ALBUM REVIEW: In The Beginning – Cro-Mags

It’s actually pretty heartwarming that as you get in the drivers seat for hardcore veterans CRO-MAGS latest stretch, you can expect familiarity. There’s almost an unspoken agreement that the base concepts that drive the four piece should never be altered, and that’s probably because Harley Flanagan and co are something of an anomaly. 34 years removed from their debut record, In The Beginning is a modern hark back to the late 80s thriving, rugged New York hardcore scene.

It only takes the mid tempo opening of Don’t Give In to transport you back to the beer (and various other substances) soaked walls of the dingy underground venues that fronted the scene three decades ago. Things don’t stay calm for long, following track Drag You Under instils the agile pace you would find riddled on debut record The Age of Quarrel but this time propped up by a modern, coarse production.

To their credit – CRO-MAGS have managed to withhold their identity while upping their sonic game. No one could blame you for being concerned that the quartets charm would be lost without its organic – garage like sound, but In The Beginning has ante lifting efforts like No One’s Coming that sound just as unhinged as classic tracks Street Justice and Hard Times.

Bassist/vocalist Harley Flanagan has had to fight tooth, nail, and gavel over the space of two decades to stand at the front of a CRO-MAGS record again, and as he bellows through the rampant From The Grave – you’re glad he stuck around for the fight. His vocal croons aren’t quite as jagged as you’d experience in the band’s yesteryear efforts, but there’s a thickness to his tone on the harsh, ravaging Ptsd that makes this current iteration of Flanagan more than fit for the bill.

In The Beginning is a delightfully fit for purpose entry into the CRO-MAGS back catalogue. The times have changed, and the band have changed with them, but not so much that their original identity has been lost. It’s quite a challenge to remain true to your persona almost 40 years after you invented it, it’s a whole other ball game to achieve it at the same time as you pursue progression. This is the record you wanted the band to make, but you weren’t sure if they ever would or even could – In The Beginning pays back your patience.

Rating: 7/10

In The Beginning is out now via Arising Empire.

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