Biography
What began as the apparent solo endeavor of vocalist and guitarist Peter Hobbs, formerly of Tyrus, Hobbs' Angel of Death formed in 1985 as one of Australia's earliest extreme metal outfits. After circulating several demos that drew considerable notice, the band delivered its first official recording with the self-titled album in 1988. Captured in Berlin and issued on Germany's Steamhammer label, that release endures as a landmark cult metal artifact of the decade, frequently compared to Slayer's Reign in Blood for its ferocious thrashing and Satanic themes. Hobbs himself labeled it "virgin metal," claiming it embodied metal in its purest state.
Australia's distance from Europe hampered the limited capacities of the independent label, and when Hobbs parted ways with lead guitarist Mark Woolley, bassist Philip Gresik, and drummer Darren McMaster-Smith, the project fell silent. It resurfaced in 1995 only after Hobbs assembled a new lineup of Nick Maltezos on lead guitar, Dave Frew on bass, and Bruno Canziani on drums, yielding the poorly produced Inheritance. That second Hobbs' Angel of Death LP remained nearly unobtainable outside Australia and was followed by another long dormancy. A further revival arrived in 2003 with Hobbs' Satan's Crusade, again featuring an entirely different supporting cast. Several Australian shows alongside German thrashers Destruction and Norwegian black metallers Mayhem ensued, though whether Hobbs' Angel of Death will reemerge remains unclear.
Australia's distance from Europe hampered the limited capacities of the independent label, and when Hobbs parted ways with lead guitarist Mark Woolley, bassist Philip Gresik, and drummer Darren McMaster-Smith, the project fell silent. It resurfaced in 1995 only after Hobbs assembled a new lineup of Nick Maltezos on lead guitar, Dave Frew on bass, and Bruno Canziani on drums, yielding the poorly produced Inheritance. That second Hobbs' Angel of Death LP remained nearly unobtainable outside Australia and was followed by another long dormancy. A further revival arrived in 2003 with Hobbs' Satan's Crusade, again featuring an entirely different supporting cast. Several Australian shows alongside German thrashers Destruction and Norwegian black metallers Mayhem ensued, though whether Hobbs' Angel of Death will reemerge remains unclear.
Albums
