header image
Detritus - If But For One (1992)
August 21st, 2007 Christian Metal


This was my first exposure to Detritus. I purchased this album as a new release in the fall of `92, and was forever entrenched as a full-on thrash metal fan. Tourniquet's Pathogenic Ocular Dissonance was proof that Christian metal was as good (or in that case better) as what the secular & mainstream had to offer; this album further cemented that proof. Of course, it wouldn't be until several years later that I realized just how right I really was.

The album opens somewhat deceptively with a rhythmic acoustic guitar, followed by a bit of solo work that invokes a slightly subdued metal blues. All of a sudden, the heavy riff & powerful drum rhythm kicks in & you know this is a thrash album. "Masquerade" opens the album nicely with a great riff & powerful vocals by Mark Broomhead. "So Far Away" also opens deceptively; with a spacey clean guitar line that is ethereal & interesting. The dual-layered vocals works nicely with Mark sining in a tenor voice and a lower register in harmony. Half-way through the song the thrashy riff kicks in & takes the song into overdrive. "Let Peace Begin With Me" has a killer riff and urgent vocals. "Feel" is a bit of an acoustic interlude that swells to pique at the end. "Blindly Rejected" is a mid-paced song about the mentally & physically handicapped & how we as a society generally ignores or rejects them when all they want is love. The albums title piece is a monster thrash song with interspersed fast & slow riffing, a pinch of death metal growls, and a beautiful piano-laced outro that rivals Faith No More's "Epic" in that category. "Sailor's Farewell" is a tune that lyrically evokes Running Wild with their pirate themes, though in a more spiritual context. "Father To Son" is a great commentary of a father on his deathbed apologizing to his son for not being a better father, but asking that he take comfort in his Heavenly Father instead of looking to his own father. "As It Rains" is a metal praise song, if ever there was. It talks about the beauty of God and His creation in the earth, and how we as humanity have been careless & destroyed much of the beauty of the earth. "Subtle Shades" closes the album in an unorthodox fashion; the song is not thrash, and indeed, not even metal. It's sort of like an indie pop piece within the context of a Pink Floyd space-out. Truly an interesting piece, and lyrically abstract as well.

Detritus unfortunately broke up after this. I remember writing to them & receiving a letter back from the band months later that the group had split & was no longer selling merchandise. I was disappointed because I wanted a Detritus T-shirt. In any event, Mark Broomhead was in a new band called Fire Fly, though that is now defunct & they have reformed in to an outfit called Exoria. I'm hoping it's a metal project. In any event, this album is a lasting testament to how good Christian metal can be, & is JUST as good a listen today as it was 15 years ago when I bought it.

Track List:

1.Masquerade03:55
2.So Far Away06:10
3.D.I.G.M.05:36
4.Let Peace Begin With Me03:38
5.Feel02:16
6.Blindly Rejected04:43
7.If But For One06:45
8.Sailor's Farewell02:54
9.Father To Son03:40
10.Painted Reality04:08
11.As It Reigns04:03
12.Subtle Shades03:59
Total playing time51:47

320CBR with large cover, sleeve, and UCard scans.

Download from MegaUpload

Remember, this album is out of print & has become hard to find. If the band decides to re-release this, I will remove it from this site. Until then, enjoy this music & buy the disc if you get the chance - you won't regret it.


Read the Comments

2 Comment from Mark Davis November 20, 2007, 3:09 pm

Thank you! One of the only Christian thrash/ metal releases from the early to mid 1990’s that I never managed to pick up. ^_^ Will be nice to check it out.

5 Comment from admin January 12, 2008, 12:30 pm

Thanks for your comment, glad you enjoyed it :smile:

9 Comment from Sgt Toomey January 20, 2008, 10:42 am

Thank You Thank You Thank You I can’t say thank you enough. I’ve been on the hunt for this album for about 2 years now. Most copies that I can find to buy they want upwards of $40. This album rocks. :grin:

Write a comment