Belgian electro-industrial icon Suicide Commando marks 40 years of sonic devastation with Collective Suicide Vol. 1+2, the definitive anniversary collection from one of the dark electronic underground's most enduring forces. The release is out now via Out Of Line Music.
Johan Van Roy opens the vaults for the first time since 2016, when Collective Suicide Vol. 1 was released to mark the project's 30th anniversary, documenting the earliest recordings from 1987 through to 2016. Now, a decade on, Collective Suicide Vol. 2 picks up where that left off, delivering previously unreleased versions, rare B-sides, and reworked classics. Together, the two volumes form a near-complete document of forty years of Suicide Commando - from the earliest demo tapes of 1987 to the present day.
Crucially, this is not only a retrospective. Vol. 2 includes "Control & Consent", a brand-new original track that makes its debut here, proof that, at forty years in, Suicide Commando is still moving forward. It sits alongside reworked versions of three cornerstones of the canon: "Come Down With Me (V2025)," "Jesus Freak (Die In Agony)," and "Death Lies Waiting (Death Will Find You Remix)," each rebuilt through Van Roy's current production lens - punishing industrial rhythms, EBM-sharp sequencing, and that unmistakably venom-laced vocal style.
Somehow I missed the 30 years off … version, so I’ll be reviewing this one for the first time (track by track as an artists deserve's it, I feel it's unrespectful to skip certain songs):
Collective Suicide Vol. 1
Suicide is the first track and has no vocals, but you ca hear that it’s his music as it’s dense track with a dark mood. It makes sense to start with this one (just the title alone). Whilst the next one is more in an experimental mood (and yet also without vocals): Industrial Underground. The sound refers to the late 80’s and might even be used by DJ’s. On Incinerate we hear for the first time Johan’s voice (still a bit in the background and not yet with his actual vocal sound). The music has some Neon Judgement influences and at least some old school 80’s electro/new wave influences too. It’s the first step towards the future sound and nice to hear it now. T.V. Obsession sounds like getting close to his real shape and gets closer to the successful years/sound. Lyrically we can say he hasn’t changed much over the years: it’s all about dark and scary things, the bible stuff from real life, human atrocity … Come To Me: listen to the lyrics, feel the percussion hitting, run away from or embrace the darkness. Kevorkian unleashes the beast, whilst the sound is going into industrial/repetitive sound. Simple but efficient. Disposable Paradise builds up the future sound that made him hit the charts. The real aggressive sound is not there yet, but the beats are, just as a great tempo and build up. Body Count Proceed (2007 Re_Count) sounds nicely in this “newer” sound whilst Hate Me is hard hitting and shows just why so much people love him. Clearly old school club material. Until We Die (Single Edit) delivered a nice blow, building up his reputation. Body Machine Body (Demo Version), well it’s hard to believe this is only the demo version: sounds harsh and fresh, ready to hit the dancefloor. This one is hot (already in this demo version). They close the first part with My New Christ is a great song to close it with: a good tempo and a typical Suicide Commando sound.
Collective Suicide Vol. 2
Infliction of Pain is what I would call an into, setting the mood an announcing the upcoming horror of Severed Head. The monster is awake and screams about horrific scene. Come Down With Me (V2025) gets a new version and sounds indeed pretty modern whilst the monster gets out. This might be one for the dancefloor. I like the catchy chorus. Kill All Humanity (Short And Painless) is one of the few songs I already reviewed in the past (it’s a more actual song). And yes: this might be the thought of Aliens when they look upon out world. Love the beats, the vocals and the tempo. Based on the lyrics (picked out snippets) Evacuate fits perfectly the previous song. Unterwelt (Apocalypse) is one of the better known songs with a more melancholic touch, heavy beats, hard knocking percussion … Tim for a new song: Control & Consent shows that Johan still has it and can still write great songs that matter. Back to more horror: Fate (Death is coming … again!) Dance, baby dance! And here’s the second layer for the dancefloor: Face Of Death (V2023). Fans will be delighted to hear this one in this “newer” version. Death Lies Waiting (Death Will Find You Remix) gives us another sound, keeps the tempo up and the beats going on. Jesus Freak (Die In Agony) is a classic one and still al oved one by the fans. We end with another masterpiece: Better Off Dead. Giving this overview the final blast.
Can’t believe it has already been 40 years! Concerts all over the world, headlining in Mexico, the USA, playing in Russia when it was still ok, performing in from of 100.000 people, chart topping in Germany and more recently finally getting played on one of the national radio’s in Belgium (Radio Willy). 10 more years? If the knee allows it, we’ll all know that weak spot. Hence otherwise Johan will just play and go on as long as he finds it fun. His gigs are powered by his energy and the feedback from the fans (we all love them for that). The guy who came from a little town called Leopoldsburg (Belgium), made it and still goes on. On his own he has become bigger then the local festival called Pukkelpop (yeah Chokri: this message is for you).
