Death Angel playing Cheyenne Saloon

The best thing about the current thrash revival -- other than a resurgence of speed-of-sound jams about killer sharks, nuclear devastation and regurgitated Budweiser -- is that scene veterans who didn't quite get their due back in the day are being pulled out of retirement to some of their biggest crowds yet.

This is the case with Death Angel, the Bay Area ragers who spiked frenetic, vengeful riffing with melodic savvy. Their latest disc is called "Relentless Retribution," and that's exactly what it sounds like for these dudes. See Death Angel at 7 p.m. Monday at the Cheyenne Saloon, 3103 N. Rancho Drive. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 day of show; call 645-4139.

-- By JASON BRACELIN