UMUR "Best Wishes" is the 2nd full-length studio album by US, New York based hardcore/crossover thrash metal act Cro-Mags. The album was released through Profile Records in April 1989. It´s the successor to "The Age of Quarrel" from 1986 and features two lineup changes since the predecessor as lead vocalist John Joseph Bloodclot has left and bassist Harley Flanagan has taken up the vocal duties in addition to playing bass. Drummer Mackie has been replaced by Pete Hines.

Stylistically "Best Wishes" is quite different to the powerful hardcore style of "The Age of Quarrel (1986)". I´m often reminded of contemporary Suicidal Tendencies and at times contemporary Megadeth, although Cro-Mags are still obviously a New York hardcore act playing thrash metal. Flanagan has a personal delivery, but not the strongest or most interesting voice, but the instrumental part of the music is generally very strong, featuring powerful thrashy riffs (and quite a few which are more traditional heavy metal styled), blistering melodic guitar solos and motifs (at times it sounds like Rocky George makes a guest appearance), and a well playing rhythm section. The latter still often play hardcore tinged beats, so it´s one of the elements of the music which points backwards to the band´s hardcore past.

The songwriting is strong and relatively varied for the genre. "The Only One" is a sort of power ballad (...not really but I don´t know how else to describe it), and a track like "Crush the Demoniac" is pretty much tradtional heavy metal through and through, while other tracks are more hard edged and thrashy. The real winner here though is the sound production, which to my ears is quite brillant. Powerful, clear, and sharp, featuring a very well sounding guitar tone and great bass bottom. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

UMUR "The Age of Quarrel" is the debut full-length studio album by US, New York based hardcore act Cro-Mags. The album was released through Profile Records in July 1986. Cro-Mags were formed in 1982 and are widely considered one of the most influential hardcore/crossover thrash metal acts from the 80s. Cro-Mags released the "Age of Quarrel" demo in 1985. Many of the tracks from the demo appear on "The Age of Quarrel" in re-recorded versions.

Stylistically the material on the 15 track, 33:41 minutes long album is hardcore/crossover thrash metal featuring lyrics dealing with subjects like politics, street violence and social issues, world conflicts and inner struggles. The music is driven forward by relatively simple yet powerful hardcore punked riffs (occasionally a bit more thrash metal oriented), raw powerful drumming, and the distinct sounding rough shouting vocals of John Joseph Bloodclot. The man is clearly not a trained singer, but his delivery is quite charming in it´s own raw primal way.

Most tracks are short and to the point, but the album is relatively varied within the confines of the genre with both faster-paced and mid-paced heavy tracks, and even an occasional guitar solo thrown in. "The Age of Quarrel" opens with the strong trio of tracks "We Gotta Know", "world Peace", and "Show You No Mercy" (the latter features an obvious Suicidal Tendencies influence in the riff department), but all tracks on the album are quality hardcore/crossover thrash metal. The unpolished and raw sound production provides the music with authenticity and the right conditions for the band´s hardcore "street" attitude to shine. It´s probably not an album which took long to record, and I wouldn´t be surprised if the vocal tracks were one-takes.

So this is for the listener who favors authenticity, rawness, and to the point songwriting, rather than polished productions and sophisticated complexity. Cro-Mags make a strong entry on the scene with "The Age of Quarrel", and as far as debut albums go, this one is a bit of a gem. A 3.5 - 4 star (75%) raring is deserved.