The Age of Quarrel
| The Age of Quarrel | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Cro-Mags | ||||
| Released | September 1986 | |||
| Recorded |
1986 at Eastside Studios, New York City, U.S. | |||
| Genre | Hardcore punk, crossover thrash, krishnacore | |||
| Length | 33:44 | |||
| Label |
Profile Records Another Planet 1994 reissue | |||
| Producer | Chris Williamson | |||
| Cro-Mags chronology | ||||
| ||||
The Age of Quarrel is the first album from the New York hardcore band Cro-Mags. It was released on Profile Records in September 1986 and subsequently re-released by Another Planet in 1994, along with their second album, 1989's Best Wishes, on the same disc. The video for "We Gotta Know" received airplay on MTV at the time (during their alternative/underground specialty show 120 Minutes), and was one of the first-ever clips on MTV to feature slam dancing and crowd surfing.
Overview
Most of the songs are executed at speed with vocals from John Joseph, which inspired sound-a likes. However, "Malfunction", "Seekers of the Truth", and "Life of My Own" are slower songs that foreshadowed the more metallic influences on their next project, the crossover thrash bracketed Best Wishes.
The title refers to Kali Yuga, this term originating from the Sanskrit language can be translated into the "Age of Quarrel", "Age of Deception" or "Age of Illusion". Kali Yuga is the fourth age (and current) of the world in the Sanatan Dharma or Hindu tradition, characterized by general degradation, spiritual degeneration, and illusion;
The image on the front album cover is a photograph taken during the Operation Castle nuclear test.
"It's the Limit" was featured in the 2008 video game Grand Theft Auto IV. It was featured on the "LCHC" radio station, referring to Liberty City Hardcore. Since Grand Theft Auto IV is modeled on New York, they chose to use this song as it is part of the NYHC (New York Hardcore) Scene.
Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
Critical reception to The Age of Quarrel has been met with positive reviews and ratings. Vincent Jeffries of Allmusic awards it four-and-a-half out of five stars and claims that "the Cro-Mags helped define the East Coast hardcore movement with their now legendary debut, Age of Quarrel." He later states that "Age of Quarrel is loaded with hardcore classics like 'World Peace,' 'We Gotta Know,' and 'Street Justice.' On these cuts and throughout the record, Mayhew presents what were at the time cutting-edge post-Motörhead punk/metal riffs, and the entire group execute their roles with passion, dexterity, and extreme focus. It's practically impossible to understand or appreciate New York hardcore without first spending time listening to Age of Quarrel."[1]
In 2005, The Age of Quarrel was ranked number 274 in Rock Hard magazine's book of The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.[2]
Track listing
- Lyrics by John Joseph and Harley Flanagan
- Music by Parris Mitchell Mayhew and Harley Flanagan
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "We Gotta Know" | 3:24 |
| 2. | "World Peace" | 2:13 |
| 3. | "Show You No Mercy" | 1:58 |
| 4. | "Malfunction" | 3:43 |
| 5. | "Street Justice" | 1:33 |
| 6. | "Survival of the Streets" | 1:06 |
| 7. | "Seekers of the Truth" | 4:03 |
| 8. | "It's the Limit" | 1:43 |
| 9. | "Hard Times" | 1:40 |
| 10. | "By Myself" | 2:35 |
| 11. | "Don't Tread On Me" | 1:20 |
| 12. | "Face the Facts" | 1:41 |
| 13. | "Do Unto Others" | 1:50 |
| 14. | "Life of My Own" | 2:53 |
| 15. | "Signs of the Times" | 2:03 |
| Total length: | 33:44 | |
Personnel
- Cro-Mags
- John Joseph – vocals
- Parris Mitchell Mayhew – guitar
- Doug Holland – guitar
- Harley Flanagan – bass
- Mackie – drums
- Production
- Recorded in 1986 at Eastside Studios, New York City, USA
- Produced by Chris Williamson
- Engineered by Steve Remote
- Mixed by Chris Williamson and Steve Remote
- Digitally transferred at Aura Sonic Ltd, New York City, USA
- Additional production
- Re-issue remastered by Alan Douches at West Westside Music
References
- 1 2 Allmusic review
- ↑ [...], Rock Hard (Hrsg.). [Red.: Michael Rensen. Mitarb.: Götz Kühnemund] (2005). Best of Rock & Metal die 500 stärksten Scheiben aller Zeiten. Königswinter: Heel. p. 104. ISBN 3-89880-517-4.