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
(1986)
Best Wishes
(1989)

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
SourceRating
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

No.TitleLength
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
Production
Additional production

References

  1. 1 2 Allmusic review
  2. [...], 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.
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