The Exploited - Troops Of Tomorrow (1982)

Troops of Tomorrow is one of the landmark punk albums to come from Britain. This album is connected to the Exploited possibly more than any other. It came directly after their legendary Top of the Pops performance, and several of these songs would go on to be covered by Slayer and Ice-T for the Judgment Night soundtrack. It may not have the hooks of the Damned or the clever lyrics of the Sex Pistols, but in its place they brought a brainless rage that has been one of the sore points for punk purists for years. Songs like "Sid Vicious Was Innocent" and the uninformed "War" are blatantly idiotic, but work on an entirely different level. These songs are from the gut, and honestly, they were just following in the footsteps of American punk, which had thrown cleverness out the window from the get-go. The thrashing guitars and chugging riffs would go on to influence countless bands, from like-minded American artists like SOD and Agnostic Front to fellow British hardcore heroes Discharge. The lyrics are mostly just politically inspired chanting, but the music laid the groundwork for most of the punk metal that followed. Fans of aggressive hardcore punk should try to add this to their collection. It is a classic of the genre that has held up well through the years.© Bradley Torreano /TiVo