DEATH ANGEL haven't exactly been dealt a great hand. They should have been. Should have been as successful as a band such as MEGADETH, should have been dominating the '90s and early '00s, should have been known by way more people than they are because they're one of the class bands in Thrash Metal. But it didn't really turn out that way. Despite kicking out '80s classics such as "The Ultra-Violence" and "Frolic Through The Park," and their much-debated, should-have-been-mainstream-breakthrough, "Act III", the band was torn apart after a near-fatal tour bus accident and ceased to exist as DEATH ANGEL at the conclusion of 1991. What should have been their "Black Album" was instead the beginning of the end. At least of the first chapter.

In 2001, the band reformed, and since then we've gotten 2004's fairly tepid "The Art Of Dying" and 2008's completely awesome "Killing Season," reestablishing the DEATH ANGEL legend and at least putting them back where they belong. Maybe they never made it as a headlining theater act, but this was a pretty good alternative. Now comes their third post-reunion record "Relentless Retribution", which arguably can be looked at as "Act III, Pt. II". Now, it isn't a record that potentially could break them to the masses, and it lacks the sonic experimentation that marked their 1990 album, but this one feels and sounds different, and the guys are taking chances. It just doesn't always compute.

Perhaps some of the change-up has to do with their first lineup switches since they came back together, with longtime drummer Andy Galeon making way for Will Carroll and new bassist Damien Sissom joining the fold over vet Dennis Pepa, or maybe it's always what they intended. They still have the tendency to crush you with their brand of Bay Area Thrash, opening with "Relentless Revolution", which is decent but a little flat; hammer-whipping "Truce"; the power-fueled sing-along "This Hate", where frontman Mark Osegueda is at his best; and "Where They Lay", which hints heavily that they've been listening to some Hardcore. It's a nice touch.

Elsewhere, there are moments that'll raise eyebrows. "Claws In So Deep" is one of the longer songs in their entire catalog, and it, too, has some bearing toward Hardcore. However, the acoustic jamming at the end, featuring RODRIGO Y GABRIELA, seems to go on and on far past when its point is made, almost as if it should be a standalone cut. "Absence Of Light" is the one true clunker, with a riff that sounds like it was eschewed by METALLICA when they were yakking up "Load" and "Reload". "Volcanic" is one of the most interesting and rewarding of their curveballs, as it remains largely acoustic with raspier clean vocals provided by guitarist Rob Cavestany. "Opponents At Sides" is a straight-up rock song.

"Relentless Retribution", even in its heaviest moments, certainly is a departure. It feels a lot different from what's typically expected from DEATH ANGEL, and that's not really a bad thing. It's nice to hear a veteran act try new things, even if they don't always work out, because it keeps the air fresh. Hopefully, they keep pushing the envelope. The inclusion of current guitar phenoms RODRIGO Y GABRIELA is a great move, and ideas along those lines will keep this band exciting and relevant. The fact that this album is good, not great, isn't for any lack of effort, and the path they're on just may be the right one in the end.