Death Angel

Explore the band's historical lineups, musicians, and studio albums.

Active6 formations9 studio albums

Formation chronology

Newest first

Formation 6 of 6

Nov 2009 – Present

Members

  • Mark Osegueda
    Vocals
  • Rob Cavestany
    Guitar
  • Ted Aguilar
    Guitar
  • Damien Sisson
    Bass
  • Will Carroll
    Drums

Formation facts

  • Damien Sisson's first post-Sammy appearance with Death Angel came at Speedfest in Eindhoven on November 28, 2009, marking the start of the lineup that would carry the band's modern studio era.
  • The Damien Sisson / Will Carroll lineup became the recording band for Relentless Retribution and every Death Angel studio album that followed through Humanicide.
  • Relentless Retribution was Death Angel's first album recorded outside California, tracked at Audiohammer Studios with Jason Suecof. Rodrigo Sánchez and Gabriela Quintero guest on “Claws in So Deep.”
  • The Dream Calls for Blood became an important chart milestone for the reunited band, reaching the Billboard 200 and confirming Death Angel's second-era commercial reach.
  • Andreas Kisser of Sepultura appears on “Hatred United / United Hate” from The Evil Divide, another guest credit that never became a Death Angel membership.
  • “Humanicide,” the title track from Humanicide, earned Death Angel its first GRAMMY nomination for Best Metal Performance.
  • In 2020 Will Carroll survived a severe COVID-19 illness that left him hospitalized and later returned to Death Angel activity.
  • “Wrath (Bring Fire)” ended the band's six-year gap in newly released original music in 2025, with “Cult of the Used” following later that year as Death Angel continued Act III anniversary touring into the next cycle.

Studio albums

  • Humanicide (May 2019)
  • The Evil Divide (May 2016)
  • The Dream Calls for Blood (Oct 2013)
  • Relentless Retribution (Sep 2010)

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Formation 5 of 6

May 2009 – Oct 2009

Members

  • Mark Osegueda
    Vocals
  • Rob Cavestany
    Guitar
  • Ted Aguilar
    Guitar
  • Sammy Diosdado
    Bass
  • Will Carroll
    Drums

Formation facts

  • When Andy stepped away, Death Angel announced that Will Carroll would handle drums. Carroll entered with deep Bay Area metal connections and an existing musical relationship with Ted Aguilar.

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Formation 4 of 6

Jan 10, 2009 – Apr 2009

Members

  • Mark Osegueda
    Vocals
  • Rob Cavestany
    Guitar
  • Ted Aguilar
    Guitar
  • Sammy Diosdado
    Bass
  • Andy Galeon
    Drums

Formation facts

  • Sammy Diosdado joined in early 2009 after Dennis Pepa's departure. He already shared a musical connection with Mark Osegueda through All Time Highs, and the band had tried several bassists during the transition before formally adding him.
  • Andy Galeon left in 2009 while balancing touring with a growing family. He later said poor communication inside the band contributed to the split, and he himself suggested possible replacements, including Will Carroll.

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Formation 3 of 6

Aug 2001 – Oct 28, 2008

Members

  • Mark Osegueda
    Vocals
  • Rob Cavestany
    Guitar
  • Ted Aguilar
    Guitar
  • Dennis Pepa
    Bass
  • Andy Galeon
    Drums

Formation facts

  • Death Angel reunited in 2001 for Thrash of the Titans, a benefit for Testament singer Chuck Billy, turning a one-off show into the start of a long second era.
  • Gus Pepa was no longer pursuing the band and gave Ted Aguilar his blessing to take the second-guitar position for the reunion.
  • Ted Aguilar initially expected the reunion to be a single benefit appearance rather than the beginning of Death Angel's long second chapter.
  • The Art of Dying arrived in 2004, fourteen years after Act III, and became the first studio album of the reunited band.
  • On The Art of Dying, lead-vocal duties spread beyond Mark Osegueda on several songs, underlining the band's long-standing multi-vocalist character.
  • Killing Season was recorded at Studio 606 with producer Nick Raskulinecz. Scott Ian and Brian Posehn appear as guests on the album, but neither became a Death Angel member.
  • Dennis Pepa played his final Death Angel show on October 28, 2008. Announcing an open bass search days later, he described the departure as a desire to explore other musical opportunities.

Studio albums

  • Killing Season (Feb 2008)
  • The Art of Dying (Apr 2004)

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Formation 2 of 6

1984 – 1991

Members

  • Mark Osegueda
    Vocals
  • Rob Cavestany
    Guitar
  • Gus Pepa
    Guitar
  • Dennis Pepa
    Bass
  • Andy Galeon
    Drums

Formation facts

  • Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett produced Death Angel's Kill as One demo, giving the young Bay Area band an early connection to the scene's biggest breakout act.
  • Tape trading carried Kill as One far beyond the Bay Area and helped create the industry momentum that led to Death Angel's first record deal.
  • The Ultra-Violence introduced Death Angel nationally in 1987 while the musicians were still exceptionally young — drummer Andy Galeon was only fourteen when the album was recorded.
  • The album's title track, “The Ultra-Violence,” is an extended instrumental and became one of the defining pieces of the debut.
  • “Bored,” from Frolic Through the Park, reached MTV's Headbangers Ball era and widened Death Angel's visibility beyond the thrash underground.
  • Death Angel moved to Geffen before Act III, placing the band on a major label for its third studio album.
  • Act III pushed the band beyond straight thrash, with songs such as “A Room with a View” showing a more melodic and acoustic side.
  • A 1990 tour-bus crash seriously injured Andy Galeon and interrupted Death Angel just as the band was positioned for the Clash of the Titans era.
  • Rather than permanently replace Andy while he recovered, the band refused to treat the injury as an opening for a new regular drummer.
  • Chris Kontos temporarily covered drums for the final Japanese performances after the crash, a short touring substitution that never made him a studio member.
  • The accident and its aftermath helped end Death Angel's first era. After the band stopped operating, several members continued together as The Organization.

Studio albums

  • Act III (Apr 1990)
  • Frolic Through the Park (Jul 1988)
  • The Ultra-Violence (Apr 1987)

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Formation 1 of 6

1982 – 1983

Members

  • Rob Cavestany
    Guitar
  • Gus Pepa
    Guitar
  • Dennis Pepa
    Bass, Vocals
  • Andy Galeon
    Drums

Formation facts

  • Death Angel began in 1982 as a Bay Area four-piece — Rob Cavestany and Gus Pepa on guitars, Dennis Pepa on bass, and Andy Galeon on drums — before Mark Osegueda became the band's vocalist.
  • In the earliest years Dennis Pepa handled lead vocals as well as bass, carrying the band through its pre-Mark demo period.
  • The 1983 Heavy Metal Insanity demo documents that founding four-piece phase, capturing Death Angel before the classic Mark-fronted lineup took shape.
  • Mark Osegueda was already around the band before he sang for it, helping out in roadie-type roles until he stepped up as vocalist.

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Historical memberships, formation facts, and studio-album associations follow the published Headbangear archive. Studio albums are linked to formations via curated association — not inferred from release dates alone.