Albums by this artist

Battle Hymns (1998)

Destruction By Definition (1996)

Suicide Machines

Destruction By Definition

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» DAVID THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

Suicide Machines Destruction By Definition Hollywood, 1996 RiYL: Sublime, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, No Doubt

The suspiciously Operation Ivy-like sound the Suicide Machines play on this 37-minute CD is intermixed with harder punk styles. But Destruction By Definition lives up to its name a little too much, as the Machines seem to make really catchy tunes with minuscule amounts of originality.

"New Girl" starts the album with ska guitar riffs and quick-paced vocals. The song breaks up into segments of faster guitars and even faster drums, building in a predictable fashion until climaxing just before the song's close. The Suicide Machines know exactly when to end their songs, sticking to the adage "too much of a repeated ska riff can be hard to take."

Contagious at its start, Destruction By Definition loses its steam with four or five songs left on the record. Overall, the album is a blessing for naïve listeners wanting a quick fix of generic '90s punk ska sound, but a hardship for those looking for truly original music.

DAVID THOMAS |