Agnostic Front 35th Anniversary Documentary And London Show

New York hardcore legends Agnostic Front will be playing a show at London’s Underworld this November 20, in celebration of their seminal debut album Victim In Pain’s 35th anniversary plus the release of their recent full-length documentary The Godfathers Of Hardcore. Frontman Roger Miret commented: “We're super excited to play London town again in celebration of 35 years of Victim In Pain! London has always been a favourite to us. It's like being back home in New York City for the celebrations! See you in the pit!”

The Godfathers Of Hardcore is the acclaimed full-length documentary by Ian McFarland, celebrating Roger Miret, Vinnie Stigma and Agnostic Front as linchpins of the New York hardcore scene. They all played a key role in defining, shaping and establishing the sound and cultural code of conduct for the still-thriving movement. In a landscape of increasing apathy and complacency, the messages Agnostic Front present are as relevant today as they were in the ‘80s when the band members were impoverished, scrappy and ambitious, often fighting for their very survival as well as the perseverance of their volatile but highly inspirational band. Roger and Vinnie remain the very embodiment of hardcore, representing endurance, perseverance, brotherhood, strength against oppression and the will to keep going, obstacles be damned. Agnostic Front exist on a level all their own. . . a level of their own creation.

Agnostic Front have always levelled criticism against modern oppressors and their corrupting influence on society, and there's no stopping them. What started out as a four piece initiated by guitarist Vinnie Stigma in 1983 with the ground-breaking EP United Blood, soon became renowned as one of the fastest and most aggressive hardcore bands; not only in New York but the whole East Coast and world. Influenced by the spirit of punk, they developed their unique sound dominated by catchy tunes, thunderous drums and the buck-wild shouting of Roger Miret. Due to their indisputable authenticity, Agnostic Front were able to gain a loyal community of fans who have stuck by them through thick and thin.

Victim In Pain (1984) remains one of hardcore’s most celebrated releases, and the band’s very first full length LP. Clocking in at just over 15 minutes of riotous mayhem, it contains 11 tracks boiling with anger and grit - the sound of four guys at a pivotal moment in their career. No other New York hardcore band had released an album at this point in time - it is without doubt a creation born of New York’s Lower East Side in the early ‘80s, and the burgeoning hardcore scene which Agnostic Front were in the thick of.