New York hardcore pioneers CRO-MAGS will celebrate four decades of their landmark debut with The Age of Quarrel: 40 Years of Quarrel, set for release November 13 via BLKIIBLK.
Alongside the announcement, the Harley Flanagan-led band has released a newly recorded version of “World Peace,” accompanied by an official music video. The track follows the previously released original single “Wired for Chaos.”
Rather than simply commemorating the 1986 album, the project has deeply personal significance for Flanagan, who says longstanding issues surrounding ownership and compensation played a major role in his decision to revisit the material.
“None of the people who played on the original record ever got paid, and none of us ever received an accounting of the album’s sales.”
Flanagan says he previously attempted to reunite the original lineup to re-record The Age of Quarrel and Best Wishes in an effort to reclaim rights to the music through copyright reversion. Those plans never materialized.
The eventual catalyst came through work on the Harley Flanagan: Wired for Chaos documentary. When the original recordings could not be licensed for the film, several songs had to be re-recorded. That process ultimately convinced Flanagan to revisit the entire album.
“To honor The Age of Quarrel, I brought together friends, current bandmates, and musicians from other bands to celebrate these songs that have meant so much to so many people, myself included,” Flanagan explains.
He also says the musicians who wrote the songs will receive performance royalties through ASCAP and BMI, while remaining proceeds from the project will be donated to charity.
“I’m washing my hands of the past and trying to clear the bad karma from this record. Love wins. My quarrel is over.”
Originally released in 1986, The Age of Quarrel became one of the defining records of New York hardcore and an important bridge between hardcore punk and the increasingly prominent thrash and crossover scenes of the era.
Four decades later, CRO-MAGS have assembled musicians from across the band’s history and subsequent generations of hardcore and metal to reinterpret the material.
Joining Flanagan on the recordings are original Age of Quarrel guitarist Doug Holland and former CRO-MAGS and Suicidal Tendencies guitarist Rocky George, along with musicians associated with Turnstile and Rise Against.
Greyson Nekrutman performs drums across the record, while Arthur Rizk, known for his work with Power Trip and Blood Incantation, produced and mixed the album.
The new versions include CRO-MAGS staples such as “We Gotta Know,” “World Peace,” “Malfunction,” “Hard Times” and “It’s The Limit.” The project also incorporates guest performances from Dave Sharpe, Meg Mills and Zach Blair.
The Age of Quarrel: 40 Years of Quarrel Tracklist
- We Gotta Know (Featuring Dave Sharpe & Doug Holland)
- World Peace
- Show You No Mercy
- Malfunction
- Street Justice
- Survival Of The Streets
- Seekers Of The Truth (Featuring Arthur Rizk and Rocky George)
- It’s The Limit (Featuring Meg Mills)
- Hard Times
- By Myself
- Don’t Tread On Me (Featuring Zach Blair)
- Face The Facts
- Do Unto Others
- Life of My Own
- Signs Of The Times
Four Decades of CRO-MAGS
CRO-MAGS’ roots stretch back to 1981, when a teenage Harley Flanagan began developing the project while playing drums with The Stimulators. Early demos recorded by Flanagan during 1982 and 1983 helped establish the blueprint for what would eventually become The Age of Quarrel.
By 1985, Flanagan was working alongside guitarist Parris Mayhew, vocalist John Joseph McGowan and drummer Mackie Jayson on the influential Age of Quarrel demo. Doug Holland subsequently joined on second guitar for the 1986 full-length.
The band’s combination of hardcore aggression and heavy metal helped establish a sound that would prove enormously influential across hardcore, crossover thrash and metal.
After numerous lineup changes and an often turbulent history, Flanagan currently leads CRO-MAGS on bass and vocals, having taken on frontman duties beginning with 1989’s Best Wishes. He remains the only musician to have appeared on every CRO-MAGS release.
CRO-MAGS are currently touring Europe before returning to the United States for several shows and festival appearances:
- August 30th — Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
- September 1st — McKees Rocks, PA @ Roxian Theatre
- September 2nd — Detroit, MI @ Saint Andrew’s Hall
- September 26 — Daytona Beach, FL @ Party Weekend
- October 4 — Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock Festival
Additional dates are expected to be announced.
The Age of Quarrel: 40 Years of Quarrel arrives November 13 via BLKIIBLK. Pre-order