M.O.D.
M.O.D. (abbreviation for Method of Destruction) is a crossover thrash band from New York City, fronted by Stormtroopers of Death vocalist Billy Milano. The band has been around for 34 years (minus one hiatus from 1997 to 2001),[1] and released eight studio albums. With M.O.D., Milano sought to continue on the musical path of the bands Anthrax, Stormtroopers of Death and Nuclear Assault, mixing shades of hardcore punk with thrash metal and often humorous and politically incorrect lyrics.
M.O.D. | |
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| Also known as | Method of Destruction |
| Origin | New York City, United States |
| Genres | Crossover thrash, thrash metal |
| Years active | 1986–1997, 2001–present |
| Labels |
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| Associated acts | |
| Website | milanomosh |
| Members | Billy Milano Jason "Ginchy" Kottwitz Tim Casterline Michael Arellano Ben Ballard |
| Past members |
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History
First four albums (1986–1993)
U.S.A. for M.O.D., the band's debut album, was produced by S.O.D. bandmate and Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian. The first track, "Aren't You Hungry?", a reworking of an unrecorded S.O.D. song, is notable for the lyric "fuck those niggers' charity," referring to the then-common famine relief activism such as "We Are the World". Later the band apologized.
M.O.D.'s second effort, Surfin' M.O.D., was an anomaly, featuring little thrash metal, focusing more on humorous cover songs and a beach party atmosphere. The band would return to their roots on Gross Misconduct, as well as further expand their sound on Rhythm of Fear. It was around this time that Milano performed a reunion show with S.O.D. at The Ritz in New York City.
Devolution, Dictated Aggression and hiatus (1994–1999)
The following releases, Devolution and Dictated Aggression, suffered from poor distribution and going out of print, despite Milano's heavier style and more serious lyrics. The albums were eventually reissued on Blackout Records in 2004.
Following M.O.D.'s split in 1997, Milano reformed S.O.D., who released a subsequent album, Bigger than the Devil, in 1999.
Reunions (2001–present)
In 2001, Milano reformed M.O.D. with a new lineup, and two years later, released The Rebel You Love to Hate, somewhat of a return to Milano's humorous past with jabs at white suburban rap fans and the War on Terrorism. M.O.D. relocated to Austin, Texas, and released the album Red, White & Screwed in October 2007 through Index Entertainment, and launched a supporting tour in summer 2008. The band played its final touring show in the United States on September 13, 2008, however the band still performs periodically (mostly in Austin, Texas, where Billy currently resides).
In May 2013, Milano announced a 25th Anniversary Tour dubbed "The Mexicans on Duty Tour" featuring the band's new lineup.[2]
As early as 2014, M.O.D. began working on their eighth studio album, titled Busted, Broke & American, and later that year, they offered a free download of their first song in seven years "Hermano".[3] In May 2015, the group disbanded due to Billy Milano wanting to focus on his private life. All tours and album plans were cancelled as a result. A month later, however, Milano announced that M.O.D. was still together and planning to finish work on Busted, Broke & American, followed by a tour in support of it. On January 5, 2017, Milano announced that the recording of Busted, Broke & American was finished, and it would be M.O.D.'s final album. The album was released on July 7, 2017, and is M.O.D.'s first release on Megaforce Records since the 1995 compilation album Loved by Thousands, Hated by Millions.[4][5] The album has been referred to as the "Chinese Democracy of crossover thrash", due to its various delays.[6]
When asked in a March 2018 interview if Busted, Broke & American is their final album, or there will be a follow-up album, then-bassist Jason French said, "I believe there will be another album. In talking to Billy, he has some things in the works he wants to accomplish and I want to be part of those things as well. If things work out the way we would like them to, I think people are going to be blown away about what’s in store for the future."[7]
Members
Current
- Billy Milano – vocals
- Rob Moschetti – bass guitar
- Michael Arrellano – drums
- Jason French – guitar
Previous
- Tim McMurtrie – guitar
- Louis Svitek – guitar
- Sean Kilkenny – guitar
- Tommy Klimchuck – guitar
- John Pereksta – guitar, bass
- Joe Young – guitar
- Joe Affe – guitar
- Bernard Langendorf – guitar
- Ken Ballone – bass
- Jeff Wood – bass
- Jake Landrau – bass
- Adam Morris - skin flute
- John Monte – bass
- Chris "Dawson Clawson" Dawson – bass, vocals
- Tim Casterline – bass
- David "Ziggy" Reinhardt – drums
- Keith Davis – drums
- Tim Mallare – drums
- Dave Chavarri – drums
- Tony Scaglione – drums
- Darren Verpeut – drums
- Danny "DNA" Burkhardt – drums
- Derek "Lennon" Lopez – drums
Discography
| Year | Title | Label | Chart peak[8] |
| 1987 | U.S.A. for M.O.D. | Megaforce Records | 153 |
| 1988 | Surfin' M.O.D. (EP) | 186 | |
| 1989 | Gross Misconduct | 151 | |
| 1992 | Rhythm of Fear | — | |
| 1994 | Devolution | Music for Nations | — |
| 1995 | Loved by Thousands, Hated by Millions (compilation) | Megaforce Records | — |
| 1996 | Dictated Aggression | Music for Nations | — |
| 2003 | The Rebel You Love to Hate | Nuclear Blast Records | — |
| 2007 | Red, White & Screwed | Index Entertainment | — |
| 2017 | Busted, Broke & American | Megaforce Records | — |
References
- "Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives - M.O.D". The Metal Archives. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-08-22. Retrieved 2017-02-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "M.O.D. Moshing Europe 2014". Milanomosh.com. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
- "An update from Billy". Milanomosh.com. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
- "M.O.D. Announce First Album in 10 Years". Ultimate-Guitar.com. April 26, 2017. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
- "Mod Stream New Song Busted Broke American". Screamingguitars.com. 24 May 2017. Archived from the original on 27 October 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- "MOD Moshing Europe 2014 - Pics, footage and more..." Milanomosh.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
- "M.O.D. - Chart history | Billboard". Billboard.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
External links
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