Currently in the midst of their North American Retribution tour, thrash metallers Death Angel willingly seceded headlining status for the Texas dates for one big reason: D.R.I.

Houston punk/thrash legends Dirty Rotten Imbeciles did not disappoint Tuesday night at downtown San Antonio's White Rabbit. And D.R.I. needed to deliver after Death Angel picked up where they left off three weeks ago aboard the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise with another blistering, energetic performance. Both bands were preceded by hard-hitting Kenosha, Wis., sons Lazarus A.D., and Los Angeles' Bonded By Blood, which initially got the mosh pits revved up with a stirring set. Local bands Filthy and the Muff Divers and Deadpool played 30-minute opening sets.

Nearing 30 years in the industry, D.R.I. took the stage shortly before midnight and played till 1:37 a.m., setting off a flurry of bodysurfing from the pent-up teenage-and 20-somethings in the crowd seconds before the first song even began. Four songs in, one stage-diver landed flush on the back of the SAMME's neck and rolled off, bending the head in a somewhat uncompromising position face-first onto the stage. Considering that came minutes after absorbing an inadvertent kick to the eye by another surfer, it was time to enjoy D.R.I.'s set from a locale that wouldn't involve the constant dodging of bodies.

No matter the viewing point, songs such as The Application and Slumlord were enjoyed by the youngsters with a fury of moshing angst, and by the older crowd with relaxed appreciation. After original singer Kurt Brecht pointed out that D.R.I. played its first show in 1982, he and original guitarist Spike Cassidy, longtime drummer Rob Rampy and bassist Harald Oimoen also delivered the goods on Suit and Tie Guy and closers The Five-Year Plan and Violent Pacification -- the latter of which was covered on Slayer's 1996 covers album Undisputed Attitude.

Fights picked up for D.R.I. where they left off during Death Angel's set, with punches and a sea of bodies flying everywhere. Whereas Death Angel guitarist Ted Aguilar and singer Mark Osegueda attempted to play traffic cops by verbally defusing the violence from the get-go, Brecht encouraged it, saying, "I wanna see you kill each other out there!" Considering there appeared to be only one employee clearly wearing a "White Rabbit staff" shirt -- but void of the word 'security,' no less -- Brecht was closer to getting his wish.

Brecht praised his fellow Texans' effort in the trenches by saying D.R.I. recently played Germany where "there were about 4,000 people there and only five people in the pits." But several songs later, Brecht offered, "We recently played Mexico City, and even though there were more people there, they kicked your ass! Are you going to let Mexico City do that to you, San Antonio?" After an awkward pause of silence -- and confusion -- from the moshers, Oimoen proclaimed, "We still love you all," while somewhat nervously looking across the stage at Brecht.

It was impossible not to play air drums on the night, especially after receiving half a broken stick from Death Angel's Will Carroll. The San Francisco Bay-area veterans hit the ground running, with most songs coming from 1987 debut album The Ultra-Violence and 2010's Relentless Retribution. They included opener I Chose The Sky, Evil Priest, Mistress of Pain and Claws In So Deep. Scheduled for 45 minutes, Death Angel played closer to 50 -- still about 10 minutes shy of each of their two sets on the Jan. 24-28 cruise from Miami to Cozumel, Mexico.

During a brief pre-set visit on the band's tour bus, Osegueda stated that he blew out his back the night before at Emo's in Austin. But you wouldn't have known it based on his performance and vicious headbanging. As yours truly told Death Angel bassist and Cozumel beach compadre Damien Sisson during D.R.I.'s set, Osegueda at 70 percent or less is better than a lot of metal frontmen at 100 percent. The proof is in the 45-picture slideshow and videos of the first two songs (see top left).

Death Angel ended with Thrashers, the first song off The Ultra-Violence, with Osegueda declaring, "This song is about you people." Beads of sweat poured off Cavestany's hair onto those close enough to touch the musicians as he headbanged. Those who hadn't seen Death Angel in a long time may have been disappointed they didn't play Bored, 3rd Floor or Seemingly Endless Time -- mainstays that they performed on the cruise -- so here's a word to the wise: Start saving up for the next ship. Sisson and Carroll informed the SAMME that Death Angel would perform on the next trek in a heartbeat if invited to return.

Lazarus A.D., which made its San Antonio debut opening for Testament at Scout Bar on June 3, 2009, played a heavy set from their two albums, including Black Rivers Flow which was released Feb. 1. The band cut a path of destruction through tunes such as Thou Shall Not Fear, American Dreams, and Absolute Power.

Bonded By Blood was not to be outdone, proving to be another act not to be missed the next time it visits. Named after Exodus' debut album, the unit shined on Feed The Beast and several other tracks that got the juices flowing for the main acts to come.

Sure, you could conceivably place four indoor portions of the White Rabbit aboard the top deck of the Majesty of the Seas cruise liner Death Angel played last month. But the power packed by Tuesday's bands fit nicely no matter the vibe, or size, of the surroundings. And that's what mattered the most.

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