Uncle Slam were a three-piece crossover/ Thrash band from LA. The band formed in 1987- releasing just three albums- with their last two 1993’s  Will Work For Food, and and 1995’s When God Dies being presented here on this double-disc set.  It’s fair to say one of their key influences on the band's sound was fellow  Californian crossover band Suicidal Tendencies- in both song structure/ feel, and vocals.  Though they did throw in a few of their own twists ‘n’ turns, as well slightly more Thrash metal-focused sound- making both albums featured here worthy/ rewarding in their own rights.

The double CD set appears on Dissonance Productions- Cherry Red’s Thrash/ metal releasing sublabel. The two discs come presented in a glossy six-panel digipak- under the CDs, we find the original album art, which takes in the band's ragged-clothed & wild-eyed-looking Uncle Sam character. Included is a sixteen-page inlay booklet, featuring a new write-up about the band and the albums- as well as a great selection of band pictures, poster artwork, etc.

Uncle Slam was formed in 1987 by  Jon Nelson- vocals, Todd Moyer- guitars, John Flitcraft- bassist, and former Suicidal Tendencies drummer Amery Smith.  They had a few line-up changes, including other past & future members of Suicidal Tendencies. The band firmed up with Todd Moyer- guitars/ vocals,  Simon Oliver- Bass, Amery Smith- drums for their 1988 Caroline Records debut  Say Sam.

The first CD here takes in the band's second album Will Work For Food, which appeared first on Restless Records in 1993.  This was an eleven-track affair- with song times between just under three & just four. We begin with the short instrumental track “Back From Beyond” with a blend of swirling wind sounds, bell tolling’s, and clear moody guitar- fairly soon a more metallic bounding tone comes in. We then launch into “Left Dead” with a speedy galloping crossover verse, and over more speeding chorus with gang vocals chanting the track's title- with a Suicidal Tendencies Thrash-like grooving moment appearing towards the end of the track.  Moving on we have the malevolent weight chug meets moodily swarming guitar tone of “Dominant Submission”. There’s the gunning, drum bounding, Trash meets blues metallic bound of the title track.   As  90’s  Trash/ Crossover albums go Will Work For Food is consistent & rewarding- yes, there is a real Suicidal Tendencies edge to proceedings- but with the Trashing ‘n’ chugging level turned up.

Disc two takes in 1995’s When God Dies- which originally appeared on Restless Records/ Medusa Records. This was a ten-track album, and while you can still hear the Suicidal Tendencies influence from time to time- but it’s less so, and we get a neat selection of other elements coming in too. Take the opening title track- it starts out all speeding & galloping Crossover with gang vocals and bounding instrumentation. We then suddenly shift into early Red Hot Chill Peppers like funk rock- with the track shifting back and forth between the heavy &  the funk. There’s “An Offering To A Deity” which starts out a mellow rock ballad, with an upfront bass line over the clear guitars and soulful rock vocals. Before later shifting into some nice slow chug-outs, metal-on-metal percussion, and psych effect touched lead vocals/ gang vocals. “End Of The Line” feels like a crossbred between Suicidal Tendencies & Black album's Metallica. And the album's final track “Bombs Away” slinks in with just bass & drums, before lancing into an urgent riff-out fest. It’s a real pity When God Dies was Uncle Slam last album, as they were really starting to stretch their wings.

I’ll have to admit before this double disc set I was unaware of Uncle Slam- so I’m most grateful to  Dissonance Productions for reissing these two albums. Yes, they weren’t the most original/ distinctive of bands- but there was spirit and flare to thier song craft. If you were either a Suicidal Tendencies , or Thrash/ crossover fan this is a no-brainer.