When people think of thrash from Texas, the most common names that get mentioned are bands like Rigor Mortis or Gammacide. When people think of death/thrash, they usually think of bands like Ripping Corpse or Possessed. Devastation is a band that should be one of the first thought of when discussing either the Texas scene or the death/thrash subgenre, yet they're left out for the most part, which is a shame. It's also the reason that "Idolatry" is the featured album in the 2nd edition of the weekly, Orgy of Destruction series.
"Idolatry" is an absolute monster of an album, yet it remains unknown to many. Why? There isn't an exact reason, but it's most likely because of when it came out. "Idolatry" came out in 1991, and as many of you know, the '90s weren't so generous to the thrash scene. Many bands started to completely change their styles to keep up with the times, by playing groove or going for a more radio friendly sound (a la Metallica).
Devastation managed to conjure up a fairly unique sound, separating them from many other death/thrash bands at the time. The vocals didn't sound like they should be fronting a death metal band like most death/thrash bands, but more along the lines of an '80s thrash band. The true death/thrash sound comes from the riffs and the overall atmosphere of the album. You could feel the intensity and anger that cling to these riffs as each one strikes the listener like a bolt of lightning. These riffs aren't all one-dimensional either. There are riffs that are so fast, they almost have an impression of being shot out of a cannon from only a foot away, while there are others that are crushing and heavy, like a jackhammer smashing bricks into dust.
Along with the riffs are the melodies that are found on a few of the tracks, that send shivers down the listener's spine with their sinister feel. "Forsaken Hatred" and "Legacy of Faith" both have the ripping fast riffs, the brutal mid-paced riffs and the melodies. It should come as no surprise that these are also two of the best tracks on the record.
The structuring and placement of the different musical pieces is also an essential part of the overall Devastation sound. Some of the riffs seem even faster, because they are cleverly placed right after a slow melody or a heavier mid-paced riff. "Deliver the Suffering" starts with a minute of a piano and some synth effects, but then that riff comes in, and it sends your neck into a thrashing frenzy like no other. Devastation also manages to utilize acoustic guitars to create an eerie aura at times. The title track starts off with an acoustic guitar that sets the chilling tone, only to be sent into another evil riff.
"Idolatry" is a perfect example that there was still quality thrash in the early '90s (though it could never hope to top Epidemic of Violence). The best tracks to be found here are definitely "Forsaken Hatred" and "Legacy of Faith" due to their perfect blend of brutality, technicality and most importantly, the catchiness.
So the next time you're making a list of your favorite death/thrash albums you might want to put this record in there, because it deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as albums like "The Awakening" and "A Shedding of Skin." And the next time you're talking about thrash from Texas, don't forget to mention this album, because it's the best thrash album that state has ever produced. "Idolatry" is the true definition of a hidden gem.
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