Live at CBGB

• Artist: Agnostic Front
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1989
• Type: Live
• Genre: Rock

Review

Led by singer Roger Miret and guitarist Vinny Stigma, New York's cataclysmic Agnostic Front made quite a name for itself with records like Victim in Pain and Cause for Alarm. As one the first truly pioneering NYHC (New York Hard Core) bands to successfully bridge the gap between metal, punk, and hardcore, the band rose to legendary cult status up and down the East Coast. Recorded in the flesh at New York's punk rock Mecca CBGB's in August of 1988, Live at CBGB captures the band in all its ferocious glory. As Miret announces "this is the title track from our first album Victim in Pain, the song's also called "Victim in Pain,"" the band is off. "Pain" is quickly followed by "Public Assistance" and later a song that calls for unity between punks and skins, "United Blood." The recording contains 19 fast and furious cuts highlighted by the band's hardcore anthem, "Crucified." Prior to "Liberty & Justice," Miret offers, "Since we're an American band, let's recite the pledge of allegiance." This gives way of course to "Liberty & Justice" only to be upstaged by all 35 seconds of "Discriminate Me." Other highlights include Cause for Alarm's "Your Mistake" (later covered by Negative Approach on Total Recall). Beneath all the band's political lambasting and calls for unity (although many of their shows were anything but), there's a good musical lesson to be learned from all of this. Because, if you've ever been just the slightly bit curious about what NYHC is all about, this release is a solid launching point. ~ John Franck, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Victim in Pain [Live]	Roger Miret	Agnostic Front	(2:11)
Public Assistance [Live]	Pete Steele	Agnostic Front	(1:23)
United Blood [Live]	Vinnie Stigma	Agnostic Front	(1:20)
Friend or Foe [Live]	Vinnie Stigma	Agnostic Front	(1:21)
Strength [Live]	Steve Martin	Agnostic Front	(2:36)
Blind Justice [Live]	Roger Miret	Agnostic Front	(1:22)
Last Warning [Live]	Vinnie Stigma, Roger Miret	Agnostic Front	(:43)
Toxic Shock [Live]	Pete Steele, Roger Miret	Agnostic Front	(1:50)
United & Strong [Live]	Roger Miret	Agnostic Front	(1:34)
Crucified [Live]	Agnostic Front	Agnostic Front	(2:22)
Liberty & Justice [Live]	Alan Peters	Agnostic Front	(2:46)
Discriminate Me [Live]	Vinnie Stigma	Agnostic Front	(:35)
Your Mistake [Live]	Roger Miret	Agnostic Front	(1:25)
Anthem [Live]	Steve Martin, Roger Miret, Alan Peters	Agnostic Front	(2:38)
With Time [Live]	Roger Miret	Agnostic Front	(2:08)
Genesis [Live]	Roger Miret	Agnostic Front	(1:33)
The Pain Song [Live]	Agnostic Front	Agnostic Front	(1:09)
Fascist Attitudes [Live]	Roger Miret	Agnostic Front	(1:50)
The Eliminator [Live]	Pete Steele, Rob Kabula, Roger Miret	Agnostic Front	(3:02)

Credits

Agnostic Front (Main Performer), Agnostic Front (Art Direction), Chris Gehringer (Mastering), Steve McAllister (Engineer), Norman Dunn (Producer), Norman Dunn (Engineer), Will Shepler (Drums), Vinnie Stigma (Guitar), David Bett (Art Direction), Steve Martin (Guitar), Tommy Victor (Engineer), Amy Keim (Photography), Roger Miret (Vocals), Craig Setari (Bass), Gil Abarbanel (Engineer), Andrea Elston (Artwork)