SUICIDAL TENDENCIES — Still Cyco After All These Years (review)

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES — Still Cyco After All These Years album cover

Album · 1993 · Crossover Thrash

5/5 · 2024-11-26
UMUR

"Still Cyco After All These Years" is the sixth full-length studio album by US, California based crossover/thrash metal act Suicidal Tendencies. The album was released through Epic Records in June 1993. Although the album is the successor to "The Art of Rebellion" from 1992, the material was actually recorded during the 1989-1990 recording sessions for "Lights, Camera, Revolution (1990)" (and therefore features R.J. Herrera on drums).

12 out of the 15 tracks on the album are re-recordings of the 12 tracks featured on the band´s 1983 eponymously titled debut album. Frontman Mike Muir, who is the only member remaining from the lineup who recorded the debut album, was not satisfied with the label which released the debut album, and he wanted to have control over his own songs, and have them released to a wider audience, which was the idea which ultimately spawned "Still Cyco After All These Years". Other than the 12 re-recorded tracks from the debut album, "Still Cyco After All These Years" also features two re-recorded tracks from the band´s second full-length studio album "Join the Army" (1987) ("War Inside My Head" and "A Little Each Day"), and the B-side track to the 1990 "Send Me Your Money" single, titled "Don't Give Me Your Nothin'".

A release like "Still Cyco After All These Years" will always divide the waters between listeners who swear to the original versions of the songs, those who either prefer the re-recorded versions, and those who can appreciate both. It will of course greatly influence your opinion of "Still Cyco After All These Years", which catagory you belong to. Personally I belong to the latter camp being able to appreciate both the originals and the re-recorded versions, but maybe leaning more towards preferring the re-recordings. "Still Cyco After All These Years" is loaded with great performances from all involved and strong material. Classic Suicidal Tendencies tracks like "Institutionalized", "War Inside My Head", and "I Saw Your Mommy" are all high quality crossover hardcore/thrash metal, but every track on the album falls under the high quality umbrella. Sharp, aggressive, and witty social commentary packing a real punch and delivered with great passion and conviction.

"Still Cyco After All These Years" features a powerful and very well sounding production, which suits the material perfectly. It´s clear and detailed but not polished in a way which takes away grit and rawness from the material. The re-recordings are done with great respect for the source material, and although the members of the band were older and wiser when this was recorded compared to their teenage versions, they are still able to add the right amount of authentic angst and indignation to their performances. To my ears "Still Cyco After All These Years" is a standout release in Suicidal Tendencies discography and it´s also a standout crossover thrash metal release in general. A 5 star (100%) rating is deserved.