TRACK LISTING :
1 – War Profiteering is Killing Us All
2 – Capitalist Suicide
3 – Ghosts on Sunset Boulevard
4 – Junk
5 – 17% 18 to 25
6 – Capsule: AKA – Requiem For The Stupid Human Race
7 – All Systems Fail
8 – The Red Flag
9 – Nuclear Generators
10 – Bottomed Out
11 – Revolution is on the Clearance Rack
12 – Hands Tied
13 – I Went on Tour For 10 Years And All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt
With their 6th studio album, the Suicide Machines are back two years after « A Match and some Gasoline » with their brand new effort; « War Profiteering is Killing us All ». As the obvious continuation of « A Match.. »(2003), this record is probably their best ever. Heavy, loud and fast as the Suicide Machines have always been, they still mix dirty and hardcore-ish Punk Rock with Ska like no other bands. The listening of this CD ( at least twice a day since I got it ) makes me feel like they finally found who they are as individuals and what they want as a band. The politically-charged contents of this CD plus their ability to make songs so great-sounding proves it. A powerful but short (about 30 minutes) mix of 14 battle hymns filled with awesome vocal parts, killer bass lines, technical drum accents and starring the king of Ska Anthems; Dan Lukacinsky, it’s Detroit’s scene at it’s finest.
As usual, a Suicide Machines CD is a mix of Punk Rock, HardCore and Ska, and this is probably why I’m following this band since they began, or almost. No surprise here; this is what we got. From the hardest and heaviest songs to the up-beat and voluptuous Ska/Reggae-influenced tunes, this record is an honest reflection of the US actual disease and a fuckin’ statement to the Punk Scene : Emo will never count them into his harming hands. Thanks Jesus. This band kinda changed with the years, as their line-up did too. Fortunately, these changes haven’t disturbed their evolution at all. From « Destruction by Definition » (1996), to « A Match And Some Gasoline » (2003), you can feel the maturity the guys got from touring and writing more and more songs, before finally finding the perfect recipe for rocking; « War Profiteering is Killing us All ».
My favorite song is actually « Capsule ». God dammit. This song is so great. Starts like a lot of the other Suicide Machines songs; fast and eclectic punk rock with Jason Navarro’s incredible voice. Then everything turns to destruction; loud and slow Hardcore with heavy breakdowns, and a killer dirty old-school ska part, simply awesome. Plus the title of this song is plenty honest and so true, according to the lyrics of the song. (Capsule AKA – Requiem for the Stupid Human Race) There’s actually a lot of songs I just can’t get enough, like « War Profiteering is Killing us All », one of the most amazing openers I’ve been allowed to hear until today. Sort of a revival of « A Match and Some Gasoline », this song is simply great. « 17% 18 to 25 », a song about the last US Presidential Elections and the people voting or not is another of my favourites songs; « YEAHHHH FUCK THIS WORLD ! »; fast and harsh, dammit. Another masterpiece; « Revolution is on the Clearance Rack ». 2 minutes of intense screaming and an amazing bass line, terrible ! For the Ska/Reggae lovers, don’t worry, there’s lots of great stuff for you too. As « Capitalist Suicide » sounds a lot like their older stuff, « I Went On Tour For 10 Years .. And All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt » is actually one of their best « slower » songs. Reggae up-beat verses, slow hardcore choruses, the perfect mix if you ask me. « Junk », the 4th song, the most flagrant revival of the Suicide Machines good old days, is an awesome song too. I tell you, the entire CD is awesome. They even kept their « poppy-punk rock » influences on certain songs, like « The Red Flag », « Ghosts on Sunset Boulevard » and « Bottomed Out » that are anthems to all the sing along songs they have made earlier in their career.
As you succeeded reading this whole brick of useless words, you now deserve a little gift; you can STREAM THE WHOLE CD for your enjoyment !
Go to your favourite Record Store, and buy this CD, you won’t get disappointed at all ! This CD now wears the « 2005 Record of the Year’s » golden Belt. Thumbs up to the guys !!