punk.cat: AGNOSTIC FRONT

Saturday, 7 June 2014

AGNOSTIC FRONT

"victim in pain"
Year: 1984
Label: Rat cage
Format: LP, CD
Tracks: 11
Time: 29 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Hardcore Punk

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"cause of alarm"
Year: 1986
Label: Century Media
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 10
Time: 23 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Hardcore Punk

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"liberty & justice for..."
Year: 1987
Label: Rough & Justice
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 11
Time: 26 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Hardcore

This was the third long album of AGNOSTIC FRONT and the band further explored the "crossover" direction they had begun on their previous albums, whilst still keeping the songs to the bare minimum duration-wise. Almost wholesale changes in line-up had taken place since the previous album with the rhythm section and second guitar slot all seeing new players. I personally think this is the most important album in the career of the band due its new and modern sound and production, an excellent work in 1987. Despite this "metalization" of the sound the AGNOSTIC FRONT songs continued to be short, direct and fast, very fast. The album has only 26 minutes and the last song "Crucified", was a cover of the band Iron Cross, so, just 10 tracks.

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"one voice"
Year: 1992
Label: Roadrunner
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 12
Time: 32 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Hardcore

Fourth long album of this legendary band in our history. I wanted to reviewed in this net-zine because I think is an high quality work in many aspects but in opposite is quite forgot for the most of the hardcore / punk scene. In fact we can affirm without doubt this is perhaps the Agnostic Front' s album close to crossover, thrash and metal sound in general. But despite this fact, it continue to be a hardcore album: lyrics, attitud, songs, etc. I started discovered HC/punk more or less in 1992 and I remember this album sounded very modern and innvovated. The other great bands from early 90's were Madball, Sick Of It All and Downset.

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"something's gotta give"
Year: 1998
Label: Epitaph
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 15
Time: 38 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Hardcore Punk

From the founding fathers of New York Hardcore "Something's Gotta Give" is without a doubt one of AF's finest recordings ever. It skillfully blends the rawness and power of their early releases with the maturity they now posses. The title track sets the pace. Brutally aggressive music with smart lyrics and catchy choruses. Some outstanding tracks are the title track, "believe and voices," the sure to please "gotta go," with back up vocals by label mates Rancid, and surprisingly, the classic iron cross song "crucified" a stable in their live shows.

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"riot, riot, upstart"
Year: 1999
Label: Epitaph
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 17
Time: 29 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Hardcore Punk

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"dead yuppies"
Year: 2001
Label: Epitaph
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 14
Time: 33 min.
Genre: rock

Style: Hardcore Punk

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"another voice"
Year: 2004
Label: Nuclear Blast
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 14
Time: 28 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Hardcore Punk

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"warriors"
Year: 2007
Label: Nuclear Blast
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 14
Time: 32 min.
Genre: rock

Style: Hardcore

Some may argue that Agnostic Front's tenth studio album, 2007's Warriors, sounds like just another day at the office for joint CEOs, vocalist Roger Miret and Vinnie Stigma, and their suitably tattooed subordinates. But when a band has been this successful at the business of producing classic, crossover hardcore ass-kickings for their loyal consumers, well, outside observers may just want to keep their mouths shut and be thankful that their own jobs cover health insurance -- it could come in handy if they cross the wrong person here. Such is life at Agnostic Front Public Works, Inc.: a not-for-profit organization (get it? the band has never seen a cent for their efforts) devoted to all sorts of social activism ("Outrage," "We Want the Truth"), community services ("For my Family," "All These Years"), and a few tough love lessons about the code of the street ("Black and Blue," "Revenge") mixed in for good measure (no one likes a goody two shoes). At times, the band's approach may even seem a little too preachy, with impassioned entreaties like "Change Your Ways," "Forgive Me, Mother," and opener "Addiction" (where the band shouts "Save yourself!" to all who will listen) adding up to a veritable roll call of public service announcements. Heck, all that's missing is a bonus video of Miret asking "It's ten o'clock...do you know where your children are?" -- and that'll probably crop up on their next album. All kidding aside, though, at least Agnostic Front are focusing on largely positive and empowering messages versus the prevalent pessimism of yesteryear. And since, musically speaking, they've also stopped straying from the violent simplicity that's always served them best, the future still looks bright for the Agnostic Front corp., and, by extension, the entire NYHC industry (*Review by Eduardo Rivadavia ).

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