Metal Underground.com

SSS didn’t take their name from a stuttering Nazi or a Red Skull-like super Nazi. Their name has nothing to do with Nazis. SSS is an abbreviation for Short Sharp Shock. “Problems to the Answer” definitely lives up to the “short” in their name. This third full-length from the UK crossover act consists of twenty-five tracks, averaging about a minute and a half per track.

Penning short songs with rapid vocal rhythms is one of the tenants of the thrash/hardcore punk hybrid known as crossover. S.O.D. wrote four-second songs, but often the briefness of these tracks added to the humor they were trying to convey. Possibly, SSS is trying their hand with humor on some of these short tracks. If they are trying to be funny, they’re doing it in an awfully subtle way.

Sure, songs such as the sixteen-second “Birdshit” and the six-second “Direct Action” offer a barrage of drum rolls and tongue-twisting lyrics that will fire up the listener, but after a while, it becomes difficult to latch onto any of the songs. Thankfully, there are a few tracks where the band slows down, drops anchor, and allows the weight of the groove to take effect.

“Man Against Man” features two minutes of mid-paced, NYHC riffing. With his tough, Lou Koller from Sick of it All-type voice, Foxy excels during the slower, hardcore segments. Also, these moments highlight the thrashier side of the group. “Tales out of School” displays an early '80s speed metal riff. “Speed Freak” offers enough time to enjoy the track and fully lives up to its name. Two of the longest tracks, “Future Primitive” and “Strangenotes,” are instrumentals. The latter track offers “strange” variety, utilizing fist-pumping riffs, piano, jazzy bass notes and noisy percussion. You might say it’s SSS’ version of Metallica's “Orion.”

“Problems to the Answer” may prove a hard listen from beginning to end, due to its tracks being on the lean side. Those who prefer to tread circles in their bedrooms, swinging their elbows haphazardly to an entire D.R.I. album will fully embrace “Problems to the Answer.” If you’re like me and find your attention drifting after a few songs, then focusing on a few tracks will result in a better listening experience. Those who like their crossover weighing more on the thrash side should check out the band’s debut, self-titled recording.