Review by Sonny for S.O.D. - Speak English or Die (1985)

S.O.D. or Stormtroopers of Death were a four-piece crossover band consisting of Anthrax's Scott Ian, Dan Lilker and Charlie Benante with Billy Milano of hardcore band The Psychos (and later M.O.D.) on vocals, formed as an outlet for the Anthrax guys' love of hardcore punk. I've always been partial to a bit of hardcore myself, Bad Brains, Sick of It All, Minor Threat and early Suicidal Tendencies have all released some of my favourite records and at the time I was well into Speak English or Die. But... that was a long time ago.
The album actually starts off pretty well kicking off with the instro March of the S.O.D. leading into Sargent "D" & the S.O.D. sounding a lot like hyper-charged tracks from Among the Living with punky vocals. In fact the album isn't all that bad until we get to Anti-Procrastination Song then things go downhill fast, it's six seconds presumably lampooning Napalm Death's You Suffer and from then on the juvenile humour takes over and things get tedious. What's that Noise? has, like a noise in it that's really annoying... geddit? Premenstrual Princess, Pussy Whipped and the oh so hilarious Ballad of Jimi Hendrix are cringeworthy. By the time you add in the pointless Hey Gordy! and Diamonds and Rust (Extended Version) your intelligence has probably been insulted enough for one record.