"Suicidal for Life" is the seventh full-length studio album by US, California based crossover/thrash metal act Suicidal Tendencies. The album was released through Epic Records in June 1994 (their last album on the label). It´s the successor to "Still Cyco After All These Years" from June 1993, although that album was actually recorded before "The Art of Rebellion" from 1992, and only features re-recorded material from the early releases by the band. So the last release featuring new original compositions before the release of "Suicidal for Life" was "The Art of Rebellion". Suicidal Tendencies had been on a roll since the late 80s with a relatively stable lineup (although the drum position was always a challenge) and great commercial and artistic success, but "Suicidal for Life" was the end of that era and the start of more moderate times (at least in terms of commercial success).

This is the last Suicidal Tendencies album to feature lead guitarist Rocky George and bassist Robert Trujillo, who had both been with the band for a longer time, and who had played on the band´s most successful releases. Both also had great impact on the band´s sound and style in the years they were members of the band. While lineup changes weren´t far into the future, the lineup who recorded "The Art of Rebellion" is actually almost intact on "Suicidal for Life". The only lineup change is that drummer Jimmy DeGrasso was added to the lineup in 1992 and plays on this album. He too would leave Suicidal Tendencies after the release of "Suicidal for Life".

Stylistically what you notice right away when listening to "Suicidal for Life" is that Suicidal Tendencies have opted for a much sharper and more heavy approach to playing than they generally had on "The Art of Rebellion". "Suicidal for Life" is not nearly as mainstream oriented nor as melodic as parts of "The Art of Rebellion" is. Lead vocalist Mike Muir has also increased his use of swearwords and "no bullshit/fuck you" attitude and he generally sounds pretty pissed on "Suicidal for Life", starting with the rant on the short opening track "Invocation" and continuing that trend on the following tracks "Don't Give a Fuck!", "No Fuck'n Problem", "Suicyco Muthafucka", and "Fucked Up Just Right!".

While not many tracks from the album are widely considered Suicidal Tendencies "classics" and the band very rarely play anything off the album, "Suicidal for Life" to my ears features quite a few strong and memorable compositions. I´d mention "No Fuck'n Problem" (the main riff is absolutely crushing and features a great groove), "What Else Could I Do?", and "Love vs. Loneliness" as some of the highlights, but most tracks on the album are actually high quality compositions and even those which are a little less memorable are still great while they are playing. I personally enjoy the fact that they upped the attitude, turned up the volume, and put more distortion on the guitars again, after the softer and more melodic "The Art of Rebellion". The latter is a great album too, featuring other qualities, but "Suicidal for Life" feels more like a real Suicidal Tendencies album to me.

The band brought in Paul Northfield to co-produce "Suicidal for Life", having worked with him on "The Art of Rebellion" but also on both "Sarsippius' Ark" (1993) and "Groove Family Cyco" (1994) by Infectious Grooves (Mike Muir´s and Robert Trujillo´s funk metal side-project), where he had worked with the engineering and the mixing of those releases. Northfield was of course at this point already a highly prolific producer/engineer having worked with artists like Rush, Queensrÿche, and Asia (just to mention a few) and "Suicidal for Life" is as a result also a well produced release.

Upon conclusion this "end of an era" album is a bit underrated and features more gems than what it gets credit for. It´s not a perfect release, and doesn´t quite reach the heights of the last couple of career peak releases by Suicidal Tendencies, but it´s overall still a very strong and effective crossover thrash metal release delivered with attitude. A 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.

"Pathetic Being" is the second full-length studio album by Polish death metal act Sceptic. The album was released through Empire Records in April 2001. It´s the successor to "Blind Existence" from 1999. There have been two lineup changes since the debut album was drummer Kuba Kogut has been replaced by Maciek Ziêba and lead vocalist Marcin Urbaś has been replaced by Micha Senajko.

Stylistically the material on "Pathetic Being" continues the technical death metal style of "Blind Existence". It´s still a music style which is strongly influenced by mid-90s Death (the band) and if you enjoy an albums like "Symbolic" (1995) and especially "The Sound of Perseverance" (1998) this could be a release down your alley. The vocals are high pitched screaming/snarling (spiced up with the occasional lower death metal growling moment), the drums are fast-paced, precise, and technical, the riffs very between technical death/thrash styled riffs and technical death metal riffs. Guitar solos are a part of the soundscape, but they aren´t anything out of the ordinary for the style, although they are relatively well played.

The tracks are as such well composed, but Sceptic don´t vary their songwriting enough and the songs often sound too similar. The sound production is decent, but not great and the odd dry snare drum sound from the debut album also marres "Pathetic Being". On the whole more variation in the songwriting department and a sharper sound production would have made "Pathetic Being" a more inviting listen. The performances are pretty strong so it´s not like this is an album without quality. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

"Stop the Madness" is the first demo recording by Norwegian crossover thrash metal/hardcore act Seance. The demo was independently released in May 1989. Seance formed earlier the same year and "Stop the Madness" is their sole output before changing their name to Buttocks.

Seance initially played a crossover thrash metal/hardcore music style which goes well with the lo-fi rehearsal room recording quality of this demo. It´s all young, fun, and occasionally aggressive and filthy sounding music. A warts and all recording featuring coughs, laughter, and a song having to be started twice. "Siste Sang" ("Last Song") is even a nice melodic rock song with harmonica. So it´s not the most consistent release in terms of music style, but there´s some great charm to the young energy and immature performance, which makes me smile and that´s a quality parameter too in my book. A 2 star (40%) rating is warranted.

"Strangled" is the second demo recording by Swedish death metal act Disgorge. The demo was independently released in December 1995. It´s the successor to the April 1994 "Espousal Bleeding" demo. There has been one lineup change since the first demo as Fredrik Lakss has been added as second guitirist, making Disgorge a quintet on "Strangled".

Stylistically the material on "Strangled" is very much a continuation of the brutal US influenced death metal style of the first demo. So Disgorge belongs to the catagory of Swedish death metal artists who don´t have a sound that you would normally think of as Swedish death metal. They arguably sound like a US death metal band out of Florida, and especially artists like Deicide and Monstrosity are valid references.

Production wise "Strangled" is a step up from the first demo, but the songwriting is still relatively standard for the genre and there´s nothing here screaming to you that it´s Disgorge you´re listening to. That said Disgorge are arguably a well playing unit and their music is brutal, technically well played, and the tracks are effective and instantly a great listen. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

"Espousal Bleeding" is the first demo recording by Swedish death metal act Disgorge. The demo was independently released in April 1994. Disgorge formed in 1991 in the town of Nässjö, which is approximately 100 kilometers east of Gothenburg and relatively close to the town of Jönköping. The band were active from 1991 to 1996 and released two demos in that period, "Espousal Bleeding" being their first output.

Stylistically Disgorge play a relatively brutal US influenced death metal style, which doesn´t sound swedish at all. No fat HM2 buzzaw guitar sound, no two-beat or D-beat drumming, and a generally much faster-paced, technical, and brutal approach to playing death metal. In that respect they are similar to countrymen like Deranged and Insision. It´s however predominantly Deicide I think about when listening to "Espousal Bleeding"...at least when they are most brutal and pummeling. Disgorde do slow things down on occasion though and deliver much heavier mid-paced sections, and even a few melodic solo moments, so it´s not out and out brutality all the way through the demo. The vocals are deep unintelligible growling though which belongs the more brutal end of the death metal scale.

"Espousal Bleeding" is relatively well produced, although the guitars could have prospored from a bit more punch and bite. You´re able to hear all instruments and vocals in the mix though, so that´s a positive. Upon conclusion Disgorge didn´t come up with anything new on this demo and they are clearly content with immitating their US death metal influences. With that said "Espousal Bleeding" is still a good quality demo recording and a 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.