It’s been nearly 20 years since Cro-Mags dropped their last album Revenge. The hardcore legends have been quiet for a while, but that all changed months ago when bassist/vocalist Harley Flanagan won his lawsuit over use of the band’s name from former members John Joseph and Mackie Jayson. What better way to celebrate than with some classic hardcore music?
Recruiting past collaborators Gabby Abularach (rhythm guitar) and Rocky George (lead guitar), plus new member Garry Sullivan (drums), the quartet are back to continue where they left off. And that’s just what they do on Don’t Give In.
The three-song EP produced by Arthur Rizk (Ghostemane, Power Trip, Trapped Under Ice) shows us that nothing can slow them down. Not time, not age, not even a lawsuit.
Don’t Give In starts off with the title track. It begins with a slow yet hard beat before kicking things into overdrive with Flanagan coming in with his rough, gravely voice nearly a minute into the three minute track. Simply put, it’s what you would expect from a Cro-Mags song.
The next track “Drag You Under” feels like it was ripped from the early 80’s hardcore scene, sounding like something you’d hear while throwing down at CBGB. The 92 second long song is a literal blast from the past, showing the new hardcore kids like Knocked Loose and Sharptooth what hardcore was like in its infancy.
“No One’s Victim” is a mixture of thrash metal and punk, feeling like a strange crossover of Metallica and H2O. It closes the EP on a strong note.
If you’re looking for something groundbreaking, then you’ve come to the wrong place. Don’t Give In is just Cro-Mags doing what they do best. It just shows that no matter how old you are, you’re not too old to make music to throw the fuck down to. Bang your head.
Punk Goes Prenatt 