Angry Corpses, formed in 1984 by Ken “Corpse” Ballone, were the predecessors to the influential NYHC crossover band M.O.D. In 1987, Ballone and Tim McMurtrie joined forces with S.O.D. frontman Billy Milano to form Method of Destruction (M.O.D.). That same year, M.O.D. released the crossover thrash classic U.S.A. for M.O.D. on Megaforce Records. Much of the music and lyrics on the album were written by Ballone and McMurtrie.