Agnostic Front - Do things their way!

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Agnostic Front are on fire in London

Agnostic Front **** are legends of the New York Hardcore scene, along with fellow bands such as Madball / Biohazard / Life of Agony / Murphy's Law and the Cro-Mags. All of which I have to say I am a huge fan of, even have in my studio a New York section on the wall. Which I was happy to add an Agnostic Front signed picture to when I got home. When thinking about Agnostic Front, I always remember a performance by the band on the City Invasion tour at the London, Astoria, a venue that is much missed. They actually played with Murphy's Law, a band that gave me lots of alcohol at the beginning of the day to wake me up. I had come off a tour with the band Amen, and had gone straight to the show. Because I was so excited about it. The funny thing about it is, I don't drink. So by the time US Bombs came on, I was all woken up and ready for them, and the Agnostic Front set that came after them, which I will always remember.

So their performance at the London, Camden Underworld had something to compete with, and they didn't fail to disappoint, coming out with pure aggression and energy. Fresh from playing Hellfest with Pennywise / The Offspring / The Adicts / Lagwagon and many more. Coming on to the stage after their intro of Frank Sinatra's 'New York, New York', which is a perfect intro for the band that loves their city so much. I watched a video of Vinnie Stigma, who also used to play in Madball, going around New York, giving you a tour of all of his favourite places. If you have not seen it, go on YouTube it's well worth a watch.

Opening with 'Af Stomp' which has the punishing guitars that are perfect for an opening track, with a steady Hardcore melody. Coming off the band's 2019 'Get Loud!", this song sounds like it was done at the start of their career. But it is actually only seven years old. They announce in the first song, "London, I wanna see a circle pit!", can we get the set going before we have a circle pit?. But yes! It did go crazy, with girls climbing over me while I was trying to take photos. And the biggest crowd surfers I have ever seen, seven foot tall and over two hundred fifty pounds. Yes, that is scary when you have them stage diving at you, or crowd surfing from behind. You really have to be on your guard at an Agnostic Front concert, or you are going to get hurt. 

I know with Hardcore, crowd surfing and moshing is something that comes with the genre. But as someone who is getting older and is disabled, it can be a challenge for me at times. But I survived the show, and really enjoyed seeing the band live again. 'The Eliminator' and 'Way of War' are perfect songs to do these things to, but I do feel that Roger Miret vocals struggle at times to come through in them. I think this may be because his vocals are turned down way too low, or that he has been on tour for far too long and needs a break to rest his vocals. I think it might be the first one, because I watched footage of the band performing at Hellfest and Roger's vocals were way too low in the mix. Which I think is a real shame because their performance is on point. 

One of my favourite songs in their set is the anthem 'My Life, My Way' which is a sing-along from all the crowd, this is a song that works so well in the live environment. Especially at a festival, this song was born to be played live. Like other songs in their set, 'Old New York' and the mega hit 'Gotta Go'. Agnostic Front really knows how to write a great live track, one that can be sung back to them by the audience. Working well next to new songs like 'You Say ', which have an even heavier attitude to it. It's also nice to see the older song 'Victim in Pain' being added to the set, and an amazing cover of the Ramones 'Blitzkrieg Bop' which is the closure to the set. It's nice that Agnostic Front pay tribute to their city and their roots, and are so proud to do so. 

Any Agnostic Front fan would be happy with the setlist at the London, Camden, Underworld, you get 'For my Family', you get their Iron Cross cover of the song 'Crucified' you get 'Police State'. You get everything you want, the band really know how to give the fans everything they want. From every era of the band's life, and that's what a veteran band know to do. Going out as they began with a touch of Frank Sinatra, this time 'My Way ', you know that this has been a great but sweaty night out. But you would be in a hurry to repeat again in the future, I know I would want to repeat it. 

Review and Photos by Dan Devour

Agnostic Front - Setlist
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New York, New York (Frank Sinatra Song) (Intro)
AF Stomp
The Eliminator
Way of War
My life, My Way
You Say
Old New York
Victim in Pain
Blind Justice
For my Family
Friend or Foe
Crucified (Iron Cross Cover)
Toxic Shock
Matter of life and Death
Gotta Go
Police State
Addiction
Blitzkrieg Bop (Ramones Cover)
My Way (Frank Sinatra Song) (Outro)

Check Out! the Video for 'My Life, My Way' Below...