LimeWire Music Blog

This week, The Village Voice published a story celebrating the 25th anniversary of Agnostic Front’s landmark album, Victim in Pain. For those unfamiliar with the New York hardcore-defining disc, it’s 11 songs with kind-of thrash guitar playing and croak-y spit vocals; it’s got the attitude of punk rock, the machismo of metal, and the grittiness of rap. Victim defined not just a scene, but an entire attitude. And, when I was like 16, I couldn’t get enough.

I first saw Agnostic Front when they headlined a random hardcore show, in fact my first, at an indoor amusement park called Sports World in Paramus, New Jersey. It’s not there anymore, but it was one of these huge places with video games and laser tag. Basically the most fun place on earth when you’re 12.

I don’t remember much from the show. There were countless huge dudes, like even bigger than the jocks in high school gym class, which was terrifying. Worse, they were moshing and getting in pile-ons and just looking for a skinny dude like me to bench press. Also, Rick Ta Life was there. And I got punched in the face by some humongous monster of a man (my second punch ever, after Michael Lee in seventh grade).

I think my experience speaks to Agnostic Front’s brand of hardcore as a whole. A sentiment well illustrated by the Voice piece. Agnostic Front’s lasting legacy will probably have more to do with inspiring, and acting as mascots for, a group of guys who walk around with bicycle chains but no bikes. if you know what I mean. Which is a shame, because I like a lot of Agnostic Front songs.

So, anyway, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Victim in Pain, here’s a funny video of the band playing the title track. Enjoy.