4. So I’ll Say Goodbye
5. Long Gone
6. In The Wake Of The Storm (The Millenium Y2K)
7. Set Me Free
8. The Greatest Love Of All
9. Shangra La
10. Trapped In Paradise