Born To Kill There is a real sense of urgency and purpose on the eighth studio album from Social Distortion. Born To Kill was co-produced by frontman and primary songwriter, Mike Ness, and Dave Sardy (Fall Out Boy, Bad Suns) and the new music marks Social Distortion’s first full-length record in 15 years. While the predecessor of Hard Times & Nursery Rhymes seemed comfortable in doing a “victory lap” of the band’s historic career, Born To Kill knocks the listener on their ass and showcases that Mike Ness and his bandmates have plenty left in the tank. When speaking on the multi-year delay between records, Ness shared, “Although this record is out, I’m going to continue the process of writing so maybe there won’t be such a large gap between records. Even when the record’s done, it doesn’t mean the creativity of writing is.” With material this strong, it’s a great sign that we can expect even more Social Distortion in the near future.
The set kicks off with the blazing, speedy punk rock of the title track which was released as the lead single. It’s on the bridge of the song that Ness declares, “I’m the underdog who ends up on top / The rebel poet with the peacock strut / Gonna make a change, gonna re-arrange / Look out, man, you’re in my pissing range,” before switching gears into another rousing chorus. Ness sounds as great as he’s ever been, and the confidence comes through in the performance. “No Way Out” gets clicked in from drummer David Hidalgo Jr. and Ness captivates once again on this rousing track that is filled with guitar solos from Jonny Wickersham. On the second verse of, “I’m not the first, I’m not the last / Still haunted by the ghosts from the past / I’m in deep now, can’t take the pressure / And I’m needing out now more than ever,” Ness confesses that he’s trying to relocate the spark that made Social Distortion such a trademark name in the punk community. He largely pulls it off on songs like this that rock with a profound urgency.
”The Way Things Were” is a mid-tempo rocker that finds Ness reflecting on the past with some great storytelling in the process. Mike Ness brings it all the way back to his youth as he shares, “Throwing rocks at trains along the railroad tracks / Dead-end kids who’d slipped between the cracks / We spent our time getting high, we did our best to get by / And we said goodbye to the way things were.” I’ve always appreciated the authenticity in Ness’s voice and vocal cadence that still sounds like a captivating storyteller to this day. “Tonight” feels like the direct sequel to the Social Distortion classic track of “Story of My Life”, as the opening riff is similar in its construction, and of the same quality. The song recalls a fractured relationship from life on the road as Ness croons, “We had plans for tomorrow / But our problems really seemed to ruin our today / With two hearts full of sorrow / We just sat and watched our hopes and dreams drift away.” The song sounds like a hit, and it rewards the longtime fans of the band for sticking with them through thick n’ thin.
”Partners In Crime” bellows over a steady bassline from Brent Harding in the verses, while the uplifting chorus of, “Like a meteor out of the sky / It’s a rock ‘n’ roll suicide / You’re the latest thing on the streets / Fighting for what you believe, yeah,” is a great moment of self-recognition on the part of Ness as he once again finds himself in the crowded punk scene where everyone is trying to one-up each other. The rock n’ roll song features another great guitar solo from Wickersham to keep things at a heightened sense of purpose. “Crazy Dreamer” is a throwback song to the days of when Johnny Cash ruled the radio, and it features some great guest harmonies from Lucinda Williams. The doo-wop type of song does a nice job of offering different styles on Born To Kill to make for a memorable listening experience. Add in a raucous cover of Chris Issak’s classic “Wicked Game”, and Social Distortion were really cooking here.
The back half of the record is filled with riff-heavy punk rock songs like “Walk Away (Don’t Look Back)” that tell a story through the music as much as it does with the picturesque lyrics. “Never Goin’ Back Again” starts off with a “Longview”-esque drumbeat from Hidalgo Jr. before the instruments really shimmer in the mix and production to allow just the right template for Mike Ness to add his trademark croon over. “Don’t Keep Me Hanging On” recognizes that Ness won’t be around forever as he grapples with his own mortality and wanting to leave behind a legacy of his own doing as he sings, “Love, don’t keep me hangin’ on / I should’ve known / It was only a dream, just a dream / And if you remember me, I will remember you / And when I find myself / Then I’ll find you, yes, it’s true / And we’ll meet again.” It’s a beautiful love song that Ness dedicates to his family, and he believes that death is not the end of his journey, but merely a step towards the afterlife.
The album closes out with the raucous “Over You” as Ness admits in the chorus, “There’s just no getting over you”. With songs this strong after a 15-year gap in music from Social Distortion it’s a great sign that even more incredible music is on the way soon from Ness and his bandmates. Born To Kill takes full advantage of being under the radar of incredible music releases that came out this week, and is one record that I was pleasantly surprised in being as this great and up to par of the legacy of Social Distortion. This was not a “nostalgia play” but rather a band feeling rekindled in wanting to make another great statement in their storied career. Mission accomplished.