Suicidal Tendencies - No Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal Family

Release Date: September 7, 2010
Label: Suicidal Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Suicidal Maniac
2.  Possessed to Skate
3.  The Prisoner
4.  I Feel Your Pain...And I Survive
5.  Join the S.T. Army
6.  No Name, No Words
7.  Born to Be Cyco
8.  Come Alive
9.  Something Inside Me
10.  No Mercy Fool!
11.  We're F'n Evil
12.  Crazy But Proud
        (No Mercy cover)
13.  I'm Your Nightmare
        (No Mercy cover)
14.  Widespread Bloodshed...
     Love Runs Red (No Mercy cover)

Total playing time:  47:46

October 29, 2010

Reviewer: Chris

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*Comments:

As compilations go these days you can realistically expect the obligatory re-recording of old songs that usually fall flat and leave one to wonder in various conversations why a band wastes precious studio time redoing already classic tracks. I mean, really…what’s the point? Why would you once more dip into the well of past glories rather than try to remain vital and produce new music under your moniker? The number of bands attempting this today is staggering and usually met with forced mediocrity.

With that said, the Suicidal Tendencies name releases its second compilation this year in No Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal Family, which is basically one of four releases under the S.T. name since 2001, all of which are rehashes and space-filler. So this latest one, of course, shows S.T. revamping some old tracks from the band’s Join the Army album as well as some No Mercy tracks, the 1986 speed metal side project of Mike Muir and Mike Clark. I will admit it’s nice to hear some of those classic tracks updated, and they sound great, but I’m once more forced to ask why the creative spark isn’t igniting for these guys these days. For my taste, this is the ultimate cash-grab, lineage-rape for any band of such caliber. However, I will reserve my rating for the music herein and not for the obvious sparse vision.

The tracks from Join the Army have a deeper, heavier feel and actually sound quite vital for the modern day. This CD would be a terrific experience for the newer generation, and if that’s the desired goal, then kudos. “Join the S.T. Army” packs a wallop that borders on crusty funk metal with a twist of hardcore for measure. Muir sounds as volatile and old-school as ever, so in regards to a lot of bands switching tempo and/or vocal melody for their respective “updating” of old tracks, Muir is content to remain…well, Mike Muir. This is especially evident in “Born to Be Cyco” which reads Black Flag and D.O.A. all in one speedy slam dancing fit, also quite fitting considering the band began as a punk outfit that played with and hung out with the Flag boys back in the day.

With some stellar production throughout, the bass is even more vibrant than ever, which is a tremendous lift for a bassist like me. No less punk is the hostile “Come Alive,” which fuses some serious Cali-punk origins with the familiar crossover angst that made ST one of the forerunners of the movement. “Something Inside Me” is so crisp and Greg Ginn-like that it could induce random acts of violence towards any inanimate object (or living-breathing if you’re so inclined). With crossover in desperate need of a jump start why not begin with S.T.? However, for that paddle-jolt to be even close to effective some new material in this vein is seriously warranted.  

As for the No Mercy tracks they are also nicely-produced upgrades that sound just as good today as they did back in ’86, if not better. Easily able to stand up with the Anthraxes and Exoduses of the world, No Mercy was that gem among the thrash/crossover arena that is both important and resonating for the present day, and more people should hear that little band from the shadows of nowhere. The revisit to these three tracks is one of fine design, especially “Crazy, but Proud,” which was always my favorite track. While I might have been afraid it wouldn’t fare well in the present era I need not have feared - S.T. did some justice to the name.

While I once more reiterate that some new material is much more relished and necessary, No Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal Family does manage to find an audience for its compiled mastery of a former life seemingly so far gone that we need chemical inducements to reconnect to that time. This compilation, while typical and obligatory, is one that you should check out until the band gets its new material ready to go…right, guys?