UMUR "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.