Suicidal Tendencies "How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today"

How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today is the third album by American crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies, released on September 13, 1988 on Epic Records, their first album on that label. It was also the band's first album recorded with guitarist Mike Clark, and their only release with bassist Bob Heathcote, who was replaced by Robert Trujillo in 1989.

How Will I Laugh... is crucial to Suicidal Tendencies stylistic developments in that it sees the band abandoning most of their full-fledged punk influences in favor of a more thrash metal-oriented sound. One could see this stylistic changes in this album's predecessor Join the Army, but this album had a distinctly more defined metal sound; more complex and lengthy songs, as well as better production values.

The addition of a rhythm guitarist, Mike Clark (who had played with Muir in No Mercy, which was supposed to originally be a metal only side project) changed the band's style heavily as well. Clark writes much of the music for this album, and he gives lead guitarist Rocky George more soloing time. Thus creating another factor in this album and future albums' more metal-oriented sound.

How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today was moderately successful, peaking at #111 on the Billboard 200. It remained on that chart for eleven weeks. The album featured singles "Trip at the Brain" and the title track, both of which managed to become successful with their target audiences.

In August 2014, Revolver placed the album on its "14 Thrash Albums You Need to Own" list.

Trivia:

- The vinyl and cassette versions omit "Suicyco Mania", making it a bonus track on the CD and MiniDisc versions.

- Despite not playing on this album, Louiche Mayorga was still part of the band when the writing sessions began. He is credited for co-writing at least three songs ("Hearing Voices", "Pledge Your Allegiance" and "Suicyco Mania").

- Mike Clark had originally written some of the songs from How Will I Laugh Tomorrow for what was intended to be the second No Mercy album, which was ultimately scrapped and never materialized.

Recorded April 1988 at Cherokee, Hollywood, CA. 

Mixed July 1988 at Enterprise, Burbank, CA.