Customer Reviews

Signs of Life

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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!

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.

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".

Very Cool Album. But my question is does anyone know what Guitar Player Dave Burk did after Devastation broke up? Anyone know where he is now and if he is playing with anyone? Any info please contact me at propar340@yahoo.com

Devastation's "Signs Of Life" is a good example of an average 80s thrash album. It has all the necessary elements to succeed, bar memorable songwriting.

This is the album's fatal flaw; it's really hard to remember any of what you've just heard. The first five songs are all enjoyable while you're listening to them, but it's not until "Tomorrow We Die" that Devastation finally realise how to write a memorable song. The slower, headbanger-friendly "Fear Of The Unknown" is also worthy of a mention, with a cool riff that repeats itself a few times and sticks in your head. The remaining songs are just a blur of speed and squeeling solos. ("Escape To Violence" is so fast that it's almost ludicrous)

Despite it's flaws, however, this album is a lot of fun to listen to. A `thrash cheeseburger', if you will.

While I can't really recommend a person to purchase this album in the current metal climate, with so many good releases out there, I would at least recommend you to listen to the three songs I mentioned. Or just skip forward in time to Idolatry...