Suicide Machines

An underrated act that probably would've been more at home on the California coast, the Suicide Machines have never matched the sales of their breakthrough 1996 debut on Hollywood Records, Destruction by Definition. Still, the Detroit quartet's brash album for latest label Side One Dummy, War Profiteering Is Killing Us All, demonstrates that the dearth of unit-shifting doesn't owe to a lack of talent. All sounds tight, angry and rejuvenated — and although the band continues to sample liberally from punk and ska, they now also bring more hardcore sensibilities to the party. And while they've experienced a number of lineup changes over the years as well, the Machines remain durable artists and a terrific live band despite the travails.