Suicide Note

After the stunning Come On Save Me EP on Hawthorne Street Records, Suicide Note retakes the offensive once more with their debut full-length, You're Not Looking So Good, a seamless blending of metallic hardcore noise, aggression, sarcasm and melody that hasn't sounded this tight or superb since Drowningman nearly perfected the synthesis and then self-destructed. Comparisons to Drowningman (especially the early years) are obvious and somewhat accurate, as are those to Deadguy, Converge or even contemporaries Curl Up and Die, but Suicide Note fashions their own identity and expands their palette, throwing in tribal tom interludes that recall the darkness of vintage Neurosis ("Automatic Death Sequence"), all-out punk nihilism that resurrects the "brink of destruction" aesthetic of Black Flag, "Black Cat," and always intertwining melody so tightly into their discord that the separation of the two becomes impossible. Not concerned with being the most complex dog in the park, Suicide Note, while be no means simplistic, have learned the advantages of locking into grooves and repeating choruses, giving the listener something to fixate on besides their clamour. Much like any great album, You're Not Looking So Good never drags, clocking in at slightly over 28 minutes, features a great production that heightens the songs' impact, courtesy of Converge's Kurt Ballou, and vibrant, if ambiguous, artwork. While the highlight may be the re-recorded version of "Come On Save Me," now entitled "Come On Fuck Me," You're Not Looking So Good is rife with standouts and will secure S-Note's place at the table.