Wings of Destiny

Hailing from Bellevue, Washington, cult heavy metal band Fifth Angel ascended from the Pacific Northwest to sign with Shrapnel Records in 1986. The band's powerful self-titled debut record drew rave reviews in the heavy metal community and comparisons to fellow Seattle-area rockers, Queensrÿche. Shortly thereafter, Fifth Angel realized its dream, inking a seven-album deal with a major label, Epic Records. The band released its second record, Time Will Tell, in 1989, and Fifth Angel seemed primed for a lengthy career. But that success never came. Fifth Angel struggled to break through to the masses. Ultimately, lineup changes and a shifting music scene led to Fifth Angel's demise before the band could get off the ground. Two decades later, an invite to perform at one of Europe's leading heavy metal festivals resurrected Fifth Angel. After further lineup shuffling, the band signed with Nuclear Blast and released two more highly lauded albums: The Third Secret, and When Angels Kill. Fifth Angel continues to soar today, playing to crowds all over the world. This is their story.