Signs of Life

Devastation | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 2, 1989)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Relativity
• ASIN: B000008F0P
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #586,750 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars DEVASTATION: "SIGNS OF LIFE" KILLER THRASH CD FROM 89!!, August 23, 2003

By 

Jeff Nix (Houston,Tx. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Signs of Life (Audio CD)

This is by far the coolest CD the band released, it is definately my favourite. Devastation play a style of thrash
best compared to KREATOR with a touch of DEATH thrown in.
If you a really into the old school Thrash/Speed Metal I
highly reccomend picking this up. The followup CD IDOLATRY
by this band was produced by SCOTT BURNS and is a touch
heavier but for the real neckbreaking speed metal freak,
this album is a must! Check out the songs: Eye for an Eye/
Desolation/Tommorow We Die. Recorded at Goodnight Studios
in Dallas,Tx. by Kerry Crafton, this shreds!

2.0 out of 5 stars Tuneless Flurry Of Sound, November 29, 2010

By 

Fred Rayworth (Las Vegas, NV United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Signs of Life (Audio Cassette)

I DO like thrash, it's just that I expect something memorable to hold onto. In this case, Devastation has the technical musicianship down, but at the sacrifice of tonality and memorability.

As I listened to this album, I noticed a blur of noise, lots of super fast riffing and drumming, but the vocals were monotonous and tuneless shouting. If I ever cared about the words, as if to follow some kind of story, I couldn't hear enough distinct words within the singer's bark to tell what he was talking about.

I heard a few hints of South of Heaven era Slayer, maybe a dash of Anthrax and even Suicidal Tendencies, but not enough to say they are imitating any of them.

This is just too extreme for my tastes, and I like extreme music. It just has to have something memorable or something to keep my interest and Devastation, at least on this album, doesn't fill the bill. Not recommended.

4.0 out of 5 stars Pseudo Slayer Speed Death, May 31, 2009

By 

haskpts - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Signs of Life (Audio CD)

Although nowhere as "focused" as Devastation were on their 3rd and final 1991 album "Idolatry" ... some extremely brutal and catchy parts exude forth on the 1989 album "Signs Of Life".

The very catchy beginning of the track "Desolation" riffs on endlessly until the song turns into a race for the end. Slayer's "Haunting The Chapel" is revisited at he beginning of "Manic Depressive" ... the "far" guitar mixed with the in your face guitar.

Singer Rodney Dunsmore does his best at his speaking/shouting "singing" style (thank God for a lyric sheet). Mid-period Dark Angel springs to mind ... with the faster than the speed of light vocals.

"Tomorrow We Die" again brings forth the Slayer-esque two guitar tandem.

Though one may assume Devastation is a "Satanic" band ~ judging by the heaviness of their sound - the opposite is true - I believe Devastation has considered themself an "Anti-Satan" band. Let's examine a song.

Tomorrow We Die

A time will come, all eyes shall see

The coming of foretold prophecies

To eliminate all future pain

Horror is the price you pay

Realistic terror through the days

Evil minds bring evil ways

War after war of man and beast

Darkness prevails

As death's unleashed

Tribulation, cast in fire

Enter the ritual, of life's desire

Revelation laid to rest

Accept the wisdom, unholy test

Wear the mark, evil sign

Symbol of a darkened mind

Suicide or salvation

Blackened heart brings deception

Confusion - am I living or dying

Searching - for my fate left beyond

Survivor of a hell on earth

Descending, I'm waiting to burn

Judgement's been passed

This day is the last

Fire from the heavens

The ultimate task

The beast shall rise out of the sea

Bringing forth words of blasphemy

Separation of powers

Of both by the law

Foretold by prophets in visions they saw

Out of the earth the second shall rise

Unsightly miracle

Death shines in his eyes

Tomorrow we die

Feel the fire burn deep inside

No escape - no reprise

Tomorrow we die

Hypocrisy, the chosen few

Words of wisdom coming true

Abomination, once left to die

Millennium twice passed by

Supremacy, the final wrath

Clear the bloodstains from the past

Countless bodies, piles of dead

Mystery now looms ahead

A time will come, all eyes shall see

The coming of foretold prophecies

To eliminate all future pain

Horror is the price you pay

Realistic terror through the days

Evil minds bring evil ways

War after war of man and beast

Darkness prevails

As death's unleashed

Tomorrow we die

Feel the fire burn deep inside

No escape - no reprise

Tomorrow we die

I believe Devastation is aware of the Grand Law Of Karma. Evil deeds will be punished. We clearly see this in songs like "Souls Of Sacrifice":

You worship Satan

Prepare to die

Eternally black

Souls of Sacrifice

You worship Satan

Prepare to die

Eternally black souls of sacrifice

Walk through the gate into flames of hell

and you see that God prevails

Now back to the music. Track 5 brings us "Retribution" .. Rodney and company are reaching Cryptic Slaughter level of grind metal here!

Well, "Signs Of Life" is a definite improvement over 1987's "Violent Termination" (although that was a "unique" album) .. But consider "Signs Of Life" a precursor to the masterful "Idolatry".