In exactly 3 weeks, 2020 will be history. No year in modern times has been more plagued by disease, violence, social unrest, and partisan hackery. It’s truly been The Age of Quarrel. So who better to sum up this chaotic year than hardcore legends Cro-Mags? Merely 6 months after the release of their comeback album, In the Beginning, comes this quick display of brutality, 2020.
There’s so much to be said about this year. What can be said that hasn’t been said already? That’s why on 2020, Cro-Mags let the music do the talking. There’s definitely rage fueled observations on the world’s current events, and even some shout along hardcore choruses, but the music comes first and foremost.
The frantic opener, “Age of Quarantine”, captures the unease and uncertainty which dominated that weekend in March when “the world ended”. It feels like ages, but it was just 9 months ago. Following that is the concrete thick title track, and the mid tempo mosh pit starter, “Life on Earth”. “Violence and Destruction” and “Chaos in the Streets” boast that classic hardcore sound. The riffs are angry and the vocals are even angrier. Bad Brains would be proud!
The EP closes with a 4 minute bass fest, “Cro-Fusion”. Of all the titles that can be used to describe punk rock renaissance man Harley Flanigan, “bassist extraordinaire” doesn’t usually come to mind. Well it will now. Flanigan goes to town, while guitarists Rocky George and Gabby Abularach shred to no end and drummer Garry Sullivan pounds away.
2020 sucked. 2020 doesn’t. 35 years on, Flanigan’s message and ethos is more relevant than ever. As long as “World peace can’t be done.”, there’ll be a need for the music of Cro-Mags.
6 out of 10
Label: Mission Two Entertainment
Genre: Hardcore Punk
For fans of: Bad Brains, Slayer, Power Trip