It's been 14 long years since Stormtroopers of Death, better known as S.O.D., released their irreverent hardcore/metal debut, "Speak English or Die." Now Charlie Benante, Scott Ian, Dan Lilker and Billy Milano have reunited, ready to crush new recruits on "Bigger Than the Devil." It's not as devastatingly brutal as the first CD, and Ian's guitar sound is much different this go-round. Only Benante's blistering beats and Milano's vocals dig up the preferred past.
Still "Devil" offers a few of the same glorious tricks that made their debut a classic -- a handful of three- and four-second tracks and hardcore lyrics that would make most people blush. "Charlie Don't Cheat" is one of the band's fastest songs, ever, showing off Benante's talents on the skins. Other worthy tracks are "Black War," "Every Tiny Molecule," "Shenanigans" (about Ian's run-in with the law), "Ballad of Phil H." and "Celtic Frosted Flakes." Hopefully we won't have to wait another 14 years for S.O.D. to put out another gem.
