“agnostic_front”
Agnostic Front
Riot Riot Upstart
Epitaph
A hardcore institution for no less than 17 years, New York’s Agnostic Front appears no worse for the wear on its latest, Riot Riot Upstart . Slicing a few songs out of Riot’s context might prove to be a bit disorienting at first, for AF have a go at a (relatively) diverse platter of styles – all emanating from the punk and hardcore undergrounds, of course. From the proto-NYHC blur of the Victim in Pain debut to the overtly metallic din of One Voice , AF covers all its previous, well-tread bases and then some, including street-punk, Oi!, and Lifetime-esque posi-core. But hand it to the band’s endurance and professionalism, because the Front does an absolutely seamless job of it, making Riot ‘s 17 tracks a barrage of swift kicks that are as vital as any in the hardcore microcosm today.
Epitaph Records, 2789 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90026
