Suicidal Tendencies
Controlled by Hatred / Feel Like Shit... Deja-Vu

THE REVIEW

I am about to write about this work by the Californians with a hint of regret and emotion; in fact, towards the end of last year, Suicidal announced the conclusion of their career after releasing their new album. The word end will be put not before a final world tour that will once again see them ready to properly devastate the numerous audience that will not fail to crowd the places where they will perform.

"Controlled By Hatred etc...etc...," released in 1989, is considered by some to be a true LP, while for others, it is a compilation that unites two EPs. In all these years, I have never concerned myself with choosing one of the two sides; it is a work that, as far as I am concerned, "seriously rocks." And that's enough for me.

Brief chronicle of the band.

The band was formed in the early eighties by Mike Muir in Venice, a famous and sunny tourist destination by day and the scene of fierce wars between rival bands by night. It is in this dramatic and contrasting climate that a very young Mike toughened up: a massive build, huge bandanas, and tank tops complemented by even more grotesque size-defying shorts. From the start, he became the boss of the band (just read the dozens and dozens of musicians who collaborated with him throughout the group's long career) and was among the first in America to combine the ferocity of the nascent Thrash Metal with the uncompromising attitude of the Hardcore scene. The self-titled debut from 1983 remains to this day one of the best-selling Hardcore albums in the United States, with that rap singing as another unmistakable element of a band that contributed decisively to the birth of Crossover... But now it is time to focus on today's album, with its endless title.

It kicks off in full swing with the very brief and electrifying "Master Of No Mercy," where towards the end, they go off on a tangent and, guided by Mike's indifferent voice, launch into a riotous gallop. It continues with the already published "How Will I Laugh Tomorrow," which highlights the skilled guitar work of the Clark-George duo. A track that grows as the minutes pass and then passes the auditory baton to the full-flowing "Just Another Love Song" (which has nothing loving about it). Pure and simple madness, with an execution speed that impresses; I have tried several times to follow the rapped lyrics by Mike: an impossible feat for me due to such frenzy in pronouncing the words!! In some noisy instrumental passages, I have always found a great resonance with "One" by Metallica (back when Metallica were sanctified names!!!).

Three "smashing" songs, and here I stop; there is no point in celebrating the other six tracks that do not deviate from absolute excellence.

In September 1990, I saw Suicidal Tendencies for the first time at Palatrussardi in Milan along with Slayer, Megadeth, and Testament: it is easy to imagine how the concert ended, even if I did not participate in the furious mosh near the stage generated by these sacred monsters of the mosh-pit. I was still young and inexperienced... CLASH OF THE TITANS...

Ad Maiora.