*** 1/2 SUICIDAL TENDENCIES; “The Art of Rebellion”, <i> Epic</i>

Without anyone noticing, really, Venice-based Suicidal Tendencies has developed into one of the most ambitious, accomplished artists in rock ‘n’ roll, the one hard-rock band that explores the subjects of confusion and honesty and emotional vulnerability that are supposed to be the exclusive turf of sensitive singer-songwriters, while still wowing ‘em in the slam pit. Suicidal works some of the same spiritual ground as U2 and Jane’s Addiction but is customarily dismissed by people who adore those bands--something to do with the name, probably. Springsteen fans come and Springsteen fans go, but followers of Suicidal Tendencies, the most devoted band cult in rock ‘n’ roll, are forever.

This time around, Suicidal has sort of backed into a tight, commercial album, three-minute songs and radio-friendly vocal melodies, its usual, slightly anonymous speed-metal crunch leavened into moody, open textures just right for MTV, underlaid with a subtle base of funk.

Mike Muir’s voice has developed something of the plangent expressiveness of early-’70s John Lennon, where you feel that melody could at any moment dissolve into sobs. And although the lyrics cover such traditional Suicidal subjects as hypocrisy and the cleansing power of hatred, Muir’s obsession seems to have graduated from the adolescent emotional landscape to the Angst of becoming a man. Suicidal has finally grown up.

New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).