CRO-MAGS — The Age Of Quarrel (review)

CRO-MAGS — The Age Of Quarrel album cover Album · 1986 · Hardcore Punk Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
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.
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