SUICIDAL TENDENCIES — Freedumb (review)

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES — Freedumb album cover Album · 1999 · Hardcore Punk Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
UMUR
"Freedumb" is the eighth full-length studio album by US, California based crossover/thrash metal act Suicidal Tendencies. The album was released through Suicidal Records in July 1999. It´s the successor to "Suicidal for Life" from 1994 although the two full-length studio albums are bridged by the "Six the Hard Way" EP from 1998. Suicidal Tendencies disbanded in 1995, but reunited in 1996 with a new lineup, which included lead guitarist Dean Pleasants (replacing Rocky George) and drummer Brooks Wackerman (replacing Jimmy DeGrasso) from lead vocalist Mike Muir´s funk metal side-project Infectious Grooves. Bassist Robert Trujillo has been replaced by Josh Paul. The only remaining members from the last album are lead vocalist Mike Muir and rhythm guitarist Mike Clark.

The attention and commercial success of the late 80s/early 90s Suicidal Tendencies releases became a bit too much for band founder Mike Muir who felt the band had lost sight of their hardcore punk roots/DYI attitude and after delivering their last album for Epic Records ("Suicidal for Life"), the band split-up at the end of the tour, which they did in support of "Suicidal for Life" It was time to go back to the roots and "Freedumb" is just that as it´s an album filled to the brim with energetic and aggressive hardcore punk songs with only the occasional touch of thrash metal and a nod here and there to the funky elements the band (and their funky side-project) also brought to the table in the early- mid 90s. While it´s arguably the distinct sound of Suicidal Tendencies (how could it be anything else when Muir is singing?) it´s a drastic departure from the crossover thrash metal style of the late 80s releases (and in the case of "The Art of Rebellion" (1992) the melodic heavy rock/metal style). The only track on "Freedumb" which sounds remotely like anything the band had released in the last 10 years is closing track "Heaven" which is a melodic rock/metal track, which could easily have been included on "The Art of Rebellion".

Paul Northfield was brought in to co-produce the album (like he did on "Suicidal for Life"), and "Freedumb" is a powerful, detailed, and generally well sounding release. The musicianship is on a high level on all posts too and "Freedumb" is upon conclusion a decent quality release by Suicidal Tendencies. Compared to the preceding releases by the band the songwriting doesn´t quite hold up though. Hardcore punk has it´s limits and it´s a bit of a shame the band have now almost stopped playing thrash metal riffs and rhythms. Despite a few funky sections here and there, which spice things up a little, "Freedumb" does end up being a slightly one-dimensional listen. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.
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