Review AGNOSTIC FRONT “Echoes in Eternity”

NYC hardcore veterans Agnostic Front have released their next thunderous album, “Echoes in Eternity”. Six years after revealing “Get Loud!”, the band returns with their 13^(th) studio album, the next roaring gem in their career.

Founded 45 years ago, Agnostic Front is a band that belongs at the spearhead of East Coast hardcore. They are known for their intense live shows, and it is their albums that spread a rebellious mindset, too — “Echoes in Eternity” being no exception.

Agnostic Front don’t need much time to get their message across. At less than 30 minutes, the album isn’t excessively long and the NYC-based pioneers deliver 15 spot-on songs. Each of the tracks on the album bursts with pure energy, including the brutal 41-second riff massacre, “Art of Silence”. The longest tune, “Sunday Matinee”, clocks in at just over two minutes. It addresses the energetic bond between the band and their fans during live shows being a melodic hardcore anthem with a shout-along chorus.

‘Way of War’ opens the album with a massive blast. The aggressive riff power of “Tears for Everyone” fuels the track, while “Divided” is a hard-hitting hardcore anthem with a clear anti-fascist message.
The five-piece also invited a guest representing another iconic NY band. Darryl ‘DMC’ McDaniels of Run DMC contributes to the mid-tempo groover “Matter of Life and Death”, and his hip-hop style vocals give the song a twist, showcasing the genre-bridging spirit of New York’s musical scene.

Lyrically, “Echoes in Eternity” is a blend of personal experiences and reflections, as well as addressing the current state of society. “Can’t Win” is an example of this, addressing the struggles of life and the self-doubt that accompanies them, before overcoming them and moving on with self-confidence. “Turn Up the Volume”, another massive hardcore anthem, is a song about making a loud statement to be heard. The rebellious heart beats strongly before the uptempo blast of “Hell to Pay” showcases a band that is still fully committed. Agnostic Front have not lost any of their fierce musical approach, driven by Vinnie Stigma’s riff power and Roger Miret’s iconic vocals with the final tracks of the album not deviating from what we have heard until then. “Obey” and the rousing closer “Open My Eyes” bring the album to a thunderous finish.

“Echoes in Eternity” is a great new album from Agnostic Front. Despite being in business for 45 years, the band hasn’t lost any of its power. It feels like the present days act as extra motivation for the band, which delivers an aggressive and groovy hardcore album with “Echoes in Eternity”, showing why they have been at the forefront of NYC hardcore for four decades.