Alpha Omega

I've heard a LOT of bad things about this album. How badly Cro Mags ditched their classic sound in order to keep up with the times, Cro Mags progressing, etc. Anyone in the know knows who and what the Cro Mags stand for; classic New York Hardcore singing about life on the streets through the philosophy and religious teachings of Hinduism during the rough times of the late 70's/early 80's. May I remind you how fucking PISSED they were. Listen to the way John Joseph sing the lyrics "All you hippies better start to face reality" in the song "World Peace" and you'll get a double dosage of blue-collar reasoning.

"The Age Of Quarrel" cannot be touched. It's a bona'fied classic. "Best Wishes" was an excellent step forward in carrying the same message and grit only with more touchings of Thrash Metal throwing Cro-Mags into the whole Crossover genre. Most people consider this blasphemy but this is the only logical step IMO to go from straight-forward Hardcore Punk. DRI did it. COC did it and went their own path. Hell even fellow NY bands such as Agnostic Front and Sick of It All manage to tread through such waters and release highly-praised and recognizable albums, only the problem is that it doesn't mean the Cro Mags would have the same success. For some reason Cro Mags will always be chained to their classic sound. Much like Black Flag will always be remembered for "TV Party" or "My War." and even Gang Green to their sloppy drunk Hardcore Punk before singing to Roadrunner...Cro-Mags suffer the same fate; being pigeonhold.

"Alpha Omega" has all the ingredients of being a damn good album. Riffs(OH yes there is a lot of excellent riffs), excellent production, better song structures, better everything EXCEPT for Jon Joseph's vocals. His crooning and half-assed styled is really forced. It's comical. Some parts he sounds great at trying to go beyond the typical pissed Hardcore Punk shouting and go more melodic and trying to hold certian notes, and he manages to hits it. I'm not not doubting Jon. Fuck he has a better chance at being melodic than most of your Hardcore/Punk singers but like I said some parts of laughable and comical. Almost like he has fucking guaze stuck in his mouth while laying in a dentist chair hopped-up on nitrous oxide.

Also there's a song called "Eyes of Tomorrow." I thought "Alpha Omega" was supposed to be crossover...not stereotypical Funk/Rap-Metal in the vein of Anthrax/Faith No More. It's better in ways, but when you have a DJ break that sounds directly off of NWA's "Express Yourself" and Jon Joeseph of the Cro Mags rapping...it's nothing but a palm to the face in embarassment. Outside of those two major complaints, the rest of the songs are extremely tight. More so than most of your other Crossover bands around that time.

"See The Signs" is tight. Like Nuclear Assault/Anthrax tight. "The Paths To Perfection" THIS is where Jon is able to hit those notes!, "The Other Side Of Madness"; Fuck me, excellent! Great chorus. Catchy as shit. Reminds me of Hallows Eve!

If you are afraid of hearing what Cro Mags did past their "prime" as many in Hardcore/Punk circles might say, then don't it's not all that bad. A fuckload better than a lot of stuff coming out these days that's for sure.