UMUR "13" is the 10th (if you count "Still Cyco After All These Years (1993)") full-length studio album by US crossover/thrash metal act Suicidal Tendencies. "13" was released through Suicidal Records in March 2013. It´s the first album by the group since "Free Your Soul... and Save My Mind" from 2000. A comeback long overdue if you ask me. The only remaining member of the lineup that recorded the predecessor, besides lead vocalist/only original member Mike Muir, is lead guitarist Dean Pleasants...

...that doesn´t affect how the music sounds though, as this is unmistakably the sound of Suicidal Tendencies. A "light" thrashy crossover hardcore style with occasional funky basslines/rythms and Mike Muir´s distinct sounding vocal style on top. Not much have changed. The music on "13" sounds closer to the more hardcore/punked sound of the two predecessors than it does to the more thrashy sound of the late eighties/early nineties releases by the band. The period that most fans probably consider the band´s prime. That doesn´t however make "13" a bad album if you remember to adjust your expectations.

"13" opens with what I think is one of the highlights of the album in "Shake It Out", which is an incredibly catchy track and probably the track on the album that reminds me the most of "vintage" Suicidal Tendencies. While I don´t think the band quite reach the heights of "Shake It Out" again, during the 58:13 minutes long playing time, the rest of the tracks on the album are entertaining too (just check the badass attitude of tracks like "This Ain´t a Celebration" or "Who´s Afraid?" and try not to smile and say "hell yeah") and the quality is generally high. The band are very well playing and the sound production is professional and powerful too. So while "13" could overall have been a slightly more effectful comeback, it´s still a damn solid effort by the band, and they certainly prove why their presence on the scene is still fully justified. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.