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S.O.D. - Speak English Or Die [re-issue] (Cover Artwork)

S.O.D.

Speak English Or Die [re-issue] (2004)
Megaforce Records

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: FortyMinutesWest
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on September 14th 2004

It’s S.O.D.

I could really leave it at that, but unlike this band, I suppose this review needs an intro. In the mid-80’s members of Anthrax decided that they wanted to start a band that played fast, if somewhat simple music. With this in mind, and armed with tons of sarcasm, they founded Stormtroopers of Death, or S.O.D. What just started out as a fun project ended up producing Speak English Or Die, an extremely influential album that helped further blur the line between hardcore and metal. Even though they came around a few years after D.R.I., S.O.D. helped further bridge the gap. Although you can still find this in stores, Megaforce decided to re-issue it on some sweet looking blood red vinyl.

The first time I heard this band was about six years ago, my friend’s brother was heavily into metal, and he acted as if this album was the gospel. I hadn’t heard anything about S.O.D. before that point, but he assured me that it was more intense than any of the bands I was currently listening to. With this in mind, he lent me a tape. Yes, that’s right, a tape. So, after do a little searching, a came across my old walkman, and finally got a chance to hear this band. He was right, it was intense, and I finally understood what he had been raving about. While S.O.D.’s sound was rooted in metal, it also had decidedly hardcore undertones. The songs were short and to the point, but they hit hard. The song that really stood out for me was “Milk,” which just blew me away. No song on here reaches the three-minute mark, but they make good use of the time they have. Aside from the obvious influence they caused by blending metal and hardcore, S.O.D. was also one of the first bands to use blast beats. This is a fact, although often disputed, that has endeared the band to many a fan of fast music.

. S.O.D. was off and on for many years, playing shows here and there, but tensions from within have pretty much killed any chance of them reuniting. Most notable is the dispute between Billy Milano and Scott Ian, which was sparked by VH1, of all things. Still, Speak English or Die left an undeniable mark on music, and is still appreciated by many to this day, which is pretty impressive for a band that basically started out as a way to kill some time. If you like hardcore or metal at all, you really need to own this, whether it’s on CD, vinyl, cassette, 8-track, whatever; pick this up.

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Anonymous (April 11, 2006)

QUIERO DESCARGAR MUSICA DE SOD, MI CORREO ES neo20055676@yahoo

Anonymous (October 13, 2005)

"Obviously MOD and SOD used satire and irony to ridicule fascist and racist morons. I remember when there was all this controversy because people took the first-person lyrics at face value - do you find that's still the case, or has the world become even more sensitive and PC? Could "Speak English or Die" be released today without you getting firebombed?
I think it's funny that German journalists call me a NAZI. I always say to them, "During WW2 my farther was killing yours". So I personally don't give a fuck what anyone thinks. But some people need to get slapped around. PC IS NOT FOR ME."

Oh my god this fucking seigh hail band sod are retarded what is the funny thing about the german journalists called them nazis, if the people from germany never supported hitler and hitller wasnt even german! fucking ignorant morons.

Anonymous (October 13, 2005)

damn, fuck that nazi crap, stupid lyrics, in the song speak eglish or die, they say something about real jobs, like if playing on a band was a real job, stupid hail hitler mofos. same with slayer fucking republican nazis.

fizzo (March 20, 2005)

heard this album a long time ago and was f***ing impressed...bought a copy of the album and now luv it even more...a true collector's piece......

S.O.D. ...wish ud give us more of this insane shit.....

and for all those who have any -ve comments look urself in the mirror and say loudly..........................

SPEAK ENGLISH OR DIEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

fizzo (March 20, 2005)

heard this album a long time ago and was f***ing impressed...bought a copy of the album and now luv it even more...a true collector's piece......

Anonymous (March 20, 2005)

Hi...i have heard this album a long time ago and loved it...I bought a copy of it last year and now like it even more...it is a Collector's item trust me guyz...U wont find a bunch of guyz having fun while playing like SOD.....

its a crazy album..an All time GR8 piece of thrash metal...

S.O.D. ....wish u came out with more of this shit!!!!!!!

keep rockin.....
fizz......frm india

Anonymous (March 9, 2005)

I can't wait to get a new copy of this album. My tape shit the bed a few years ago from to use and I have been trying to find downloads ever since. Everyone should give this a listen and go mosh.

Anonymous (February 24, 2005)

Racist crap that was somehow "funny" back in the eighties.

Speak english or die?

Anonymous (September 21, 2004)

mmmmm...Boston Hardcore....

Is anyone willing to challenge me that Jerry's Kids "Is this my world" was the best thing to ever have come out of boston?

Anonymous (September 19, 2004)

I saw SOD with skinlab (and unfortunately crowbar) on Halloween about 4 or 5 years ago and it was fucking amazing, while anthrax continued to delve deeper into hip hop SOD kept it real with the hardcore metal shit! No one really needs a review of this album though, if you have any respect for metal at all you've had this album for years already.
-notfeelingcreative

sprainedsoul (September 17, 2004)

I'm marchin' like the SOD to get some Goddamned Milk.

Anonymous (September 16, 2004)

my bad about the re-issue version. megaforce is known for some chintzy re-issues though. the vio-lence "oppressing the masses/torture tactics" cd is so lame.

FortyMinutesWest (September 16, 2004)

You're thinking of the platinum version that was released in 2000. This is vinyl only, and yes, the artwork is in color.

Anonymous (September 16, 2004)

first of all, this review kind of stinks since it doesn't mention anything about the re-issued version itself. condensed version: 2 extra studio tracks and a live set, lame artwork with no color.

second, to the people who dismissed this for being racist or because of some nazi following, scott ian and dan lilker are jewish. guess you and the nazis didn't get the joke.

third, i don't understand the detractors of crossover. i'm sure just about any new band you like is crossover, in the loose definition. do you really think anything is purely punk or metal or indie or whatever anymore? in the 80's a lot of people were getting into punk throught metal or vice versa, so i don't see why they wouldn't meld together eventually. besides, weren't bands allowed to progress? did anyone really want 3 more carbon copies of dri's first 7"? i happen to like "four of a kind" almost as much as "dealing with it."

fourth, all of gang green's stuff rules. they were the only boston band to do rock well. i don't see how "older budweiser" was that much different than "another wasted night." still great skate rock.