SUICIDAL TENDENCIES — How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today (review)

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES — How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today album cover

Album · 1988 · Thrash Metal

3.5/5 · 2014-10-25
UMUR

"How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today" is the 3rd full-length studio album by US thrash metal act Suicidal Tendencies. The album was released through Epic Records in September 1988. "How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today" marks the beginning of the band´s most commercially successful period helped along by the change of label from the small Caroline Records to the major label Epic Records.

The music on the album is a further step in a thrashy direction compared to the predecessor "Join the Army (1987)". Still the band won´t fully let go of their crossover/hardcore roots and they pop up now and again. The quality is generally high on the album but to my ears it´s especially the opening trio of tracks "Trip at the Brain", "Hearing Voices" and "Pledge Your Allegiance" plus the great title track that stand strongest in memory. Some of the material on the latter part of the album are not as memorable albeit still enjoyable.

The musicianship is solid and the sound production professional and suits the music well. It was already obvious on the last album how great a guitarist Rocky George is, but here he really gets to show all his skills. The album is loaded with blistering guitar solos courtesy of George. The vocals by Mike Muir is as always an aquired taste, but I think most people can agree that he has one of the most distinct sounding and easily recognisable singing styles in metal. Had all tracks been of the high quality of the first four tracks on the album, "How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today" would have deserved a full 4 star (80%) rating, but as I think the quality drops slightly the longer you get into the album a 3.5 star (70%) rating will do.

more than 2 years ago
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Bosh66 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

This is a band I really rate and although not reaching the heights they would on their next three releases, it's a very good album nonetheless. Does the quality drop off at the end? Maybe a little on reflection. I rated this a four, but a 3½ might be more accurate.

Sheavy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Im with silly puppy. I never could get into any suicidal tendencies stuff. It seems to lack a ferocity that bands like cryptic slaughter or stormtroopers of death have. I'd much rather listen to them...

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Well...they´ve always maintained a hardcore edge, but I wouldn´t call them punk over metal. Not even the debut.

siLLy puPPy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Suicidal is one of those bands i've tried to get into but just can't for some reason. I much prefer the Infectious Grooves side project. Strangely enough all the music stores around here always put them in the punk section instead of the metal