Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Records
Year of the Cyco
Released April 2009

OK, I admit, I have been lazy and haven't actually written this review. It doesn't mean I haven't been listening to the CD. I think I was just keeping it as my own personal secret. At the Suicidal Tendencies show in December I went loaded with a good chunk of change, and I proceeded to spend most of it. One of my purchases was the tour release of "Year of the Cyco" which is a CD containing new, old and live releases by ST, Infectious Grooves and Cyco Miko. A teaser if you will as all three bands should be releasing albums in 2009. This is like GOLD to me. With nothing new hitting the world from any of the bands since '01 (and that was Infectious), this was just short of glory. It's almost like a marriage. A little old, a little new, a little borrowed and the cover has blue...

The thing that I loved the most about this album is that each band had its own sound. Suicidal was back to its punk roots. Infectious is hanging over in its funky groove area and Cyco Myko is just plain off. Over the years the groups merged in some extent to their sound as ST evolved into IG with CM just kinda going off and doing its own thing. I like that the lines seem much straighter between ST and IG. Rather than another off shoot sounding a little different, they now sound like two totally different projects. The best way to see hear this is the ST song "The Future is Now" and the IG song "Funny Farm". Two totally different bands.

For fans who have been there over the years, there are updated version of ST "Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right" and a live version of "Cyco Vision" as well. There is also a lovely track, "Crazy But Proud" by No Mercy.

My personal faves from the album are "Big Man" and "My Summer Vacation/All Goes to Hell" My Cyco Miko, "The Future's Now" by ST and "Funny Farm" by IG. Not that I have any reason, but these just happen to be the songs that get me going the most. "Big Man" is classic Miko rambling on the state of society and I think that is my current total favorite off the album.

Something spiff if you actually take the time to read liner notes, there is a break down of each and every song, its origins, what's new or just new to us. Reading the liner notes, I realized why I liked "Funny Farm" so much actually. It is from the final recording with Robert Trujillo. It is good to read liner notes, especially when they have nifty little tidbits like that!

OK so here is the good news. This was a tour release only, but alas, now that the loyal Cycos like me know every song forward and backward, the stragglers (or those not fortunate to have an ST show with in several hundred miles like I did) can play catch up. Of course it is only available on their website. Personally I think I will order the Vinyl copy as well.

Now the only question I have remaining is when are my full releases from all three bands coming out?

So 15 years. The joke was always that China would be a democracy before the album was released, but alas, the album came first. I scurried my behind over to best buy today. Every other album release by GNR I got the day of release. In fact I once waited in line for 4 hours after skipping school to get my copy of Use Your Illusion I only to learn II was out! I once camped out for tickets to the opening day of the Use Your Illusion tour which kicked off here in WI at Alpine Valley. There was no way I wasn't getting "Chinese Democracy" today.

At first listen, I was mildly let down. All these years (15 of them) awaiting this, and the edge isn't there. I knew what I expected, dreamed and hoped for. It wasn't there. The edge is gone. The raw grit is missing. Now at second listen, trying to separate the GNR I worshipped as a child. Its an oddly mellow CD. Axl's voice sounds more refined and less gravelly. The list of musicians involved in the project is totally mind boggling. Buckethead, Bumblefoot, Brain. All amazing artists in their own respect collaborated on this project. This is the first album I have ever looked at liner notes and each song had a list of people playing instruments and who did what on arrangements.

Some songs give touches of old GNR. "Scraped" and "Riad n' the Bodouins" are songs with hints of the old guard. "IRS", while a more mellow selection is most definately a Guns song. Songs like "Sorry" have in my taste too much processing on vocals, almost to the point that Rose's voice is unrecognizable.

I think die hard GNR fans like me may need more than one listen to get into the CD. When not comparing it to what I expect, the CD is ok. Just remember its the new Guns.

I really regret the fact that I have seen so many Static X shows and this is the first one I actually watched. I also further regret the fact that it took Jeff starting this website for me to actually listen to this band.

Released on October 14, 2008 "Cannibal Killers Live" is a cool little collection of a live show, both the video and audio, shot in Spokane Washington on the Cannibal Tour, 12 of their made for TV Videos (which for me was the true highlight) and a ring tone feature. Your One Stop Static shop if you will.

There are very few live CDs that I ever find fault with and this one definitely lived up to my expectations. For those who haven't seen Static X, I have no clue where to start. The video is shot with at least 10 different camera angles including a few from the sound board and the wings. It gives you an almost 360 degree view of the band. While at times, I wish the camera shots were a bit longer in positions, the switches actually coincide nicely with the tempo of the music. Brian has been telling me that drummer Nick Oshiro is one of the most animated drummers around, and despite the fact that I have seen X at least 4 times in the past 2 years this is the first time I ever actually got to see how animated he really is. Wayne Static is almost so much of a geek that he is cool. He postures like a rooster, he has some of the most entertaining facial expressions and never fails to make me laugh during a show. He loves what he is doing and it comes through. Even with some of the sound issues with the venues I see them at regularly they sound near perfect and that comes across on both the CD and DVD.

The video portion is cool for a Johnny Come Lately fan like me. I missed the peak of their MTV times, and seeing older videos was just plain cool. It sounds cheesy, but I just fell in love with the aura of fun that this band puts forth.

Personally I cant wait to load the CD portion on my IPod for the gym. Nothing gets me going better on the bike than a little evil disco. LONG LIVE EVIL DISCO!

Testament
The Formation of Damnation
Nuclear Assault Records

I cant tell you how very long I have waited for this. Yeah I have all the other CDs that Testament has put out, but to have the band back together is beautiful. Magical even. To have Alex Skolnick back where he belongs on lead, the planets were aligned this year.

"Formation" merges the many sounds of Testament flawlessly. From the classic thrash sound that Testament is known for on "More Than Meets the Eye" to the Chuck Bill's death metal vocals on the title track "The Formation of Damnation." The chemistry that was the original line up is still present on this release, although they are short Louie Clemente. "Leave Me Forever" about the only song that really stands out as something new style wise. Switching between a jazzy funkiness on the guitar to a thrash sound, it is a definite highlight on the album.

I am so very much in love with this album, I have a hard time putting it to words. It inspires memories of the many times I have spent with the band over the years and to have them back with most of the original line up is amazing.

Testament is currently on tour promoting the album as well as hooking up on the Masters Of Metal Tour with Motorhead, Heaven and Hell, and Judas Priest. Club Kingsnake will be catching them on a solo show at The Rave here in Milwaukee on August 1.

Thrashing Like a Maniac - Compilation
Earache Records

As a general rule, I don’t really like compilations. I’ll listen to them, but I tend to only half listen. Most of the time it is a rehashing of best of clips from the summer tour I picked the CD up at as a free be. However “Thrashing Like A Maniac� does what compilations should do, bring you the best new titles in the genre. This genre being the sleeping Thrash. With old skoolers like Testament and Exodus seeing renewed interest, its great to see a groundswell of new thrash coming on their heels. Thrash is gaining some momentum again with acts like Bonded By Blood, Fueled By Fire and Warbringer receiving support from the major labels. It seems almost as though most everyone on this disc hails from CA, which after all is appropriate since thash was born in the Bay Area. I do also have to give props to fellow cheese heads Lazarus. We first covered them in September of 2006 and I was taken with them then. Heavy as hell chunk with the classic noodle solos, there is some new feel to it, but listening, I can pick out who inspired each act. Old Skool inspiration shows, but it doesn’t diminish the new sounds. I cant give each band a real review with a single song, this isn’t AI. Ill just tell you who were my faves , in no particular order.

Bonded By Blood
Dekapitator
Fueled by Fire
Decadence
Deadfall
Lazarus
Violator

This CD brought back a whole lot of old day memories. Memories of when I fell in love with the heavier side of music. It also gave me a whole new batch of possible new favorite bands.