Thinking About The Things That I'm Not Supposed To Talk About

With the Suicidal fix I've been on over the last couple months, it's safe to say that Suicidal Tendencies are one of my favourite bands. Lately I can't get enough of their albums. One of their more over-looked albums is the stellar "How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today". A lengthy title for the album that's following on the heels of their punky/thrashy hybrid "Join The Army" album. After a 4 year gap between ST's debut and "Join The Army" we saw a stronger thrash influence appear. Only a year later Suicidal Tendencies has virtually dropped their punk roots and blast through 11 tracks of melodic thrash metal.

The deceptively simple riff work by newcomer Mike Clark is outstanding and Rocky George is mind blowing with some of the coolest, dark and creepy soloing in which I have yet to hear an equal. Mike Muir shines vocally and lyrically here as well with some moving vocal melodies and bleak, yet smart lyrics. This is my kind of Suicidal Tendencies.

It is in my opinion that "How Will I Laugh Tomorrow..." gets overshadowed by the kick in the balls aggression of "Lights...Camera...Revolution". "Lights ..." is a great album, but I don't think it aged as well as "How Will I Laugh ..." did. For all its melody, "How Will I Laugh..." still packs a speedy punch only more melancholic.

The album kicks off with trippy "Trip Of The Brain" and sets the cyco bar for the album. "Hearing Voices" is a darker number with some cool guitar work. "One To Many Times" and "Sorry" are melancholic thrashers that, for me, are probably the weakest songs here.

"Suicyco Mania" and "Surf & Slam" are speedy pseudo-instrumentals with some killer guitar work and strong melodies. "The Miracle" is a moving and thought-provoking number with dark and aching undertones. "The thrashy ballad and title track is one of ST's most popular tunes featured here first before being re-recorded with 2 different versions on their "Feel Like Shit ... Deja Vu/Controlled By Hatred" EP. I prefer the heavier, thrashier version then the latter "Heavy Emotion" version, but this is a powerful and poignant tune every way they play it.

The stand out songs for me are the album closer "The Feeling's Back" which is a super melodic and fast-paced philosophical piece which leaves you humming it long after you've tucked the album away. "If I Don't Wake Up" has a great intro with Mike Muir's sing song narration leading into a sombre thrashy number. And finally, this albums call to arms "Pledge Your Allegiance" is a mid-paced heavy song with a catchy melody where one cannot help but chant along ~ Suicidal~.

Overall, I feel this is an overlooked gem in Suicidal Tendencies diverse career. Perhaps it's the more melancholic undertones this album exudes, but I still find "How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today" a moving and philosophical experience.