Sean McLennan

A scene from The Sandlot comes to mind when thinking about how NYHC legends Agnostic Front should be brought up in conversation - especially to anyone within the world of hardcore punk who is unfamiliar with the name. You know the scene: when the group of kids dramatically explain to the clueless lead character who Babe Ruth is? “The Sultan of Swat! The King of Crash! The Colossus of Clout! Babe Ruth! The Great Bambino!” That whole bit? Well, Agnostic Front demands that same exact level of respect and reverence whenever being discussed.

Emerging out of the rough and lawless streets of NYC’s Lower East Side in the 1980s, Agnostic Front channeled the chaos of their surroundings into what began as a raw expression of punk music, but quickly became highly influential. With their seminal 1983 debut EP, United Blood, their foundational full-length Victim In Pain, and pivotal records such as Cause For Alarm, Something’s Gotta Give, Another Voice, and Get Loud!, Agnostic Front not only helped define the NYHC sound but continues to inspire countless hardcore bands to this day. 

Today, Agnostic Front are hailed as the Godfathers of Hardcore, specifically key figures and longtime members, guitarist and NY legend Vinnie Stigma and commanding frontman Roger Miret, for their massive impact on the hardcore scene worldwide. However, that title extends to the band as a whole, which includes veteran bassist Mike Gallo, seasoned guitarist Craig Silverman, and explosive drummer Danny Lamagna.

The band’s extensive discography is a testament to more than just their ability to make music. It’s rooted in an unrivaled commitment to their fans, the city of New York, speaking out against corruption, and preserving the integrity of the hardcore community so many of us love and cherish.

That commitment is on full display in their latest release, Echoes In Eternity. The hardcore heavyweights unleash 15 deeply personal and politically charged bangers, encapsulating the hardened intensity, voice-raising melodies, and punk attitude this band has been pouring into their music for over four decades.

If Echoes In Eternity proves anything, it’s that Agnostic Front refuse to rest on their laurels. And when the band approaches writing new music, it’s not about appeasing fans who cling tightly to the classics or even pushing themselves to try something brand new. According to vocalist Roger Miret - plain and simple: “We do whatever feels right for us.”

He continues, “If you listen to Echoes in Eternity, to me, it feels like a discography record for Agnostic Front. It has a little bit of everything from us. Sure, there’s definitely people who are stuck on the earlier records. I love my first and second album, too, but as a musician and as a person who wants to say stuff, you know - I got a lot to say, I got a lot to write about and I enjoy being able to do that. I don’t want to be stuck in one time period. There’s no growth there for someone to be creative, and I like that creativity.”

The band’s 13th studio album comes loaded with everything an AF fan could hope for, and then some. Groove-laden slammers like “Matter of Life & Death” and “Turn Up the Volume” sit alongside the blood pumping beatdowns of “You Say” and “Divided.” Not to mention, the asskicking aggression of tracks like “Art of Silence, “Tears For Everyone,” and “Evolution of Madness,” all of which will reassure Agnostic Front’s devoted day-ones that age ain't nothin’ but a number. Simultaneously showing the yutes (yes, the yutes) how it’s done.

“It doesn't matter your age, gettin’ pissed off is gettin’ pissed off," laughs Miret. “If you’re a pissed off old man, you’re no different than a pissed off young guy. There’s enough shit going on in this world to just piss you the fuck off, that’s what it comes down to.”

Miret attributes the fuel behind that unwavering aggression to the powers-that-be who manipulate, divide, and control people everyday.

“Who can’t see the divide?” Miret questions. “A lot of it comes from the internet. Even the album cover for example, it’s based on people who are so gung ho about whatever they’re being fed and just living out of fear. You live in fear, then the government acts like they’re going to save you. They divide and conquer…People are so caught up in whatever they believe, you know, like, the kid on the album cover is so righteous, he doesn't even realize the flag he’s waving is on fucking fire…Unfortunately, we live in a world now where people are so connected to their phones and seem so disconnected from being a normal, good human being.”

One of the more significant challenges Miret faced during the creation of Echoes In Eternity was his ongoing battle with cancer. Expressing plenty of gratitude for all of the love and support he continues to receive, he reveals that he’s doing well and feeling much better after undergoing two surgeries. This deeply personal battle inevitably fed into the emotional weight of the new record.

“There’s stuff on the album that gets a little bit dark here and there and that’s me going through my mental struggles,” Miret shares. “I have a little bit of depression and I struggle with it, and a song like ‘I Can’t Win’ comes to mind right now. That’s about those struggles I was having. You know, Get Loud! released in 2019, we were on top of the world, we were having a good time, and, boom, the pandemic. Then, boom, cancer. And I felt like I kept getting hit with stuff…There’s a lot of lyrical stuff about overcoming obstacles, which is nothing new to me. I’ve always been in a lot of hardships and figured out how to get out. Still, when you hear the word cancer, it’s kinda scary.”

“One of the hardest things was getting back on the road after that,” reveals Miret. “Agnostic Front’s used to playing every single day, no days off, give us a month at a time. We’re animals, we love it like that. I made the mistake of thinking I could do that again, jumping right in. Then, like, two, three shows into it, I’m thinking, ‘I don’t know if my body can do this anymore.’ So I struggled through it, I really did. Now, I feel like I’m in a better position where now I’m back conditioned to it, but it really did a lot to my body.”

Agnostic Front’s sound is completely amplified on Echoes In Eternity, coming across bigger, louder, and heavier than ever before. From Miret’s perspective, he acknowledges the tremendous work of the band’s “sixth member,” NYHC fixture and producer, Mike Dijan.

“His direction is incredible, and he really became a part of the whole entire thing,” says Miret. “He’s a true producer. He was in rehearsal spaces with us, helping write and getting everything dialed in. When he was recording us, he had an amazing vision.”

“The record then went to Zeuss, who’s done a couple of our records and does great work. He thought the sounds were incredible and that he could do so much with it. He helped give the album this huge sound, which is what Mike (Dijan) wanted. We [the band] busted our ass, I'm not discrediting any one of us, we really did, but Dijan helped out in every aspect.”

The album also amplifies one of the band’s core messages: Unity. Using the upbeat and catchy track “Sunday Matinee” as an example, Miret shares how the track “celebrates unity and connection through live music,” which is his number one goal.

“We wanted to express a time that was very important to us. Going back to meeting people at a show and sharing memories with people you met there, it was a very intimate time. It’s where you’re gonna make a lifelong friend…that’s how me and Vinnie became lifelong friends, or me and Mike, and me and all the guys, we met going to shows…Now, we have friends all over the world because of this.”

He continues, “We’ve always been a live band more than a recording band. When you come to a live show, we’re talking about bringing people together. You’re at a place where you feel like it’s something genuine, something real, that makes you want to be a part of it. That’s what Agnostic Front’s always been about. There’s so many people fighting all kinds of stuff, battling heavy depression, and maybe that one show inspired something more for them.”