By Christopher Crone

Here’s my review of the massive metal maelstrom that was the evening of October 15, 2025, at the UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall in Berkeley—six bands deep, blistering from front to back, a tour-de-force of thrash fire. If you dug the golden-age of head-banging and brutal pits, this night had “take your vitamins and break the neck” written all over it.

Interceptor

Opening the show, Interceptor delivered a raw shot of speed-metal adrenaline. With a sound that echoes the furious, no-holds-barred aggression of early Venom and Motorhead, they set the tone. Their riffs were razor-sharp, the tempo quick enough to make your pulse skip, and the crowd—still fresh—responded with energy. Definitely a band to keep on the radar for fans of the underground speed-metal scene.

Midnight

Taking the stage post-Sacred Reich, Midnight brought a different flavor: sleaze-tinged speed/thrash with a devil-may-care attitude. The Ohio trio’s aesthetic—hoods, bullet belts, switchblade energy—was on full display and resonated in the crowd. Their set had swagger and speed, and even though they’re not as mainstream as some of the others, their underground cred shone through. The kind of act that grows on you and leaves you checking for more.

HIRAX

Next up, HIRAX stormed the stage with vintage thrash fury. Frontman Katon W. De Pena remains one of underground metal’s showmen, and the band brought their California-crossover roots to full power. His trademark “horns-up and fists-out” energy was infectious. Founded in 1984, they were early adopters of thrash/speed/crossover, and tonight you could hear that pedigree. Their set had that gnarly, unapologetic edge—no frills, just fast riffs, raw vocals and pit-fueled dynamics. The kind of set where you find yourself smiling and grimacing at the same time.

Sacred Reich

Ramping up the intensity, Sacred Reich stepped in and delivered a masterclass in thrash with a message. Hailing from Phoenix and well-steeped in the second wave of thrash, their music blends mid-tempo groove with razor riffs and socially aware lyrics. During their set, the crowd seemed dialed in—mosh pits intensifying, fists in the air, that communal “we’re here for metal” vibe strong. Their songs landed hard, and the band struck a nice balance between nostalgia and raw power, pits intensifying, fists in the air, that communal “we’re here for metal” vibe strong.

Vio‑lence

Now we’re talking serious Bay Area thrash pedigree. Vio-lence hit the stage and brought the carnage: founded in 1985 in the San Francisco Bay Area, they’re part of that critical thrash lineage. Their set was tight, brutal, and gloriously loud tracks like “Eternal Nightmare” and “Bodies on Bodies” hit with that signature thrash precision that made them legends. Sean Killian’s voice sounded fierce, and the whole band played like they had something to prove (not that they do). A masterclass in controlled chaos. Their performance felt razor-focused—savage riffs, aggressive vocals, and a sense of urgency that elevated the show to a “this is why we’re here” moment. The crowd responded in full force, circle pits erupting, the energy feeding back into the band. A perfect penultimate act before the headliner.

Dark Angel – EXTINCTION LEVEL EVENT North America 2025

And then the moment we’d all been waiting for. Dark Angel took over as the headliner for their “EXTINCTION LEVEL EVENT North America 2025” trek. Here are the major take-aways from the main event:

• The lineup was historic: all original members returning except guitarist Laura Christine, who Ron Rinehart proudly explained had been thoroughly vetted.
• They kicked off with a sonic assault, launching into tracks from their new album Extinction Level Event (released September 5, 2025) such as the title track and “Apex Predator.” The sheer ferocity of hearing new material alongside thrash classics made this a landmark reunion-meets-rebirth moment.
• The setlist moved into legacy territory: full-throttle renditions of cuts like “Merciless Death,” “The Burning of Sodom,” and “Time Does Not Heal.” The crowd was primed; the pit didn’t stop.
• Drummer Gene Hoglan (aka “The Atomic Clock”) was a standout—he looked unfazed by decades of blasting and still sounded as tight as ever. The backdrop of the stage lit up, the band levelled the floor, and the energy was physical.
• At one point, vocalist Ron Rinehart dove into the crowd for crowd-surfing vocals, the visuals matching the audio in raw, sweaty glory.
• Every song felt purposeful: new tracks proving Dark Angel still has a pulse, older tracks resonating as foundational thrash anthems.

In short, this was more than a nostalgia trip—it was a proclamation: the thrash gods are back. For a Gen-X metal head like yours truly, it felt like revisiting the glory days of “You’ve got mail” internet forums and cassette-trading, but with 2025-grade production and live intensity.

Final thoughts

If you were at UC Theatre that night, you witnessed six bands that each brought something distinct to the table—but together formed a perfect chain of thrash evolution: from opener to headliner, junior to senior, underground to legendary. The vibe was electric: old-school head-banging, new-school resurgence, mosh pits, fist-bumps, and that communal “we’re here to thrash” feeling.

If I were to give a “take-away” message: this show wasn’t just about looking back—it was about reclaiming the present. Dark Angel’s album drops, the tour, the energy—it all said: thrash isn’t dead, it’s rearming. And for those of us who cut our teeth on classic TV reruns, arcades and metal tape decks, it was a night where “Roll the credits” really did feel like the screen fading to black just after the big explosion.

Score it? For sheer visceral intensity, nostalgic highs and live-performance excellence, I’d give it a solid 9/10. If you missed it… well, may your next chance come sooner than later.

Rock on,

Categories: dark angel, HIRAX, Interceptor, Midnight, Sacred Reich, vio-lence

Tags: Christopher Crone, dark angel, HIRAX, Interceptor, midnight, Sacred Reich, vio-lence