Legacy

Agnostic Front are viewed as the founder of the New York hardcore scene, and are commonly referred to as New York's first homegrown hardcore band. They helped define the New York hardcore sound back in 1983 with their debut Ep. As they set the tone for aggressive, working-class urban punk with attitude, introducing crossover thrash elements. Their influence has also reached beyond New York into the broader hardcore scene which has led to them being described as pioneers of crossover thrash genre along with earning the nickname "the godfathers of hardcore". Their first album Victim in Pain has been considered the first New York hardcore album, and was named in 2021 by Revolver magazine as one of ten essential New York hardcore albums. Their second album Cause For Alarm was inducted into the Decibel magazine Hall of Fame in 2014, and has been described as a “essential piece to the history of crossover music”. AllMusic stated “The elemental sound of early Agnostic Front classics like 1984's Victim in Pain and 1986's Cause for Alarm were massively influential in the American hardcore scene, as well as providing a key stepping-stone toward speed and thrash metal.” Additionally they have been credited as an act that helped introduce metal fans to hardcore.” Rolling Stone described them as the “forefathers to the Nineties “street punk” and Metal Hammer called them “the Iron Maiden of hardcore.”