Devastation - Idolatry (1991)Release ID: 4026
I first wrapped my ears around Texas-based thrash metal outfit Devastation when I experienced some of the material from their 1989 sophomore album "Signs of Life" back in the very early 1990's & I quite liked what I heard too just quietly. The band seemed to offer a fair bit of potential so I found myself checking out the full-length album shortly afterwards, a record that I liked enough to see me heading back to their very ordinary 1987 debut album "Violent Termination". The debut did very little for me unfortunately but when 1991's "Idolatry" third full-length was released it wasted no time in repaying me for my initial faith & is easily Devastation's finest work. It's the record that I reach for whenever I think of this band & is pretty much the only one you NEED to own as a respectable thrash metal fan.
"Idolatry" is often referred to as being a death/thrash hybrid but that's not an accurate depiction of what you can expect because there's really very little in the way of death metal to be found across the eight tracks included. Instead, you'll find a very pure thrash metal sound that's heavily influenced by bands like Slayer, Dark Angel, Exodus & Kreator but simply "feels" more brutal than most other thrash releases primarily because of the savage production, the powerful, driving double kick drum work & the aggressive vocals of front man Rodney Dunsmore which are probably the weak point for the band if there is one as they could certainly have been a little more accomplished. Thankfully though, the same cannot be said for the instrumentation which is absolutely devastating (see what I did there?). Guitarists Dave Burk & Henry Elizondo totally slay with their solos generally placed over the most intense parts of the songs & being made very much from the Kerry King & Jeff Hannemann mold. Drummer David Lozano is the hero here though & proves himself to be an elite exponent of his craft. He doesn't try too many extravagant rolls & fills but what he does contribute is exciting & super-precise which gives Devastation an exceptionally solid basis to work over.
The album kicks off brilliantly with opener "Deliver the Suffering" being one of the highlights of the 44 minute run time. There aren't any weak tracks included. In fact, there's nothing short of being a very solid example of the classic thrash metal model with "Forsaken Hatred" (my personal favourite), "Subconscious" & super-shredding closer "Never Believe" being the other major highlights. Devastation are definitely at their best when they're really going for it at the higher tempos but the slower, chunkier material is also very entertaining as the band seem to have mastered the art of the riff with "Idolatry" providing somewhat of a smorgasbord of delights for underground thrash fans. There's a noticeable class about everything they do with note selection & riff complexity being placed upon a pedestal & Lozano providing the perfect support for each section.
"Idolatry" really does sound like it was tailor made for someone with my particular background & taste profile as it combines so many of the things I look for in my metal. It's such a shame that it'd represent Devastation's final hurrah as the band seemed to have so much still in the tank. Perhaps it's best to leave the scene on such a high though as it certainly helps in maintaining the aura around the band for all eternity. Fans of the more brutal end of thrash metal (think Demolition Hammer, Dark Angel & Morbid Saint) should regard "Idolatry" as the very epitome of the hidden gem & one of the best thrash releases of the 1990's. It's a genuine thrash classic in my opinion.
The hellish artwork to Devastation's final album is a perfect representation of the raging death/thrash that lies beneath. This is ugly thrash metal that fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down before climbing back up and throwing itself back down again. Primitive and at times downright bestial this album was a fine way for the Texans to sign off with.
Having been formed in 1986 the band picked probably one of the most popular band names that they could (don't confuse these guys with the other Texan's of the same name who sat on the more groovy side of things). Eventually winding up on Combat Records after a debut full length, the band had started to carve out a niche for themselves over the course of what turned out to be only five years of existence. Imagine the middle ground between the aggression of Demolition Hammer and the darkness of Dark Angel and you're on the right track to understand the sound of Devastation. The pace hits frantic on more than one occasion but always seems to be tempered well by some well written and varied song structures that keep things on a robust and yet entertaining format. There's hints of Possessed (certainly in terms of vocal style) too and in the album's more death metal moments you get a real sense of early Sadus or even the chaotic and bludgeoning DM of Master.
Guitar wise, it was clear that both Dave Burk and Henry Elizondo could play. Both manage to taunt and menace across most tracks adding depth and atmosphere to the near constant attack. The rest of the instrumentation does sound a little flat though with the drums coming across as being too tappy at times. Although effective, the vocals are very one dimensional and the lyrics are very basic and feel just hashed together at times.
If you like your thrash metal on the deathy side then you should be all over this.
