M.O.D. - The Rebel You Love To Hate
2003 Century Media
by Horatio

Quick Summary:
It comes as a surprise to me that I actually have this CD. Century Media sent it to me earlier this year and I reviewed it for another website, and the fact I haven't listened to it since doesn't say much for its longevity.  Milano resurrected the M.O.D. name after S.O.D. dissolved acrimoniously, and Milano was right in claiming that Scott Ian ruined them with his weak guitar tone which didn't have much to do with metal.

There's nothing here Milano hasn't explored on previous albums, as he parodies certain bands, including Rage Against The Machine, Rammstein and Limp Bizkit.  To be honest this approach grew stale sometime back and basically this sounds like previous M.O.D. albums, a mish mash of hardcore and metal.  It's superior to the awful 'Dictated Aggression' of 1996, but falls far short of the standards set by 'Devolution' and 'Surfin' M.O.D.'.  It's handy I was sent this, because there's no chance I would ever buy it, or download it for that matter.  This was anonymous on release and remains so.  For hardcore Milano freaks only.

Website:  www.billymilano.com

Song Summaries:

1. Wigga - Billy takes to task all the white boys pretending to be black, in a musical manner that apes Limp Bizkit.  For Billy to actually create a song regarding this topic, he must really care, because I don't.  C
2. The Rebel You Love To Hate - Apparently Billy still thinks people regard him as controversial.  Maybe in 1988 through tracks like 'A.I.D.S.', but in 2003 Milano is hardly at the forefront of any scene.  Standard M.O.D. material, heavy but hardly anything obsessive.  C
3. Makin' Friends Is Fun - Another contemporary tale, this time about immigrants and Billy's dislike for them.  I'd love to share his view, but wasn't he treading this territory in 1985 with 'Speak English Or Die'?  The whole act is stale, just like the music.  I couldn't force myself to headbang to this.  C-
4. De Men Of Stein - Milano might as well be the 'Weird' Al Yankovic of metal through his unfunny parodies.  This is pure joke metal.  Once again, funny in 1989, but futile now.  Here he vaguely hints that Rammstein have fascist overtones.  Well damn them Billy, eh! D
5. Rage Against The Mac Machine - Billy's really opened my eyes here.  Did you know that RATM are hypocrites because they supposedly eschew commercialism and corporate shenanigans yet still make millions of dollars through their music?  Does Billy know RATM split up about three years ago and are long forgotten?  When was this song made?  I think Billy assumes a legion of metalheads are nodding their heads in agreement with him as he rants about their double standards.  Problem is you can count the sales of this on three hands.  Bad, very bad.  D
6. Get Ready - This time a Kiss tribute!  Why not find your own ideas Billy!  All Milano has done is rewrite every 70's Kiss song and tried to pass it off as an original composition.  I have a sense of humour, but this is so pathetic I can't laugh.  D
7. Ass-Ghanistan - Ha ha!  What a play on words Billy, must have taken two seconds to conjure that up!  He probably burst out laughing after it.  This could actually be classified as heavy, but it's too late.  Milano's anti-Arab sentiments wear thin, 'fuck Jihad' he bellows adding 'let's nuke Ass-Ghanistan'.  Just make sure Billy's there when you do.  C
8. He's Dead Jim - Remember this oldie but a goodie from years back?  It wasn't even funny back in '95 or whenever it was.  Recycled tripe.  Believe it or not, that's it.  Eight tracks.  Seven really, as this isn't new.  The CD also contains a 'bonus', 'live' version of 'Get Ready', an '808' and 'radio' version of 'Rebel' (what station played it?) and radio edits of 'Rage' and 'Wigga'.  That's how Century Media compensated for Billy's lack of ideas, by slightly retouching already lifeless songs.  F
   

Average Song Rating:  D+
Overall Album Rating:  D

Also be sure to read:
S.O.D. - Bigger Than The Devil Quick Review by Horatio