Biohazard

Storming out of Brooklyn in 1987, Biohazard first made a name for themselves in the thriving New York City hardcore punk scene, playing shows with the likes of Cro-Mags and Agnostic Front. However, the band were always far more open minded and experimental than their NYHC peers. From the very beginning they were taking their blend of thrash metal and hardcore punk and adding influences from hip-hop to it, which got them noticed by Maze Records in 1990. The band signed a deal with them and released their self-titled debut album the same year, and although it still managed to sell a respectable 40’000 copies, it wasn’t promoted as well as it could have been, and the band were soon looking for another label to take them on.

The band arguably hit the jackpot in 1992 when they signed to Roadrunner Records, making them label mates with the likes of Sepultura and Type O Negative. They capitalised with their breakthrough record “Urban Discipline”, a record which sold over a million copies and gave MTV’s heavy metal show Headbanger’s Ball the most played video in their 17 year history in the form of the single “Punishment”. In 1993 the band moved off Roadrunner and signed to Warner Bros., releasing “State Of The World Address” the year after. This record equalled its predecessor’s commercial success, making them the hottest heavy metal band in the world for a period of time.

Ever since then the band have remained stalwarts on the American metal scene, even though they split for two years, reuniting in 2008. While they’ve never quite for the recognition they deserve for being a prototype Nu-Metal band before Korn took it over ground a couple of years after they debuted, they’ve still got legions of devoted followers. This isn’t even to mention how they can still blow the roof of any venue they play as a live act, and to this day, Biohazard come highly recommended.

Formerly of the band the Eliminators, guitarist Vinnie Stigma (Vinnie Capuccio) formed Agnostic Front, originally under the moniker Zoo Crew, alongside outspoken and politically direct vocalist Roger Miret, bassist Adam Moochie, and drummer Ray Beez. The group released their first record, the “United Blood” EP in 1983, followed a year later by the decade-defining album “Victim of Pain”. The album was a voice of a generation lost in the burgeoning debt and crime of early ’80’s New York City. The release also marked the arrival of bassist Rob Kabula and drummer Jimmy Colletti, and saw Agnostic Front take the reins of the hardcore punk movement showcased at the likes of Lower East Side’s A7 and CBGB’s.

With the rise in popularity in heavy metal, Agnostic Front, mired by the tumultuous relationship of Miret and Stigma, began to establish themselves as a cross over between hardcore punk and thrash metal. The band signed with Combat Records and issued “Cause for Alarm” in 1986, since hailed as one of a few early holy-grails of crossover thrash, alongside D.R.I. and Corrosion of Conformity.

In an attempt to please original fans, with an entirely new backup of musicians including guitarist Steve Martin, bassist Alan Peters and drummer Will Shepler, the band ridded itself of its previous metal-style drumming. “Liberty & Justice For…” arrived in 1987 to a hardcore punk genre that had fractioned off into various sub-genres, leading to gigs turning into sub-culture turf wars. Agnostic Front released the live album “Live at CBGB’s” in 1989, which featured many fan favourites in the band’s most effective and direct form.

After the release, Roger Miret was arrested and sentenced to just-under two years in prison on serious drug charges and Stigma, with guitarist Matt Henderson and temporary singer Alan Peters, embarked on their first European tour. The comeback album “One Voice”, based on Miret’s lyrics from inside prison, found no audience, and following a greatest hits album “To Be Continued” and a farewell concert in 1993, the band called it quits.

In 1997 however, with interest from respected punk label Epitaph Records, Agnostic Front, consisting of Stigma, Miret, Rob Kabula and Jimmy Colletti recorded and released “Something’s Gotta Give” in 1998. This was followed a year later by the album “Riot, Riot Upstart” with guest appearances from M.O.D.’s Billy Milano and Rancid’s Lars Frederiksen. Un-phased by the lack of a hardcore punk scene, the band continued to perform and record, producing the albums “Dead Yuppies” in 2001, “Working Class Heroes” in 2003, “Another Voice” in 2005, and “My Life My Way” in 2011.