Punk super fans were thrown for a spin when New York City-based hardcore punk band Cro-Mags released new music for the first time in twenty years today. Their new EP titled Don’t Give In includes the songs “Don’t Give In,” “Drag You Under” and “No One’s Victim.”
The EP echoes themes of tenacity and perseverance from the lyrics to the playing style of the instruments. Each song is jampacked with energetic and speedy guitar riffs, a Cro-Mags signature, and badass drum beats.
“I had a lot of inspiration writing these songs; I experienced a lot of loss– the loss of friends, by suicide, cancer, depression, mortality and ultimately the beauty of life; and the need to fight for it, for every breath” bassist Harley Flanagan said in an interview with Revolver.
The band started in the 1980s and presented an eclectic aura with its Hare Krishna religious background and notable vocalist, John Joseph. The most notable members of Cro-Mags are Joseph and Flanagan.
The Age of Quarrel was the band’s first album which was released in 1986 making their 33-year-old long legacy.
They have released four albums before Don’t Give In and this time around, the songs were written under different circumstances.
Flanagan filed lawsuit against Joseph and Jackie Mayson over the use of the band’s name and won the case forcing them to use the name Cro-Mags “JM” when releasing music.
Prior to the lawsuit pertaining to the band name, Flanagan had allegedly assaulted Cro-Mags bassist, Mike Couls. Flanagan had snuck into the VIP section at a Cro-Mag concert in New York City and stabbed Couls on the arm and in the stomach.
Since then, Flanagan has taken the initiative to release the new album without Joseph and the other original members. Gabby Abularach, Rocky George, and Gary Sullivan, who have all played on Cro-Mags songs in the past, contributed on all the EP’s songs, which delivers a new sound to the Cro Mags legacy.
Even though Joseph lost the rights to the band’s name, he has done considerably well in his solo career. He is now the frontman for Bloodclot, a band that consists of him, Queen of the Stone Ages’ Joey Castillo and Todd Youth from Danzing. Together the trio had released one studio album called Up in Arms.
Cro-Mags Tour Dates with Misfits
June 29 – Los Angeles, CA – Banc of California Stadium *
Sept 7 – Denver, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater *
Sept 11 – Oakland, CA – Oracle Arena*
Sept 14 – Seattle, WA – White River Amphitheater *
Headlining European Tour w/ Red Death
Sept 27 – Essen, Germany – Turock
Sept 28 – Limburg, Belgium – Limburg Hardcore Fest
Sept 29 – London, United Kingdom – Underworld
Sept 30 – Paris, France – Gibus
Oct 01 – Stuttgart, Germany @ De Keller Klub
Oct 02 – Prague, Czech Rep @ Futurum
Oct 03 – Budapest, Hungary @ Hu Dürer Kert
Oct 04 – Graz, Austria @ Explosiv
Oct 05 – Leipzig, Germany @ Naumanns
Oct 06 – Berlin, Germany @ Musik & Frieden
Oct 17 – Las Vegas, NV – The Bunkhouse
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