AlbumsNovember 29, 201112,686 views

Sick Of It All Death to Tyrants


Death to Tyrants
01. Take the Night Off 02. Machete 03. Preamble 04. Uprising Nation 05. Always War 06. Die Alone 07. Evil Schemer 08. Leader 09. Make a Mark 10. Forked Tongue 11. Sodom 12. Faithless 13. Fred Army 14. Thin Skin 15. Maria White Trash
2006 Abacus Recordings
Our score 9

5/25/2006

This year is the 20th anniversary of Sick of It All as a band. This is also the 9th full length album in as many years that the band has released. When a band has been around successfully for that improbable length of time and has released that many records, is there anything left to say either musically or lyrically The release of their newest offering Death to Tyrants is a furious, resounding YES!!! To anyone that has spent any minute amount of time in or around the hardcore scene, Sick of It All is a household name. As true pioneers of the genre, along with a select few other bands, they helped shape a style of music and a community that supported it that has remarkably continued to exist to this day. For that reason alone Sick of It All should be praised. Going one step further, the band should be praised for releasing yet another quality album that is arguably more so, if not equally as strong, angry, intense, and well crafted as all of their previous records. Death to Tyrants will be immediately welcomed by the long-time fans who now all probably have regular jobs and families, as well as the uninitiated youth who are just now discovering this legendary band and their tremendous, respectable back catalog. If one didn't know of Sick of It All or their weathered history prior to listening to Death to Tyrants for the first time, it would be easy to think this record was made by angry teenagers who happened to be gifted at good songwriting. That's because Sick of It All still undeniably have a passion that most bands never had from the start, and this is abundantly clear from the first track of Death to Tyrants, with the memorable chorus, "Let's celebrate that we don't give a fuck!" As a metaphor, it's dead on; as an accurate statement of the band's beliefs, it couldn't be further from the truth. Both lyrically (much of which is overtly political on Death to Tyrants) and musically, the band is deadly serious about presenting an output that is able to not only stand its own ground in today's scene, but break new ground at the same time. The songs on Death to Tyrants sound as if they were written with a certain wisdom that could only be imparted by years of experience. The playing is perfectly on target and very tight. At the same time, Death to Tyrants has a modern sound to it that makes it clear the songs are designed to be on a new record in 2006 as opposed to a good old days throwback album. The songs are still crushingly heavy; they are still fast; they are still energized; but most importantly, they are the epitome of mature songwriting by four men who know what they are doing. Every track is memorable in its own right, with many subtle stylistic elements combined, yet the album as a whole is distinctly and recognizably Sick of It All in sound and spirit. Bottom Line: The members of Sick of It All are all well versed in their craft, and the experiences of being in a working band, including the writing process of an album, are all old hat now. This is clearly shown on Death to Tyrants. This release is a healthy dose of songs that get in the listener's head and beg to be played again and again. This album stands as a testament to what Sick of It All helped start, and to where the scene as a whole should strive to go.

29 comments

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united_ninety_three_ 5/25/2006 3:29:14 PM

FIRST POST

deez_nutz_ 5/25/2006 3:41:33 PM

this album is not as good as it's hyped, 7/10 at best

twodegreesbelow_ 5/25/2006 4:08:28 PM

9/10 is pushing it a little

tony_ 5/25/2006 4:14:00 PM

i would wager an 8.5/10; solid album that is better than the one before it.

robocop_jack_ 5/25/2006 4:18:41 PM

9/10??? sure buddy

zero_x_potential_ 5/25/2006 5:50:00 PM

this is a great cd, especially after 20 years of making music together. i'd probably say an 7.5 or an 8 though.

and!_ 5/25/2006 6:18:07 PM

ash your f*cking stupid

dean_ 5/25/2006 6:22:31 PM

Not for nothing, but that shouldn't that be "you're" ???

pessimist_ 5/25/2006 7:14:16 PM

retards

TheReapersSon_ 5/25/2006 8:09:01 PM

You guys are all f*cking RETARDED. Seriously, a band such as this, making music for TWENTY f*ckING YEARS, puts out an album this good and you gays can't recognize it. Great review, Ash. Score well deserved.

cutter_ 5/25/2006 8:12:28 PM

SOIA's best record since Scratch The Surface. 8/10. Good review, by the way.

ktownhcore_ 5/25/2006 9:01:12 PM

20/10 for these ol schools

AIDSmuppet_ 5/25/2006 10:34:07 PM

9? shit. relentless was better then this and that wasnt even too great.

deez_nutz_ 5/25/2006 11:21:42 PM

i was very excited to hear this album, as i didn't care for their last few too much, after listening to it a few times, its quite meh, but it does have some great songs. They just will never top Just Look Around or Scratch the Surface.

Gluck_ 5/26/2006 12:23:18 AM

Ever since I first saw SOIA open for Slayer then a couple years later with Strife and OKD 10 years ago, I was struck by their professionalism which hasn't receded one bit since then. Love this band. STILL, I think Yours Truly is the best album they have done since the classics. Looks like it's high time to get their new album then! Good review, Ash.

Barbelo_ 5/26/2006 1:45:34 AM

this album is t-ts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

anonymous 5/26/2006 4:45:32 AM

This year is everything it 20. _ birthday the patient of it as volume. It is likewise the 9th full length album in just as much years, which the volume released. When is it, which released a volume over taken place successfully for this improbable duration and that there he has many plates something, musicalement left to say or lyrically? The release of their newest death of the offer to the Tyrannen is a racing and retentissant! ! ! At everyone, in that any embarrassingly exact quantity of time

anonymous 5/26/2006 4:46:07 AM

Death at the Tyrannen is taken up immediately well by the long-term fans, which maintain everything probably have the regular work and the families, exactly the same as the youth of non initiés, which uncover this legendary volume and their enormous and respectable Hinterkatalog in this time. If one did not know of the patient it all or from its history, which was survived, before one heard death at the Tyrannen for the first time, would be simple it to think that this by the annoyed young peopl

anonymous 5/26/2006 4:46:19 AM

The songs on death at the Tyrannen sound, as if they were written with a certain wisdom, which could be given only per year experience. The play is perfectly strong on the goal and very. At the same time death at the Tyrannen has a modern noise at it that the songs are planned to indicate clearly over on a new plate in the year 2006 contrary to an old bon to be throwbackalbum by days. The songs are always heavy crushingly; they are still fast; they are itself still from activation under way; but

solideogloria_ 5/26/2006 5:45:03 PM

I don't think most of you understand how ratings work. 10 is a enduring classic, a testament to whatever genre its in and an album that will stand the test of time. 9 is a potential classic, an album that will still influence people now, but that time will decide on. There's no way this record is that. It might be damn f*ckin good, but a 9? no sir.

Tommy_ 5/26/2006 6:47:13 PM

That's funny, I thought the "Let's celebrate that we don't give a f*ck" line was cheesy and nu-metal-ish. 6/10

Lex Luger_ 5/27/2006 12:36:55 AM

We're all so hardcore, we can't even appreciate hardcore!

Murph_ 5/27/2006 9:31:00 AM

one of the best live hardcore bands EVER. this band as a whole is completely beyond reproach, despite what the sniveling newjacks have to say.

revspin_ 5/28/2006 1:47:50 AM

tommy you're pretty much a gay. awesome band, 20 years wow.

thisaintsweettea_ 5/29/2006 5:49:50 PM

Who the f*ck is Sick Of It All?

thisaintsweettea_ 5/29/2006 5:50:04 PM

J/K

Skinhead Jay_ 6/7/2006 11:24:45 PM

TIME TO RETIRE!! I'm sick of sick of it all.

yay_ 10/1/2006 1:51:36 AM

yay

xxxpaul_ 9/13/2007 11:50:25 PM

best album yet these guys walk and breath true hardcore! 10/10