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M.O.D. (Method of Destruction): Red, White & Screwed

If you are a fan of the Thrash/Hardcore scene then you already know the name of Billy Milano and are aware of his many accomplishments as singer for legendary crossover band S.O.D. (Stormtroopers Of Death) and his main band of the last couple of decades M.O.D. whose acronym stands for Method Of Destruction. As far as M.O.D. goes it's been about four years since the singer released an album with them and the new release finds him with a couple of new members along with music that raises the level of acerbic wit that he is most known for. The singer is second to none when it comes to the blending of social commentary with a wry sarcastic twist and we first heard this with S.O.D. most vividly during the "Ballad Of Jimi Hendrix" where the beginning chords of "Purple Haze" would begin only to be interjected by the only words in the song - "You're Dead". After achieving fame under that group's tour he created M.O.D. and released some of the most politically incorrect tunes on "U.S.A. for M.O.D." such as "Spandex Enormity" (a lament about obese women wearing spandex pants) and the supremely unacceptable by today's standard's "A.I.D.S." (with a real meaning I will spare the readers from seeing – just look it up). Needless to say once you heard what Milano had to say about anything you either loved him or hated him but could never easily forget him. He continued onto this to make fun of white suburban rap fans with "Wigga" and now on Red, White & Screwed he shows that he has not mellowed with age whatsoever.

The album follows in typical Milano fashion and is a blistering concoction of Hardcore speed mixed with Thrash Metal elements that will send you into the pit if you are a fan of the stuff. The Old School gets a nod during "Alphabet City Stomp" as he offers homage to the NYHC scene of days past and then he touches upon Immigration problems with "Jose Can You See". "Suicide Bomb Pop" and "Bullshit Politics" shows that Milano is certainly not taking any political factions side but maintains his own view on world events and its leadership. Throughout all of these statements you will find the underlying satirical essence to be very prevalent still and if anything all the more volatile. "G.L.E.T." or "Greatest Lie Ever Told" comes off as more of a Metal tune and finds Milano doing a King Diamond spoof which is pretty much dead on. I guess the real King Diamond was too busy to help him out on this one. Joining Milano in the group are Scott Sargeant (guitar), Derek "Lennon" Lopez (drums), and Dawson Clawson (bass). If you enjoyed the contributions that were made to music by S.O.D. and M.O.D. and still find yourself leaning a little more to the Hardcore edge even among the Gothic Operatic Sopranic Symphonics of today, then Billy Milano and his crew have just what the doctor ordered all wrapped up in a mosh-worthy steel toed boot to the head.


Track Listing
1. Balls On Bread
2. Alphabet City Stomp
3. Red, White & Screwed
4. Dance Around With Snakes
5. The Big It
6. Hardcore Harry
7. I Gotta Get Away
8. Speaking Truth To Power
9. Jose Can You See?
10. Suicide Bomb Pop
11. Bullshit Politics
12. We Are Nothing
13. G.L.E.T. (Greatest Lies Ever Told)
14. Goddess/Devil (bonus)

Added: September 2nd 2007
Reviewer: Ken Pierce
Score:
Related Link: Billy Milano Website
Hits: 5543
Language: english

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» SoT Staff Roundtable Reviews:

M.O.D. (Method of Destruction): Red, White & Screwed
Posted by Pete Pardo, SoT Staff Writer on 2007-09-02 08:00:57
My Score:

M.O.D. , and even S.O.D. for that matter, have always been a band that has been hard to take seriously. Since the late 80's, Billy Milano and his crew have released album after album of East Coast hardcore/thrash metal that's always been well-played, well-produced, and well-intentioned. Problem is, after a while all these songs start to sound the same, and Milano's mix of angry & comedic social commentary can get somewhat grating. That being said, Red, White & Screwed is a decent release, and although it offers up nothing new, will please fans who love the hardcore/metal sound of the late 80's & early 90's. That also is part of the problem-this stuff sounds really dated today,as Milano & his band seem stuck in a 1989 timewarp. Thankfully, there's a few very good moments here, like the excellent title track, which mixes NY styled hardcore with some melodic, dare I say progressive metal textures, the raging "The Big It" (get it?), the hilarious "Jose Can You See?", and the equally funny spoof on King Diamond called "G.L.E.T. (Greatest Lie Ever Told)". Give Milano props for getting former Laaz Rockit/Skinlab guitarist Scott Sargeant into the band, as he adds tons of meaty metal riffs throughout the album.

Despite those few highlights, there's still too much 'been there, heard that' on Red, White & Screwed. If you are looking for something that's going to set the hardcore & thrash world on fire, this ain't it, but if you still have a soft spot for 80's styled crossover sounds, then Mr. Milano has the goods for you right here.



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