Thrash metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo. The songs usually use fast percussive beats and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead guitar work. The lyrical subject matter often deals with criticisms of The Establishment and concern over the destruction of the environment, and at times shares a disdain for Christian dogma resembling that of their black metal counterparts. The language is typically direct and denunciatory, an approach borrowed from hardcore punk.
Among the Living is the third studio album by American thrash metal band Anthrax. It was released on March 22, 1987, by Megaforce Records in the US and by Island Records in the rest of the world. The album is dedicated to Cliff Burton of Metallica, who died in a bus accident six months before its release while on tour with Anthrax as the opening act.
Moshing is an extreme style of dancing in which participants push or slam into each other, typically performed to "aggressive" live music such as heavy metal and punk rock. Moshing usually happens in the centre of the crowd, generally closer to the stage, in an area called the "mosh pit". It is intended to be energetic and full of body contact.
Stormtroopers of Death was an American crossover thrash band formed in New York City in 1985. They are credited as being among the first bands to fuse hardcore punk with thrash metal into a style sometimes referred to as crossover thrash. The band is also known for reuniting Anthrax members Scott Ian (guitars) and Charlie Benante (drums) with their former bassist Dan Lilker. Their instrumental song "March of the SOD" from their 1985 debut album, Speak English or Die, was the Headbangers Ball intro anthem for many years. Another song from the same album, "Chromatic Death", was also used during the show as a segue between ads and videos.
Dirty Rotten Imbeciles is an American crossover thrash band that formed in Houston, Texas in 1982. The band is currently composed of two of its founding members, vocalist Kurt Brecht and guitarist Spike Cassidy, as well as drummer Rob Rampy and bass player Greg Orr.
Speak English or Die is the debut album by American crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death, released in August 1985.
Live at Budokan is a live album released by American crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death. The album is a recording of a one-off re-union gig put on by the band, and includes the majority of the longer tracks from their first album and some previously unheard tracks, as well as covers of the bands M.O.D., Ministry, Nirvana, and Fear. Although its title refers to Budokan, the famous Japanese concert hall, this album was actually recorded in New York City, the title is a play on Cheap Trick's seminal At Budokan live album from 1978. The concert happened at New York City venue The Ritz, where S.O.D. appeared alongside Agnostic Front and Morbid Angel.
Cryptic Slaughter is an American crossover thrash band based in Santa Monica, California, and originally formed in 1984.
Billy Milano is an American heavy metal and hardcore punk musician. He is the singer and occasionally guitarist and bassist of crossover thrash band M.O.D., and was the singer of its predecessor, Stormtroopers of Death. Prior to these bands, Milano played in early New York hardcore band the Psychos, which also launched the career of future Agnostic Front vocalist Roger Miret. Milano was also the singer of United Forces, which included his Stormtroopers of Death bandmate Dan Lilker. Milano managed a number of bands, including Agnostic Front, for whom he also co-produced the 1997 Epitaph Records release Something's Gotta Give.
Municipal Waste is an American crossover thrash band from Richmond, Virginia, formed in 2001. To date, the band has released six studio albums, three EPs and four splits. They have gone through several line-up changes, leaving vocalist Tony Foresta and rhythm guitarist Ryan Waste as the only constant members. In addition to Foresta and Waste, their current lineup includes Philip "Land Phil" Hall on bass, Dave Witte on drums and Nick "Nikropolis" Poulos on lead guitar.
M.O.D. is an American crossover thrash band from New York City, fronted by Stormtroopers of Death vocalist Billy Milano. The band has been around for 36 years, and released eight studio albums. With M.O.D., Milano sought to continue on the musical path of the bands Anthrax, Stormtroopers of Death (S.O.D.) and Nuclear Assault, mixing shades of hardcore punk with thrash metal and often humorous and politically incorrect lyrics.
Something's Gotta Give is the fifth full-length studio album by New York hardcore band Agnostic Front. It was released in June 1998 on Epitaph Records and follows 1995's Raw Unleashed compilation album. It is actually the first studio album since 1992's One Voice. The album was co-produced by Billy Milano, the frontman of crossover thrash bands S.O.D. and M.O.D.
U.S.A. for M.O.D. is the debut full-length studio album from American crossover thrash band, M.O.D. It was released in 1987 on Megaforce Records. In 1988, the band subsequently released the EP, Surfin' M.O.D..
Surfin' M.O.D. is an EP from American crossover thrash band, M.O.D. It was released in 1988 on Megaforce Records and follows 1987's debut album, U.S.A. for M.O.D. In 1989, the band subsequently released Gross Misconduct, their second full length-studio album.
Rhythm of Fear is the third full-length studio album from American crossover thrash band, M.O.D. It was released in 1992 on Megaforce Records and follows 1989's Gross Misconduct. In 1994, the band subsequently released Devolution.
Devolution is the fourth full-length studio album from American crossover thrash band, M.O.D. It was released in 1994 on Music For Nations and follows 1992's Rhythm of Fear.
Loved by Thousands, Hated by Millions is a compilation album of songs from American crossover thrash band, M.O.D. It was released in 1995 on Megaforce Records and contains material from the band's first three albums – U.S.A. for M.O.D., Gross Misconduct, and Rhythm of Fear – and the EP, Surfin' M.O.D.. It also contains a number of new songs which were previously not on any other album.
Dictated Aggression is the fifth full-length studio album from American crossover thrash band, M.O.D. It was released in 1996 on Music For Nations and follows 1994's studio album, Devolution. Blackout Records subsequently re-issued the album with a different cover and enhanced CD content of a live concert in France.
The Rebel You Love to Hate is the sixth full-length studio album from American crossover thrash band, M.O.D. It was released in 2003 on Nuclear Blast Records and follows 1996's Dictated Aggression. It was followed in 2007 by Red, White & Screwed The album saw longer songs and a harder sound and in the intervening years since their last album, a new guitarist and drummer, as Milano once again shuffled the personnel around him. The cover is a reference to the logo of The Michael Schenker Group.
Red White & Screwed is the seventh studio album from American crossover thrash band, M.O.D. It was released in 2007 on Index Entertainment and follows 2003's The Rebel You Love to Hate. After the release of the album Milano disbanded M.O.D., but they returned as a touring unit in 2013 and would not release another album until ten years later.
