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Rating: Album: Speak English or Die
Band: S.O.D. Stormtroopers Of Death
Year: 1985
Label: Megaforce
Genre: Hardcore, Crossover, Thrash
Line-Up:
Billy Milano ( vocals )
Scott Ian ( guitar )
Danny Lilker ( bass )
Charlie Benante ( drums )
I had promised myself not to review albums that are already in the database, I'll make an exception for this one because well... I can't resist!
What can be said about S.O.D.? S.O.D. is us, the common people, those who strum the guitar in their spare time simply because they enjoy it and in the same way scream into the microphone often just shouting great nonsense!
Many side projects start with this idea of "fun" for its own sake and then... then they become S.O.D.! This album offers an endless array of cues and proves to be extremely influential on many music genres: thrash, grindcore, sludge, etc. It's truly incredible to think that it's 1985 and the four of them complete an album of such proportions: as always, its importance will be recognized in hindsight.
The idea seems to have come from Scott Ian (guitarist of Anthrax - a band I've never liked much) along with drummer Charlie Benante (also Anthrax) who recruit two random New Yorkers (!): Billy Milano (vocals of M.O.D.) and Danny Lilker (ex-Anthrax, in '85 in Nuclear Assault later in the great Brutal Truth and various appearances in bands like Holy Moses, The Ravenous).
S.O.D. exasperates the musical style and attitude of Hardcore mocking themselves and the rest of the world ("i'm not racist... I hate everyone" now you can't find the shirt sniff... ). Amusing (well, up to a point unfortunately) to see how even today the songs are current ("Fuck the middle east" for example!).
Musically, there is a sort of Thrashed Hardcore (or reverse it if you prefer) clearly evident in several tracks: Pi Alpha Nu (one of my favorites), Milano Mosh, Speak English or Die, Fist Banging Mania (ah aha ah!). Other tracks are just freaks of nature: Anti-Procrastination Song, Ballad of Jimi Hendrix (this one doesn't make me laugh at all), Hey Gordy!, What's That Noise. However, these very last ones will inspire future bands: do you think Napalm Death haven't heard this album? Hard to believe...
Listening to Billy Milano on vocals will remind you a lot of a certain Tom Araya... Araya in 'Reign in Blood' changes a lot compared to the early albums, why? Again, there's no certainty, but Slayer has more than once mentioned they love hardcore. Don't expect top-level technique (although there is some) and unfortunately, the production is what it is (there have been 2 re-releases over time: the platinum and the 2006 one).
Although this album doesn't excel in any particular field, it will always remain a reference point in the Metal scene.
Still relevant today Highly recommended!!
nothing is invented everything is recycled
Tracklist and Videos
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