Album Reviews

Social Distortion have never been the most prolific band. And that’s putting it mildly. Born To Kill is only the band’s eighth album since forming in 1978, arriving a full fifteen years after its predecessor. Back in 2023, the band announced that pre-production was complete and that they were aiming for an early 2024 release. Then frontman Mike Ness was diagnosed with tonsil cancer, underwent treatment, and had to relearn how to swallow, speak, and sing.

But that was then, and this is now. Ness is back, sounding better than ever on Born To Kill. Across its eleven tracks, the album sounds unmistakably like classic Social Distortion, still radiating the kind of effortless cool usually associated with Humphrey Bogart or James Dean. If either of them had fronted a punk rock band.

Singing of missed chances and better days gone by, Ness is backed by Jonny “2-Bags” Wickersham on rhythm guitar and Brent Harding on bass, while David Hidalgo Jr. makes his first full album appearance on drums after joining the band shortly after the recording of 2011’s Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes.

The title track comes out swinging, serving as a mission statement with Ness snarling, “Gonna make a change, gonna re-arrange / Look out, man, you’re in my pissing range.” It’s a bluesy barroom brawler that immediately proves all is well in Social D land. "No Way Out" follows suit, before the rootsy "The Way Things Were" and nostalgic standout "Tonight" find the band shifting down for a change of pace, revealing the band’s more sentimental side.

Lucinda Williams joins Ness on "Crazy Dreamer" along with a honky tonk piano. It counts as one of the album’s two real surprises, the other being "Don’t Keep Me Hanging On," which injects a welcome dose of pop sensibility into the mix. The only real misstep is the cover of Chris Isaak’s "Wicked Game." It’s not a bad rendition, as covers of an overplayed classic go, but it feels wholly unnecessary. When the original material is this strong, there’s simply no need for it.

Born To Kill track listing:

1. Born To Kill
2. No Way Out
3. The Way Things Were
4. Tonight
5. Partners In Crime
6. Crazy Dreamer
7. Wicked Game
8. Walk Away (Don't Look Back)
9. Never Goin' Back Again
10. Don't Keemp Me Hanging On
11. Over You