The Album Reviews:

	Title: Another Voice Artist: Agnostic Front Label: Nuclear Blast Release Date: 1/25/05	Judgment Committee Reviews	Rating
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Abyss's Review:
I will be the first to admit that I'm not the least bit qualified to review an Agnostic Front album. This band never really crossed over enough into the crossover movement for me to even remotely get into them. And with the exception of a few months in high school when I tried to get into this stuff, I've barely heard any of their material. So all you hardcore kidz out there who may want to email me and tell me I don't know what I'm talking about might want to save your breath. I don't know what I'm talking about and once more, I don't really want to know what I'm talking about.

"One word review: Oi!"

This album, like all hardcore, comes across as its own little Tony Robbins pep talk, preaching strength, loyalty, brotherhood and most importantly, being 'street.' Obviously, me being a 32 year old man, I don't relate much to the whole hardcore vibe. It all just strikes me as a little silly. Sure, music that goes on about Satan, elves, and knights is also pretty silly, but I never feel like the artists in question are all that serious. Just like the Heavy Metal Crusade some bands sing about, I keep waiting for this hardcore war against The System. I mean, how long is the recruiting process going to take? Geez, it makes the current war in Iraq look successful. I guess what I'm saying is, you go ahead keep it from the streets, and I'll go make a sandwich.
If there is anything to be said for this album, it does capture the old NYHC sound to a large extent, so I wouldn't be surprised if hardcore fans flocked to it. The guitars have a decidedly 80s sound, and the staccato, barking vocals can also make you nostalgic in this era where all hardcore vocals mimic At The Gates. But beyond all of that this album is nothing more than what you'd expect. If you're a metalhead that likes some crossover, this is probably too far out of your spectrum. One word review: Oi!

Death's Review:

"Another Voice pays tribute, both in lyric and in spirit, to the classic days of pre-crossover hardcore."

Hardcore is not my thing, but I have enough of an awareness of the important bands from the classic days of yore to know that Agnostic Front is a legendary name. So I listened to this album with an ear toward respecting what was coming out of my speakers, even though I must confess that I am pretty much unfamiliar with the back Agnostic Front catalogue. I was somewhat surprised to learn that this was being released by Nuclear Blast (via Stillborn), but I suppose it makes sense in that Agnostic Front are a seminal hardcore band that is incredibly influential on many top bands today such as Hatebreed. Another Voice pays tribute, both in lyric and in spirit, to the classic days of pre-crossover hardcore, with tunes like "Take Me Back" (the hardcore answer to Megadeth's "Back in the Day"?) and "Hardcore! (The Definition)." Classic Agnostic Front truly are the "very definition" of this type of music, and while this new album of theirs isn't really for me, I have to acknowledge that it is a pretty solid record from a veteran and important act.

Hel's Review:
It's been 15 years if it's been a day since I last listened to Agnostic Front. Way back when, I had brief fascination with hardcore that, at the time, was really mostly a result of nostalgia for the days when I had a punk obsession, and that was way back when I was about 10. Most of our readers know that I currently hold no fondness for hardcore, but inasmuch as I have any affection for it at all, it is for those oldest of old school acts, such as Agnostic Front.

"It really came as no surprise that they sound pretty much just like I remembered them."

So I was rather curious to find out what Agnostic Front circa 2004 sounded like when this album came my way. It really came as no surprise that they sound pretty much just like I remembered them. The paint-by-numbers anthems with their shout-along choruses are still intact, and the breakdowns are still right where they belong in the songs. I would venture a guess that loyal Agnostic Front fans will be happily slamming their way through the pit to these new tunes.
All in all, Another Voice triggered a pleasant trip down memory lane for me, bringing to mind a time all but forgotten, and other bands from that era who had nearly escaped from my memory entirely. If you want to find out where Hatebreed took their inspiration from, and where all of these upstart hardcore bands spilling out from every nook and cranny of the music scene today originally descended from, you definitely need to familiarize yourself with Agnostic Front. Of course, it's best to go back to the old records to do so, but in a pinch this one will do the trick.

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