Suicide by Unknown Fear: A Thrash Riot Straight Outta France (1990)
Alright, buckle up, because we’re diving into Suicide by Unknown Fear—a raw, unfiltered slab of French thrash metal that feels like getting punched in the face by a beret-wearing dude on a baguette-fueled rampage. Released in 1990 under their own label (because who needs "the man" when you’ve got riffs?), this album is six tracks of pure chaos and attitude. Let’s break it down.
First off, let’s talk about the title track, Suicide?. Yeah, with a question mark at the end—like they’re not even sure if they wanna go through with it but hey, might as well shred while deciding. The song kicks off with some seriously gnarly guitar work that sounds like someone set an amp on fire and recorded the aftermath. It’s catchy as hell though, especially those headbang-worthy riffs that feel tailor-made for mosh pits or awkwardly stomping around your bedroom. And then there's the lyrics—angsty, nihilistic, and dripping with teenage rebellion vibes. You don’t need to understand every word to feel the rage pulsing through the speakers. This one sticks in your brain like gum on a hot sidewalk.
Now, flip over to Plates Of Death, and holy crap, does this thing rip. Imagine if someone took all the frustration of being stuck in a Paris traffic jam and channeled it into four minutes of relentless aggression. The drums are pounding so hard you’d think the drummer has a personal vendetta against his kit, and the vocals? Pure gravel-throated fury. What makes this track unforgettable isn’t just its intensity—it’s how it builds up this apocalyptic vibe without ever losing momentum. By the time it ends, you’re left gasping for air like you just ran a marathon… or maybe survived a zombie apocalypse. Either way, it’s wild.
The rest of the album keeps the energy high with tracks like Stand, Fight, and Die—which honestly sound like instructions for surviving a really bad day. Even the instrumental version of Suice ? throws in enough twists to keep things interesting. Sure, the production quality is lo-fi as heck, but that only adds to the charm. It’s DIY thrash at its finest, folks.
So yeah, Suicide by Unknown Fear may not be perfect, but damn if it doesn’t hit harder than most modern bands trying too hard to “reinvent” thrash. These guys weren’t chasing fame; they were just letting loose and having fun making noise.
And here’s the kicker: listening to this album feels kinda like finding an old mixtape in your attic. It’s rough around the edges, sure, but once you press play, you realize it’s got more soul than half the stuff cluttering Spotify playlists today. Who knew self-released French thrash could pack such a punch? Definitely worth spinning if you’re tired of polished nonsense and want something real—even if it leaves your ears ringing for days.
