Controlled by Hatred, Feel Like S.T.

So I should just tell you, I don't own any albums by the Canadian band Slaughter. I don't think anybody does, but that's not what this post will be about. Nope. However, I thought it was time to explore the album that opened my ears to a whole new world of music. Don't get me wrong, hair bands still hold a special place in my *NEW* ipod, but Suicidal Tendencies ...wow .... I can Thank Statsy boy for introducing S.T.to me. The first song I heard? "Feel like S**t ... Deja Vu" and what a tune! This was S.T. during their Heavy Metal Thrash phase. The album is made up of 2 EP's "Controlled by Hatred/Feel Like S**t ... Deja Vu" and features 2 more versions of "How can I laugh Tomorrow, when I can't even smile Today" a thrashy version and Heavy emotion version. The thrashy is great cause of the dual guitar work of Rocky George and Mike Clark, but the lyrical poeticness of the song really shines in the heavy emotion version and
Cyco Miko's vocals just scream with frustration with a mix of hope and cries of desperation. This, I'd say is my favourite Suicidal Tendencies simply for the great mix of heavy Thrash and creepy/haunting guitar work exemplified on the songs "It's Not Easy" and "Wake The Dead". "Master Of No Mercy" and "Just another Love Song" are fast thrashy tunes that get the blood flowing. This whole album mixes well with Mike Muir's distinct vocals. He has a way of conveying inner turmoil through his singing that I have not heard done by anybody else. Being the only consistent member of S.T. he's helped create a vocal styling that could not be replaced, without Cyco Miko S.T. would have to retire. Suicidal Tendencies may sound like they'd be a very depressing band, but they are actually quite inspiring with lyrics both painful and hopeful, strong, and intelligent. This band has helped me through some dark periods of my life. When I've felt angry, alone and down, they've been there to pick me up. They even have a spiritualness to some of their music that has helped strengthen my own spiritual beliefs. It may sound odd, but I'll explore that aspect of them with some of their other albums. Let's just say they do what they do, cause they f*****g want to....

As do Exodus, the Bay area thrash band I'll be featuring in my next post.

What If Charles Manson Was Eating Fruit Loops on Your Front Porch?

Suicidal Tendencies are one of my all time favourite bands. I first heard ST on their "Feel Like Sh*t .. Deja-Vu/Controlled by Hatred" EP which is one of my favourite albums by them. I like them because their music is diverse, emotional, Mike Muir is charismatic and there is even a little spiritual side to them.

In fact "Lights Camera ... Revolution" is one of their more spiritual albums. And one of the most vulgar. I have never minded swears in songs and I feel Suicidal Tendencies use them well ... and often at times. However, the band hints at spiritual-ness on songs like "Give It Revolution" and "Send Me Your Money" with lyrics like ~We'll bow down to no other one, except The Father and His Son ~ and ~See my momma, she didn't raise no fool Cause you can't put a price on a miracle. Amen! ~

Nothing preachy, but thought-provoking. In fact, one of the things I love about ST are the lyrics. With a band name like Suicidal Tendencies you'd expect a really depressing tone, but the lyrics are often uplifting, emotional and positive. Mike Muir delivers the lyrics with one of the most passionate voices in metal. When he sings of pain, you feel it. When he sings of being cyco, I'm convinced. A very versatile and powerful frontman.

Add to Muir's conviction with equally passionate guitar work by Rocky George and Mike Clark and we get treated to some of the most melodic and moving thrash metal I've ever heard. With the thundering bass work of Robert Trujillo and the solid pounding of drummer R.J. Herrera and this is my ideal Suicidal Tendencies line-up.

"Lights, Camera ... Revolution" kicks off with what I think is the greatest ST song ever written. "You Can't Bring Me Down" is a piss fueled speedy thrash tune, aggressive and melodic. Mike's spitfire vocals are angry and powerful. "Get Whacked" and "Disco's Out, Murders In" are also fast aggressive thrash songs, albeit not as convincing.

"Alone" is virtually a thrash ballad switching from uber melodic chorus's and speedy, angry verses. A wonderful balance of passion and aggression. "Emotion #13" is a moving piece as well, though not as aggressive. "Give It Revolution" is slower and melodic with rage-filled undertones.

"Lovely" and "Send Me Your Money" are signature Suicidal Tendencies songs incorporating a funky groove to their thrash foundations thanks to Robert Trujillo. Both are super catchy with a biting satirical edge.

"Lost Again" is a mid-paced tune with crushing riffs and loads of aggression while staying melodic whereas "Go'n Breakdown" (my 2nd favourite song) is sheer crazy rage. The riffs are killer and Muir's vocals are loco. Lyrically, "Go'n Breakdown" is almost poetic with its over the top anger.

"Lights, Camera ... Revolution" is pretty much the peak of Suicidal Tendencies career. It was not all downhill mind you, but it leveled out with some inconsistency. It wouldn't be until "Suicidal For Life" that ST got crazy aggressive again. The album still holds up fairly well after 19 years. It was also a pinnacle in my early heavy metal years and will always be dear to me.

It's The Size Of Your Heart, Not The Length Of Your Hair

On Suicidal Tendencies sophomore album we see the crossover influences taking shape. Actually, this is probably the bands most punk/thrash crossover album of bunch. "How Will I Laugh Tomorrow" and "Lights, Camera, Revolution" are flat out thrash and the funk elements of Trujillo add a heavy dose of groove to the later albums. However, "Free Your Soul ..." sees the band moving back to their punk/hardcore roots.

Anywho, "Join The Army" is one of the first ST albums I bought (along with "Controlled By Hatred, Feel Like Shit, Deja-vu"). It still retains a strong punk edge with a raw guitar sound and speedy breaks. The main difference is some longer songs and heavier riff structures. It's a fine transition album without feeling like a transition album.

Kicking the album off is "Suicidal Maniac" which is fast paced with punk conviction. "I feel Your Pain" and "Human Guinea Pig" are also fast paced raw tunes. "A Little Each Day", "The Prisoner" and "Possessed To Skate" have mid-paced tendencies with bursts of speed, but loads of groove and melody. Mike Muir starts to expand his vocal range here and sings most songs while keeping his punk aggression creating a more varied vocal performance. He will continue to improve on each album.

The stand out tracks for me are "Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right (But They Make Me Feel A Whole Lot Better)" mostly cause it's a great title, but it has the balls of a killer tune too. The title track is an anthemic call to arms building the Suicidal Army. It is a mid-paced piece with positive lyrics and killer riffs and loads of melody. It's also the first of anthems that pop up over future albums with songs like "Pledge Your Allegiance" and even "Straight From The Heart".

My favourite song (which just slightly squeaks past "Join The Army") is "War Inside My Head". It's a little faster then mid-paced with solid riffs and catchy lyrics. It's the song that I skip to mostly, but not always as this is a solid album all around and worthy of my full attention.

I hope to have another review out shortly on ST's "How Will I laugh Tomorrow" before branching out to some other bands/albums.

Stay tuned.

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.