Review of Suicide Pact—You First (1999)
by Craig Young for earpollution (February 2000)
For those of you who may have questioned the musical direction of Therapy? on their past two releases, let there be no doubt: with Suicide Pact—You First these Irish punkers have fully regained the long missed title of “Heavy Fucking Metal.” While the dissolution of former label A&M, drummer Graham Hopkins breaking his arm at the start of last year, and the general feeling of “what the fuck are we about and where the hell are we going” may all have reinforced a negative attitude inside band, it certainly showed up brilliantly on the album’s writing.
Recorded in 2-1/2 weeks, and just after the band found a new home with ARK 21 Records, Suicide Pact is fast, loud and absolutely unrepentant. Singer Andy Cairns has dipped deep into the neurotic vocal stylings of Captain Beefheart, and on songs like He’s Not That Kind Of Girl (the album’s opener) and the creepy quiet God Kicks (recorded out in the woods in the dead of night), his deep scrawl has an unsettling effect on the listener.
Make no mistake, Therapy? are back on top of their game and could give fuck-all about anything but the music… their music… and are out to prove it.
Hate Kill Destroy sounds even better when you realize they recorded it sans clothes. Jam Jar Jail works well, but comes across a bit too much like Sweden’s garage rockers, The Hellacopters. The album’s wandering closer, Whilst I Pursue My Way Unharmed could have been a bit more effective had it been shortened, but the dark and intensely unrelenting Little Tongues First, Other People’s Misery and the brilliant instrumental Big Cave In show the band at their punk-metal best.
Having found their stride again, Therapy? are anxious to get back out and show the world the damage their music is capable of. In March they’ll be appearing at SXSW in Austin, TX. Hopefully that will be followed by an extensive U.S. tour (something they haven’t done in several years). Make no mistake, Therapy? are back on top of their game and could give fuck-all about anything but the music… their music… and are out to prove it.
Other Reviews of ‘Suicide Pact—You First’
- PopMatters (2000) “…might be the band’s most twisted work yet.”
- wiltweb (1999) “… a healthy two fingers to current musical trends.”
- Kerrang! (1999) “… pumped up, twisted and ready to fire on all cylinders ….”
- Metal Hammer (1999) “… once again spitting in the face of the easy option.”
- View all reviews >
Related Interviews
- Happy People Have NO Stories (Willamette Week Online, 2001)
- Therapy? Returns to America (Wall Of Sound, 2000)
- Therapy? Profile—Interview with Andy Cairns (earpollution, 2000)
- Trick or Treatment?—Andy Cairns at SXSW (Music 365, 2000)
- Interview with Andy Cairns on Suicide Pact—You First (Muse, 2000)
- Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life… (CLUAS, 1999)
- View all interviews >
