Top Ten NYC/New Jersey Hardcore Punk Albums

New York, New York... that city my home state happens to be attached to. Like Boston, it is a haven for flat-brim hat and Tapout t shirt wearing, bulging tattooed bicep flexing douche-core bands. And like Boston, some of my favorite bands are the main culprits in helping to create this monster that calls itself hardcore. But never mind that, let's focus on the awesome side of this late-blooming American hardcore punk scene. Oh and some groups from New Jersey... everyone knows they're New York's radioactive landfill. Hell, the only way out of there is to make some kickass music (i.e. Bruce Springsteen or Frank Sinatra). And if I seem prejudiced, I am. Because as disturbing as The Jersey Shore is... that IS the reality of New Jersey, just add a shitload of smog, industrial parks and crazy drivers.

Honorable Mention: New York Thrash Compilation, Gorilla Biscuits, Crumbsuckers, Youth of Today, Cause For Alarm, Abused, Even Worse, Undead, The Mad, Murphy's Law and WarZone. Heads up, neither Nausea or Bad Brains will appear on this list. Nausea is a crust band so that is a different kettle of fish for me. And Bad Brains is harDCore from DC. They may have kickstarted the scene and recorded their debut album in NYC but they are a DC band just like MDC is a Texas band even though they moved to San Francisco.

1. AGNOSTIC FRONT - Victim In Pain

"WHY AM I GOING INSANE? WHY AM I THE ONE TO BLAME? WHY AM I THE ONE TO FUCKING BLAME!?!?

This is the quintessential New York Hardcore Punk album. No American hardcore collection isn't complete without this and the super short and thrashy "United Blood" EP [which are packaged together on the latest reissue of "Victim In Pain"]. This is easily Agnostic Front's finest hour and, in my opinion, Roger Miret's finest moment as a vocalist. He doesn't sound like Arnold Schwarzenegger puking up his spleen like he does on later releases. It's so powerful and amazing that almost everything else they did later disappoints you. Their lyrics are especially strong and don't fall victim to reactionary sentiments (see 'Cause For Alarm's song 'Public Assistance') and are quite intelligent. This album just rips from end to end and I highly recommend the reissue with the 'United Blood' EP.

"Totally ferocious, headbanging thrash from Agnostic Front. This LP is infinitely better than their debut EP "United Blood". The lyrics here are really strong, unity and brotherhood type lyrics. If you're not going wild smashing up the place while you're hearing this fearsome platter you must be numb. It's hard to pick a favorite cut on this and everybody's playing is top notch. One of the all time best thrash LPs. Fuck what people say about Agnostic Front, listen to this!"

-Greg C. (from Task, June 1985)

AGNOSTIC FRONT ~ Victim In Pain

2. MISFITS - Walk Among Us

"BRAINS. BRAINS FOR LUNCH. BRAINS FOR BREAKFAST. BRAINS FOR BRUNCH. BRAINS AT EVERY SINGLE MEAL WHY CAN'T WE HAVE SOME GUTS!?!?!?"

Catchy and bass heavy riffs? Check. The inimitable Jim Morrison style crooning of the one and only Glenn Danzig? Check. Woah-Oh chorus lines? Check. Apolitical good time b-horror lyrics? Check. In other words, it's perfect! How can you NOT fall madly in love with this album? It is PERFECT. It's ghoulish fun at its best and while they may have equaled it in their career they have never beat (though their last single 'Die Die My Darling' does give it a run for its money). From the manic madness thrash of '20 Eyes' to the Oi! piss-take 'Braineaters' these '77 originals decided to throw out angsty teenage lyrics and political stances and just have a hell of a lot of fun like every night was Halloween.

MISFITS ~ Skulls

3. Adrenalin O.D. - Let's Barbeque

"OLD PEOPLE TALK LOUD. WHAT? OLD PEOPLE SMELL BAD. WHAT? OLD PEOPLE WALK SLOW. WHAT? OLD PEOPLE COMPLAIN."

This is the kind of music like the Toy Dolls, the Vandals or the Adicts that zines love to call "funnypunk" and funny it certainly is. These Jerseyites have a twisted sense of humor that runs through their material. The music is speed of light thrash complimented by lyrics ranging from silly ('Old People Talk Loud') to humorous semi-serious social critique ('Trans-Am', 'Suburbia' and 'House Husband'). A.O.D. is all fun and is a welcome relief from all the very serious minded bands that dominate the NYC/ New Jersey scene.

"Excellent standard thrash from Jersey. The mischievous lyrics and ultra-dense guitar whoosh really set this EP apart. "Status Symbol" is all-around great, and "Trans Am" is a hilarious put-down of the spoiled rich brats who go cruisin' in their shitty gas guzzlers. I'm definitely looking forward to their next barbeque."

-Jeff Bale (from Maximum Rock'n'Roll, May/June 1983)

ADRENALIN O.D. ~ Suburbia

4. NIHILISTICS - Nihilistics LP

"STEAL FROM THE RICH BUT DON'T GIVE TO THE POOR. I'M NOT SATISFIED WITH WHAT I GOT. I'LL ALWAYS WANT MORE."

This is another case of truth in advertising. Just look at the lyric sample above. This is brutal, nasty, dirty and fucked up punk rock. Obviously these guys are not among the wealthier residents of their home of Long Island and if they are they are lying quite well. It sounds like grimy and mean like their lyrics. I don't know if these lyrics are satire (albeit much less tongue in cheek and sarcastic than the brilliant Dead Kennedys) or just someone purging some undiluted hatred from their soul. Either way, this album [repackaged with their debut EP as "13th Anniversary"] rips and commands your attention and demands your respect, or at the very least, your fear.

"Even though I don't always agree with their opinions, the Nihilistics provide more food for thought than 90% of today's hardcore bands. And their music is as brutal, uncompromising, and cacophonous as their lyrical assault. This great album is jam-packed with raw, intense blasts of a furor borne of futility. It certainly doesn't make for easy listening, but it rivets your attention and makes for provocative listening, which is ultimately a hell of a lot more important. A mandatory purchase."

-Jeff Bale (from Maximum Rocknroll, October/November 1983)

NIHILISTICS ~ Welfare For The Rich

5. REAGAN YOUTH - Youth Anthems For The New World Order

"FINAL SOLUTION TO ALL NEW ARYANS. DEATH TO THE NAZIS AND THE KU KLUX KLAN. ANARCHY IN THE FATHERLAND. ANARCHY FOR ALL NEW ARYANS. NO MASTER RACE IS GONNA RULE THIS LAND."

Ok. Let's get this straight first. Reagan Youth are not Reagan fans and are definitely NOT white supremacists/separatists. They hate conservatism, nationalism, racism and fascism with a burning hatred. They use these visual cues as satire. RY is one of the most criminally underrated punk bands in America which is a damn shame considering their strong anarchist stance and catchy songs that you can sing along to as you go ape. Absolutely required. [This was later packaged with 4 more songs as 'Volume 1' which was later packaged with the more metal leaning 'Volume 2' as 'A Collection Of Pop Classics' which is essential listening and buying].

"The long-awaited REAGAN YOUTH record is finally out, and it's well worth the wait. They've produced an ultra-primitive, trashy attack with an amazingly raw guitar sound that reminds me of Florida's F. Add to that a social consciousness willing to confront both reaction and apathy, and it's impossible to fail. Their anthemic theme song "Reagan Youth" brilliantly captures the mindless idolatry of today's young Republicans, and the other tracks are almost equally appealing. A must."

-Jeff Bale (from Maximum Rocknroll, March 1985)

REAGAN YOUTH ~ New Aryans

6. THE CRO-MAGS - Age of Quarrel

"YOU'RE GONNA TAKE A FALL. AND I DON'T CARE AT ALL. STAB ME IN THE BACK. SOMEONE I TRUSTED. LET'S SET THINGS STRAIGHT. DON'T TREAD ON ME."

The Cro-Mags are one of the bands (like Agnostic Front or Sick Of It All) who define New York Hardcore past and present. It is a hardcore punk album with the heaviness of a metal record and not as much the crossover/speed metal sound they used on their next album 'Best Wishes' and beyond. Another thing that distinguishes the Cro-Mags from their peers is their spiritual beliefs. While religion and hardcore haven't always been exclusive (their mentors the Bad Brains are Rastafarian after all), it is quite unique that John Joseph and Harley Flanagan of the Cro-Mags are sincere practicing Hare-Krishna's. The title of the album is actually a reference to a Hare-Krishna prophecy. However, this album is like the little guys in orange robes who hand you flowers at airports. This is a brutal album that while having spiritual overtones (i.e. 'Do Unto Others') is about survival on the mean streets of New York City. Hard hitting and damn good. [Age of Quarrel can only be found as a two for one deal with their second album 'Best Wishes']

CRO-MAGS ~ Don't Tread On Me

7. PRONG - Primitive Origins

"THE WAYS OF YOUR WAY. I'M LOST IN DISBELIEF. HOW CAN YOU BREATHE FREELY AND LOOK AT WHAT YOU SEE?"

The only thing that I can think of is that Prong KNEW what they were going to do. Prong is more widely known as one of thrash metal's more progressive and technical bands but on "Primitive Origins" they were slightly metallic and very heavy hardcore punk. This album gets dismissed by many critics just like the Beastie Boys punk years as an interesting novelty with little musical value. But like the Beastie Boys early work, this album is unfairly judged in the light of their later work. You can't compare a raw and punky album like 'Primitive Origins' with a progressive thrash classic like 'Beg To Differ' just like you can't compare 'Polliwog Stew' with 'Licensed To Ill'. This is metallic hardcore at it's best.

PRONG ~ Primitive Origins

8. URBAN WASTE - Self-Titled EP

"EVERY TIME I GO OUT AND HANG OUT WITH MY FRIENDS, IT ALWAYS ENDS UP THE SAME OLD WAY WITH A NIGHT STICK ACROSS MY HEAD. POLICE!!! BRUTALITY!!!"

Urban Waste belongs to a small group of bands who based their approach and sound on low sound fidelity and speed. While many bands recorded that way out of necessity, some bands tried (i.e. Bristol U.K.'s Disorder) for that approach and were able to record it just right so it was as raw and crazy as possible without taking away from the songs. Urban Waste is one of those bands and this, their first and only release, is an absolute essential.

 "Intense adrenaline blasts with some choppy, discordant lead breaks. Urban Waste create quite a guitar wall-of-sound, and the songs start to click after only a couple of listens. They also deserve to win an award for the funniest and cleverist "sexist" song in ages ("Banana-Nut Cake"). Get it."

-Jeff Bale (from Maximum Rocknroll, July/August 1983)

 

 URBAN WASTE ~ Police Brutality

HEART ATTACK - God Is Dead

Heart Attack, like the early work of Prong and The Beastie Boys, is unjustly relegated as a novelty due to the future indie pop career of its lead singer Jesse Malin. It is also considered the first thrash punk record from NYC "unless you consider the Bad Brains a New York outfit." (Jeff Bale, MRR). Fast loud and snotty thrash punk with aped Brit vocals and a killer attitude. A must have.

"Don't get this confused with Hard Attack. Heart Attack is one of the greatest New York hardcore bands. They're incredible, a teenage trio that will blast your ears off. They've got the fresh intensity that it takes to make the most exciting kind of hardcore sounds. Their music is loud, fast, and very powerful. The record starts off with "You," a ferocious fuck you song. Both this and the second song, "Shotgun," use the title as a shouted group chorus, which kinda makes them sound like some of the Brisith Oi stuff, but overall both have a very distinctive sound. However the flipside, an atheistic anthem called "God is Dead," sounds a lot like the Circle Jerks. But it's great in its own way. An outstanding record."

-Tim Tonooka (from Ripper, December 1981)

10. Sick Of It All - Blood, Sweat & No Tears

"FREEDOM - A RIGHT I'LL ALWAYS HAVE ONE THAT NO ONE CAN TAKE AWAY NO MATTER WHAT IT IS THEY TRY."

Sick Of It All is the quintessential metalcore band. Along with positive straight-edge bands such as Youth of Today and Gorilla Biscuits, Sick Of It All dictated the direction of NYHC in the late 80's and set the tone for modern hardcore. While I generally shy away from this brand of punk which has become a breeding ground for macho shitheads, this album rips. It also doesn't hurt that while it is heavy it is WAY more punk than metal. Something that isn't true of their later work. And an awesome cameo from 'Blastmaster' KRS-One is an awesome addition to an already stellar hardcore record. While I may not like the style that this album spawned, I cannot deny that this isn't an amazing album.

SICK OF IT ALL ~ Bullshit Justice