New York hardcore band CRO-MAGS have released The Age of Quarrel: 40 Years of Quarrel, a newly recorded tribute to their influential 1986 debut album. The record is available now through BLKIIBLK and features contributions from former members, current bandmates, and guest musicians.
To accompany the release, the band has unveiled a visualizer for “Don’t Tread on Me (2026),” featuring RISE AGAINST guitarist Zach Blair.
Revisiting four decades of New York hardcore
Led by founding bassist and vocalist Harley Flanagan, CRO-MAGS revisit the material that helped establish their place in the development of hardcore punk and thrash metal crossover.
The new recording features original The Age of Quarrel guitarist Doug Holland on “We Gotta Know,” while former CRO-MAGS and SUICIDAL TENDENCIES guitarist Rocky George contributes to “Seekers of the Truth.”
Other participants include Meg Mills on “It’s the Limit (2026),” Zach Blair on “Don’t Tread on Me (2026),” and current band members Dominic Dibenedetto and Dave Sharpe.
Drummer Greyson Nekrutman performs on every track. Arthur Rizk, whose credits include POWER TRIP and BLOOD INCANTATION, produced and mixed the album.
The 16-track release includes new versions of “Hard Times,” “World Peace,” and “Malfunction,” alongside “Everybody’s Gonna Die,” a song originating from the band’s 1985 demo period.
A project rooted in the band’s history
The idea to revisit The Age of Quarrel emerged during production of the documentary Wired for Chaos. According to the announcement, several songs needed to be re-recorded for the film because licensing the original recordings was not possible.
Those sessions eventually developed into a complete re-recording of the album.
Flanagan has also connected the project to longstanding disputes involving the original recording’s ownership and compensation. The announcement states that musicians who performed on the 1986 album had not received payment or sales accounting.
The new release is intended to recognize the musicians involved in creating the material. According to the band, songwriting royalties will be distributed through ASCAP and BMI, with remaining proceeds directed to charity.
Guest musicians reflect on the recording
Zach Blair described participating in the anniversary project as an opportunity to revisit an important hardcore recording.
“To recreate such a seminal work is daunting to say the least and I feel humbled to have been included.”
Doug Holland also reflected on reconnecting with Flanagan after decades apart. His participation marks another collaboration between musicians associated with the band’s original era.
Nekrutman, who previously performed with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, explained that Flanagan approached him about the project in fall 2025. He sought to respect the original compositions while incorporating elements of his own drumming style.
New music and upcoming performances
In addition to the anniversary release, Holland indicated that another CRO-MAGS album is planned for 2027, with Arthur Rizk involved in the recording.
The band also has two December performances scheduled: December 4 at Decibel Metal & Beer Fest in Denver, Colorado, and December 12 at The Belasco in Los Angeles, California, as part of For the Children.
The Age of Quarrel: 40 Years of Quarrel is available now through BLKIIBLK. Order