Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

Speak English or Die

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Length
  
29:41

Artist
  
Stormtroopers of Death

Label
  
Megaforce Records

Speak English or Die (1985)
  
Live at Budokan (1992)

Release date
  
30 August 1985

Producers
  
Alex Perialas, Scott Ian

Speak English or Die assetsblabbermouthnets3amazonawscommediasod

Released
  
August 30th, 1985 1995 re-issue 2000 Platinum re-issue

Genres
  
Thrash metal, Hardcore punk, Crossover thrash

Similar
  
Stormtroopers of Death albums, Thrash metal albums

S o d speak english or die full album


Speak English or Die is the debut studio album by the crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death (S.O.D.), released in August 1985. After Anthrax finished recording Spreading the Disease, there was still some studio time left, so members Scott Ian and Charlie Benante called some friends, practiced some songs, and recorded it all within a week.

Contents

The album was re-released by Megaforce in August 1995 and a platinum edition of the album was released in February 2000. Speak English or Die has sold over 1 million copies worldwide. The album had some controversy due to the politically incorrect lyrics. Dan Lilker stated, "The lyrics were never intended to be serious, just to piss people off."

Parts of the songs, "March of the S.O.D.", "Milano Mosh", "Chromatic Death," and "Sargent D and the S.O.D.", were used for commercial breaks of MTV's Headbanger's Ball in the early 1990s.

S o d speak english or die full album


Reception

Speak English or Die was well received and is considered one of the greatest and most influential crossover thrash albums of all time. Allmusic gave the album 4.5 stars out of 5 and said, "S.O.D.'s Speak English or Die was an important record in the fusion of hardcore punk with thrash and speed metal".

In August 2014, Revolver placed Speak English or Die on its "14 Thrash Albums You Need to Own" list.

Track listing

All tracks written by S.O.D.

1992 re-issue bonus track

  1. "Ram It Up" – 1:21

2000 re-issue bonus studio tracks

  1. "Identity" – 2:50
  2. "Go" – 1:07

2000 re-issue live bonus tracks recorded in Tokyo, 1999

  1. "March of the S.O.D."/"Sargent D and the S.O.D." – 4:25
  2. "Kill Yourself" – 4:08
  3. "Milano Mosh" – 2:09
  4. "Speak English or Die" – 4:31
  5. "Fuck the Middle East"/"Douche Crew" – 3:11
  6. "Not"/"Momo"/"Taint"/"The Camel Boy"/"Diamonds and Rust"/"Anti-Procrastination Song" – 1:24
  7. "Milk" – 4:08
  8. "United Forces pt.I" – 2:01
  9. "United Forces pt.II" – 2:05
  10. "Ram It Up" – 1:22 (Bonus Studio Hidden Track)

2015 30th anniversary edition bonus track

  1. "Crab Society North Demos" -14:48

Comparison with bootlegs from this era showed that the live tracks were recorded live at Club Citta in Kawasaki on 5 June 1999, except for United Forces part I & part II, that were recorded at Club Citta on 7 June 1999. S.O.D. also played on 8 June 1999 at Club Citta, completing a 3-night stint at the legendary venue.

Credits

  • Billy Milano – Vocals
  • Scott Ian – Guitars, backing vocals
  • Dan Lilker – Bass, backing vocals
  • Charlie Benante – Drums, guitar solo on "United Forces"

    • Songs

    1March of the SOD1:27
    2Sargent 'D' & the SOD2:24
    3Kill Yourself2:11

    References

    Speak English or Die Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA