Agnostic Front

There are hardcore lifers—and then there are New York hardcore pioneers Agnostic Front. Peers of icons such as Cro-Mags and The Exploited, the band combine punk’s aggressive fury with the speed and nuance of crossover thrash metal. Agnostic Front were cofounded in 1980 by guitarist Vinnie Stigma, and they cycled through multiple musicians before finding stability up front with vocalist Roger Miret. The group cemented their hardcore cred with 1983’s United Blood EP and the following year’s full-length Victim In Pain. Agnostic Front remained an ongoing presence until a 1992 breakup, although Stigma and Miret re-formed the band in 1996. They’ve remained active since, releasing LPs that skew toward straightforward hardcore or punk with more metal-oriented flourishes.