Review Summary: A great Hardcore/Thrash Punk album from ST.
Suicidal Tendencies is mostly known for their Thrash Metal era with their Lights Camera Revolution LP. While I started listening to ST when I heard Institutionalized from their Hardcore Punk era, I also got Freedumb, another one of their Hardcore/Thrash Punk LP. This album has been brought down by critics and is now a very underrated album, probably because most people listened to ST for their Thrash Metal era.
Their thrash era is known to have evolved from their HC Punk era, but this album definitely uses styles from their Thrash LPs. The opener, Freedumb gives you a good idea of what you're going to hear in this album: 40min of fast, hardcore and thrash punk. All through the album, Mike Muir sings, rather screams while Mark Clark on guitar gives you the basic four notes evolution of Punk music.
What ST got from their previous LP on this album is definitely the bass playing. When I first heard this album, I thought this was the work of Robert Trujillo but I found out soon enough that this was Josh Paul (credited as an additional player). If you enjoy slap bass playing, you will definitely enjoy this LP. Another great musician on this album is Brookes Wackerman, with his powerful fast drum playing (great drum intro on I Ain't Like You).
Most of the LP is very fast playing and singing, although the song Halfway Up My Head gives you a medley of Hardcore Punk, Ska Punk then slower Ska. The LP doesn't slow down until the seventh song, Naked, then comes back with Hippie Killer a song answering to the hate Hippies and Punks have, Mike Muir calling himself "The Originaaaal, Hippie Killer". The fast HC Punk doesn't stop again until the last song, Heaven, a cooler Rock song with a great melodic guitar and awesome solos.
This is definitely an album to check out if you enjoyed the debut of ST. The songs I recommend are:
Freedumb
Scream Out
Halfway Up My Head
Cyco Vision
I Ain't Like You
Heaven
ST were:
Mike Muir – vocals
Mike Clark – guitar
Dean Pleasants – guitar
Brooks Wackerman – drums
Josh Paul – bass (credited as "additional musician")
