Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 30/09/2016
Label: Suicidal Records 
It flows in a virtually flawless manner
and I do believe “World Gone Mad” will be remembered as one of their best
records, ever. This one’s a home run
with a bullet.
“World Gone Mad” CD//DD track listing:
1). Clap Like Ozzy
2). The New Degeneration
3). Living For Life
4). Get Your Fight On!
5). World Gone Mad!
6). Happy Never After
7). One Finger Salute
8). Damage Control
9). The Struggle Is Real
10). Still Dying To Live
11). This World
2). The New Degeneration
3). Living For Life
4). Get Your Fight On!
5). World Gone Mad!
6). Happy Never After
7). One Finger Salute
8). Damage Control
9). The Struggle Is Real
10). Still Dying To Live
11). This World
The Review:
This record’s a
battleship. The crew, Suicidal,
are armed and ready. The waters they
navigate are treacherous in a “World
Gone Mad.
The record drops at the
end of September, right in the middle of a crazy presidential election, at a
time when terrorism is at its screaming worst, and racial tensions are at an
all-time high. And this record reflects
all of that. And more. “World Gone Mad” has a dark and ominous
tone that creeps through the record.
Track four, “Get Your Fight On”
sums it up lyrically – “…just look around, the world’s gone
crazy…if you’re waiting on a hero we’ll all be dead…” This record has heart and soul. There’s a vibe of continuity that’s almost
unsettling here, guiding the listener in very calculated fashion. It has purpose and direction. This is S/T at the very TOP of their game.
“World Gone Mad” is a proper return to the sound they perfected in
the 80’s that straddles their punk roots ala their debut record and the metal
edge coupled with Muir’s critical humor and societal eye of “Lights…Camera…” The band sounds fresh, tight and
reinvigorated with the addition of Dave Lombardo on drums. I say this for a reason. The drumming stands out on this record like
an exclamation point and at times rallies the band with a cohesiveness I
haven’t heard in quite a while.
“Clap Like Ozzy” sets the
tone for the rest of the record:
Warpath. Mosh fest. Fast punky guitar and drumming the way it
used to be. Overall, the songs on this
record, especially “Clap…” and “Living for Life” seem like polished
versions of songs that could’ve been on their first, self-titled record. I can’t emphasize this enough. Muir and band have reconnected with S/T’s
past in a way I didn’t think would happen again. And it sounds real, not forced, genuine.
“The New Degeneration” might be the most honest indictment of
today’s kids I’ve heard so far. Where’s
the rage and anger? Where’s the demand
for change? Why the canned rebellion and
not a call for action, true action instead of slaving to social media and the
like? You can hear Muir’s questioning,
Muir’s anger in this song.
I mentioned “Living for Life,” before. It stuck with me because it has a Dead Kennedy’s
groove to it, S/T
style. Again, a song that could’ve
easily been on their debut record.
Lombardo’s drumming makes this song and it shows. This is where the band rallies around Dave,
taking the lead and setting Muir up to go in for the kill.
I could keep describing
songs but the truth, is, there’s not a bum track on this record. It flows in a virtually flawless manner and I
do believe “World Gone Mad” will be
remembered as one of their best records, ever.
It’s already made my best of 2016 list.
Band chemistry is killer with this lineup. This one’s a home run with a bullet. Buy it.
