They united on New York's east side during Reagan's reign and now, more than 20 years later, Agnostic Front is as loud and furious as ever while another warmongering president rules over America.
But holding strong to its dedication and commitment to the hardcore scene rallying for the oppressed, the band has survived and thrived and is finally making its first trip to Western Canada, arriving for an all ages gig Wednesday night at the Starlite Room.
The term East Coast hardcore literally didn't exist until Cuban-born front man Roger Miret and guitarist Vinnie Stigma joined forces in early 1982. Although there had been a couple of singers on stage for Agnostic Front before Miret arrived, he and Stigma have stuck through the different member changes and all 13 albums since, including Another Voice released in January by Nuclear Blast Records.
Best lineup
Agnostic Front bass player Mike Gallo, who's been around for the last few albums, recruited his younger brother Steve as the band's drummer. The group recently picked up Lenny Di Sclafani as a second guitarist to round out the current lineup, which Miret says is "the best lineup we've ever had - honestly. It's a strong lineup, very similar to the lineup of the One Voice era."
One Voice, Agnostic Front's 1992 release with Matt Henderson, Craig Setari and Will Shepler alongside Miret and Stigma, was mentioned several times during an interview with Miret before their show last week in Sacramento, California. With more than two decades of music in its past, Miret says the band tends to revisit certain eras of its hardcore evolution - Another Voice touches back on the days when hardcore grew up into the '90s. "To some people it may seem like it's a complete different sound, but if you know anything about Agnostic Front and the history, it's really not. It's just true, genuine hardcore, and if you like One Voice, you'll definitely love this record. It's kind of a One Voice meets Something's Gotta Give (1998) type of deal," explains Miret in his rough and rich New York twang.
"We're a band for the oppressed people. We speak for the oppressed, you know.
"We're against the oppressors, and that's all One Voice and this whole album (Another Voice) is all about. It's about standing up for yourself and your rights and putting a little bit of awareness to people, you know what I mean, or a lot of that hardcore pride of the movement, our scene, everything we love. That's what it's all about."
Agnostic Front has never been a big band in the media or with radio play, but it has endured because its members have stayed true to what they believe in - bellowing about social injustices and railing against society's worst plagues.
Although the band had finished its sound check in Sacramento, Miret was already doing maintenance on the group's 15-seater Ford van when the interview came in. Back home in New York, Miret heads up The Rumblers, a hot rod and custom car club he started a few years back.
Stigma also has a sideline as co-owner of New York Hardcore Tattoos and Piercing, with Jimmy Gestapo from the punk band Murphy's Law.
Back on the road
But instead of taking a breather with Agnostic Front once they're home, Miret is going back out on the road with his own solo project, Roger Miret & The Disasters.
"I was writing rockin' songs the guys in Agnostic Front just didn't want to play or weren't into that direction, which is more of the street punk which is where I come from, more Clash-era and stuff like that. They want to do heavier stuff, and I just felt like I had to be complete and just write, and go into the studio and record them," says Miret, who recruited a bunch of his friends from around town to play along.
Roger Miret & The Disasters played Edmonton with the Dropkick Murphys, supporting the band's self-titled debut album released a couple of years ago. The latest album, 1984, was just dropped in February by Hellcat/Epitaph and the band's gearing up to head overseas to Europe in July. Miret says his four-piece riot rock will definitely be back through Edmonton, but when it will happen is anyone's guess.
Doors at The Starlite Room (10030 102 St.) for Wednesday's all-ages show are at 6 p.m., and Death Before Dishonor and All Shall Perish will open for Agnostic Front. Tickets are $19 at Ticketmaster.ca, Freecloud Records, Blackbyrd Myoozik, FS and Victory Lounge, or $21 at the door.
