The heavy metal side project that accidentally invented a genre
In short: In 1985, a New York comic strip came to life as a musical experiment. What began as an inside joke between Anthrax members evolved into Stormtroopers of Death, a band that fused hardcore punk with thrash metal to create the crossover thrash movement.
The project originated from the sketches of guitarist Scott Ian. While working on Anthrax's second album, Spreading the Disease, Ian drew a character named "Sargent D," an undead, cigar-choking G.I. accompanied by provocative slogans like "Speak English or Die." This character became the mascot for a new musical venture involving Ian, Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante, former bassist Dan Lilker, and vocalist Billy Milano.
Their 1985 debut, Speak English or Die, was recorded and mixed in just three days for Megaforce Records. The album became a landmark of the crossover thrash genre, even serving as the long-running intro anthem for MTV's Headbangers Ball. The band's influence was profound; industrial metal pioneer Al Jourgensen of Ministry credited the album with inspiring him to integrate thrash into his own music, and drummer Charlie Benante noted that the track "Milk" featured some of the first uses of blast beats in the genre.
Despite their controversial, explicitly offensive lyrics, the band members maintained that the content was never intended to be serious. Bassist Dan Lilker described the lyrics as a way to "piss people off," while Ian characterized the songs as a "big inside joke." While the band experienced several periods of inactivity and various split-ups, their legacy remains cemented through influential covers and the enduring impact of their early, high-energy fusion of punk and metal.
The band's history is marked by sporadic reunions, ranging from a 1992 live release to the 1999 studio album Bigger Than the Devil. Although vocalist Billy Milano suggested the 2007 release Rise of the Infidels would be their final work, the members have occasionally reunited for benefits or special performances, proving that the 'anti-band' concept continues to resonate decades after its inception.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Stormtroopers of Death
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