Goodbye American Dream- Roger Miret of Agnostic Front


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Maintaining the status as the godfathers of New York hardcore has been something the members of Agnostic Front have held very highly over time. For over 35 years, they have created the mold for a form of music that became more of a lifestyle than a genre.

Their latest album The American Dream Died keeps the flag for this music alive, and is felt all over this release. They have managed to create new music while maintaining themes reflective of current times, which frontman Roger Miret uses songs as a commentary on things he sees in the world.

Roger Miret of Agnostic Front. Photo Credit: Todd Huber (via Facebook)

Roger Miret of Agnostic Front. Photo Credit: Todd Huber (via Facebook)

You know the thing with us is we’re constant, we’re out there. We’re still a band that’s still active. Being active we always see what’s going on at the same time. We’re current music wise. We know what the hell’s going on. We play with a lot of current bands. Our style is our style. Our anger is still out there. We haven’t stopped so there’s no lapse in time. There are all of these bands who stop and then come back. They’re not in touch with the times. We’ve always been current because we’ve been out there.

Lyrical wise, the last five to seven years has been aggravating the shit out of me, and I had to say what I had to say. It’s the way it goes,” he said.

Photo Credit: Silvy Maatman (via Facebook)

Photo Credit: Silvy Maatman (via Facebook)

Miret said the themes behind The American Dream Died was based on topics such as the current economic crisis in the United States, and felt he had to let loose his thoughts on where the world stands today. This is nothing new within Agnostic Front, as he tries to stay up to date with things happening around him and works them into songs.

It’s watching the world around me. Most of my lyrics are directly related to myself or something I see in my own eyes.

It all kicked off when the housing market when to hell. It really pissed me the fuck off and that’s how the rest of the record kicks off. That’s how it is – one thing leads to another. It’s a whole snowball effect. From that led to the….you got to see all of the corruption on the higher levels, all of the governmental greed, all of the housing went down, the Wall Street greed, the World Banks and it just escalates. Then you kind of see all of the police violence going on. There’s just so much, like all of these wars we really don’t want to be part of. It’s all based on greed and corruption.

Craig Silverman and Roger Miret of Agnostic Front. Photo Credit: Todd Huber

Craig Silverman and Roger Miret of Agnostic Front. Photo Credit: Todd Huber (via Facebook)

He admits that sometimes his curiosity gets him fired up over so much negativity that is portrayed in the news, but also it did get him and his band to spark up conversation over what was going on around them.

I can’t help it but maybe I shouldn’t watch the news. Maybe that’s my fault. I feel like a lot of people in America are too busy watching reality TV or ‘when’s the next new big Hollywood movie?’ Who gives a shit about Kim Kardashian’s ass or Kanye West or any of that shit.

I may be an idiot…or I may not be an idiot, but I prefer to watch real news. I’ll watch CNN or the British news. I think a lot of the American news is party related and have been corrupted by whatever party wants to tell you whatever news they need to tell you.

You know what’s funny? Everybody’s worried about ISIS right now, and I’ve known about it the last three fucking years. They always hide it until it blows up in your face and they have no choice.

I want to know more plus I travel the world and I get to see a lot more. I get to see the poverty level’s so unbelievable in America. You can say in a place like South America, it’s a third world country – you see all of that stuff. But we’re not a third world country. We’re supposed to be a powerful country – a number one country. I can’t explain why we have places like Detroit, why we have homeless vets on the streets – I don’t understand this and why there’s no money to help these vets or the people in Detroit, but there’s $40 billion to send to Iraq. I don’t get it and I probably will never get it. It doesn’t involve me personally or it doesn’t involve you. It’s all for the gain of higher people. That kind of stuff frustrates me, so of course I love being in America. I love everything about America. The government and all of that corruption fucking pisses me off and that’s why I’m in a punk rock band and I sing about it.

Vinnie Stigma of Agnostic Front. Photo Credit: Todd Huber

Vinnie Stigma of Agnostic Front. Photo Credit: Todd Huber (via Facebook)

Miret’s younger brother Freddy Cricien (of Madball) returns as producer on The American Dream Died, and working with his sibling once again brought back a special meaning to him. Cricien also produced their previous two albums (2007’s Warriors and 2011’s My Life, My Way).

Nobody knows me or Agnostic Front better than Freddy. Freddy grew up in Agnostic Front ever since he was seven years old. He grew up in our scene and that being said, he knows exactly what Agnostic Front – (A) who they are and what they should sound like, (B) we’re one of his influential bands. So it’s perfect. It’s good that I also get a chance to work with my brother and those times are kind of getting harder as we’re getting older and he’s got his own band and he’s touring. So it’s hard for us to see each other besides two or three times a year. I’m in Phoenix and he’s in New York. Working with him, it’s fun.

Drummer Pokey Mo and bassist Mike Gallo of Agnostic Front. Photo Credit: Todd Huber

Drummer Pokey Mo and bassist Mike Gallo of Agnostic Front. Photo Credit: Todd Huber

The album brought back former guitarist Matt Henderson on “A Wise Man,” and his return on an Agnostic Front played a key role on this song, and Miret said he was the guy to complete the song.

A lot of the people who have been in the band – I can’t think of anybody that left the band, they left…it’s always been hard. You have your growing families and the people you have to deal with.

With Matt, we had this one song (‘A Wise Man’) that a good friend of mine, Ricky from a band called Backfire from Long Island in New York City had written. He’s like ‘I have this one song that sounds like One Voice song. I don’t know what to do with it. I’d like to give it to you if you want it.’”

I heard it and went ‘damn it…it does sound like a One Voice song.’ Then the band heard it and said let’s record it and see where it goes. To make this right, to give it the icing on the cake…we happened to be in California. He lives literally about ten miles from the studio. Let’s give him the song and let’s let him do all of the guitars on the song. He’s the original guitarist on the One Voice album and he also did the guitars on Another Voice.

He sure as hell came over and we cleaned slate for him…whatever guitars we had recorded as a band, we wiped them clean and said you’re on your own. This is all you. He was shocked. He thought he was a guest guitar player and play along with the band. We’re like ‘no. This is all on you buddy.’

We already had left so he had to go to the studio on his own and we didn’t know what it would come out like. He sent us the song and we were really impressed. Then we went back and redid vocals. That’s how impressed I was. This is got to be to the next level, and we were already at the mastering stages. I went back and redid four of the songs because of the situation like this.

It’s cool to hear something coming back to you…I hear this now. If we were doing it all together, it would have been different. I would have heard it right off the gate.

Vinnie Stigma of Agnostic Front. Photo Credit: Raymond Ahner (via Facebook)

Vinnie Stigma of Agnostic Front. Photo Credit: Raymond Ahner (via Facebook)

While bands like Agnostic Front have gone against the status quo and questioned ideas around them, in recent times many musical acts have shifted in reverse and sided with the popular viewpoints of the world, which has not sat well with Miret.

I think that’s what happened with this record and myself. I’ve gotta get frustrated. We’ve always spoken about oppression and overcoming oppression. We’ve always touched on war and political stuff on every one of our records. You can hear a song or two like that. But man…it’s just…I don’t think it’s just the bands. I see a lot of good messages in a lot of good bands.

I don’t think these kids read lyrics any more. I don’t think they care. I only think they care about downloading the songs and they don’t care about what the bands have to say in their packaging or their art or lyric wise. They just get it and if the song sounds good or cool, then they want to sing along to it. It used to be different. It used to be people really cared. They really gave a fuck about lyrics, especially lyrically when a band had to say. They wanted to get your record, open it up and see what the message was – all of that stuff. I’m hoping I can bring that attention back. I’m hoping that along with all of the controversy along with this record…not everybody will agree with me of course…it will have people talking and people caring again.

Any conversation – I don’t think I’m right about everything. I like to challenge a person and learn from that too. I’d be ignorant if I think that I’m the only one that’s right and everyone else is wrong. That’s ignorance. I know and I’m sure I’ve made mistakes in my past. I’m open for conversation – not only me but I’d like to see people are open to this. There’s also going to be a lot of rudeness going on, which is normal. Everyone is quick to jump on something and say something. That’s kind of the way we are here as human beings in America unfortunately.

agnostic front the american dream died

As for future touring, Miret talked about how their schedules have changed over the years with financial and life situations factoring into their decisions. While things may not quite work out like in the past, Agnostic Front have restructured things to make each appearance a bit more special.

We’re working it out. We’re all older and all are fathers, have jobs we need to keep. We need to come home and feed our children and make sure we’re working to continue that. So our touring went from jumping into a van for three to four months at a time and not giving a fuck. We used to tour for nine months out of the year, all the way up to 2006. We used to do that. In 2006, it slowed down. I needed to be with my family. I can’t do it that much.

Now touring is different. We do it in pockets, like we’re about to do five dates in Florida, then we’ll come back home and then we’ll do two or three shows in New York and then go do Europe for two to three weeks, and then come back home and see what we’re going to do.

One of our members is having a baby in September. So we have to allow that time. Family is important to us. But eventually we’ll get to the cities. We’re going to do a six to seven dates in the Northeast. We used to play every little town trying to get everywhere. I don’t think we can do that any more, because we keep coming home and to keep our jobs. We’re trying to make it more of an event show so people will come out towards us this time. The same thing with Texas – do three or four shows. California – we’ll do six or seven…stuff like that. It has to be a little bit different because we do have people we love very much and care for.

Aside from touring with Agnostic Front, his daily life consists of him working with his hands on motorcycles and as an electrician. Being crafty in this way has kept him busy, even when he is not on the road.

I’m a certified Harley Davidson mechanic. I’ve been working on motorcycles since…certified since 1994 when I got my certification, but prior to that I’ve always been working on motorcycles.

I’m also a certified electrician which I got that in 1989. I like to work with my hands. I’ve always done trades. I’ve always come back from tours and jumped into something. It’s always been that way.

When I moved to Arizona, I thought I could do the motorcycle stuff a little bit more, but it doesn’t pay as well out here. The school I used to go to to do the specialty courses from for Harley Davidson is here, so they hire graduates right from school. It’s cheaper. So I do my electrical, which works very well for me here. My boss is a nice guy. When he needs help, he gives me a call and at the same time, if I need to go away and do some stuff, he totally understands. He’s in a band so he understands everything and it’s really cool.

By Rei Nishimoto


Album Stream: Agnostic Front – The American Dream Died


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New York hardcore pioneers Agnostic Front is streaming their new album The American Dream Died in its entirety below. The album comes out April 7, 2015 via Nuclear Blast Records, and was produced by Madball singer Freddy Cricien and engineered, mixed and mastered by Paul Miner (H20, Terror). Guest appearances include Cricien, Toby Morse (H20), Lou Koller (Sick Of It All), and one time Agnostic Front and Madball guitarist Matt Henderson.


Video: Agnostic Front Posts Fifth Webisode Part For New Album


agnostic front 1

Agnostic Front has posted the fifth video in the webisode series for their new album The American Dream Died, out April 7, 2015. The album was produced by Madball frontman Freddy Cricien and engineered, mixed and mastered by Paul Miner (H20, Terror), with guest appearances by Toby Morse (H20), Lou Koller (Sick Of It All), and Matt Henderson (one time Agnostic Front and Madball guitarist). Watch the video below.


Agnostic Front Posts Fourth Trailer For The American Dream Died


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Agnostic Front has posted the fourth video in the webisode series documenting the production process and the background for the new album The American Dream Died entitled “A Wise Man.” Watch it below. Watch the first three parts here, here and here.

The American Dream Died was produced by Madball singer Freddy Cricien and engineered, mixed and mastered by Paul Miner (H2O, Terror) and will be released April 7, 2015 via Nuclear Blast Records. Guest appearances include Cricien, Toby Morse (H20), Lou Koller (Sick Of It All), and one time Agnostic Front and Madball guitarist Matt Henderson on “A Wise Man.”

Agnostic Front Tour Dates:
Mar 20: Orpheum – Tampa, FL
Mar 22: Burro Bar – Jacksonville, FL
Apr 12: RockBar Theater – San Jose, CA
Apr 24: Bowery Electric – New York, NY

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Agnostic Front Streaming Third Part Of Album Web Series


agnostic front 1

New York hardcore pioneers Agnostic Front is streaming the third video in their web series entitled “Sunday Matinee Sessions,” which can be viewed below. The first two parts can be viewed here and here. Their new album The American Dream Died was produced by Madball singer Freddy Cricien and engineered, mixed and mastered by Paul Miner (H20, Terror), and will be released on April 7, 2015 via Nuclear Blast Records. Guests on the record include Cricien, Toby Morse of H20 and Lou Koller of Sick Of It All. Former Agnostic Front/Madball guitarist Matt Henderson collaborates on “A Wise Man.”


Agnostic Front Streaming “Police Violence” Music Video


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New York hardcore pioneers Agnostic Front is streaming a music video for “Police Violence,” off their forthcoming album The American Dream Died, out April 7, 2015 via Nuclear Blast Records here, and a “making of” feature video here.

The American Dream Died was produced by Madball singer Freddy Cricien and engineered, mixed and mastered by Paul Miner (H2O, Terror). The record will feature guest appearances by Cricien, Toby Morse (Toby Morse) and Lou Koller (Sick Of It All). The band also announced the collaboration of legendary Agnostic Front/Madball guitarist Matt Henderson on the song “A Wise Man.”

Each vinyl edition of the album will also contain a download code for the album Your Time’s Up by The Alligators, a rowdy punk project featuring Agnostic Front singer Roger Miret and members of legendary Anaheim, CA hardcore band Insted.

AGNOSTIC FRONT Tour Dates:
Mar 18: Back Booth – Orlando, FL
Mar 19: Churchill’s – Miami, FL
Mar 20: Orpheum – Tampa, FL
Mar 22: Burro Bar – Jacksonville, FL
Apr 12: RockBar Theater – San Jose, CA
Apr 24: Bowery Electric – New York, NY

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Agnostic Front Streaming Second Webisode Clip


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New York hardcore pioneers Agnostic Front is streaming the second video in the webisode series the band filmed documenting the production process and the background for the new album The American Dream Died, out April 7, 2015 via Nuclear Blast Records. View the second installment entitled “Stigma Being Stigma” here. The first webisode can be seen here.

The record was produced by Madball singer Freddy Cricien and engineered, mixed and mastered by Paul Miner (H2O, Terror), and will feature guest appearances by Cricien, Toby Morse (H2O) and Lou Koller (Sick Of It All). The band also announced the collaboration of legendary Agnostic Front/Madball guitarist Matt Henderson on the song “A Wise Man.”

The vinyl edition will also contain a download code for the album Your Time’s Up by The Alligators, a rowdy punk project featuring Agnostic Front singer Roger Miret and members of legendary Anaheim, CA hardcore band Insted.

The American Dream Died Track Listing:
01. Intro
02. The American Died
03. Police Violence
04. Only In America
05. Test Of Time
06. We Walk The Line
07. Never Walk Alone (feat. Freddy Cricien, Toby Morse & Lou Koller)
08. Enough Is Enough
09. I Can’t Relate
10. Old New York
11. Social Justice
12. Reasonable Doubt
13. No War Fuck You
14. Attack!
15. A Wise Man (feat. Matt Henderson on guitar)
16. Just Like Yesterday

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Agnostic Front Posts First Video Of Webisode Series For New Album


agnostic front 1

New York hardcore pioneers Agnostic Front have posted the first video in their webisode series the band filmed documenting the production process and the background for their new album The American Dream Died here.

The American Dream Died was produced by Madball singer Freddy Cricien and engineered, mixed and mastered by Paul Miner (H2O, Terror) and will be released April 7, 2015 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The record will feature guest appearances by Cricien, Toby Morse (H2O) and Lou Koller (Sick Of It All). The band also announced the collaboration of legendary Agnostic Front/Madball guitarist Matt Henderson on the song “A Wise Man.”

Agnostic Front has announced that as a special bonus in each vinyl edition of the album, every copy will also contain a download code for the album Your Time’s Up by The Alligators, a rowdy punk project featuring Agnostic Front singer Roger Miret and members of legendary Anaheim, CA hardcore band Insted.

The American Dream Died Track Listing:
01. Intro
02. The American Died
03. Police Violence
04. Only In America
05. Test Of Time
06. We Walk The Line
07. Never Walk Alone feat. Freddy Cricien, Toby Morse & Lou Koller
08. Enough Is Enough
09. I Can’t Relate
10. Old New York
11. Social Justice
12. Reasonable Doubt
13. No War Fuck You
14. Attack!
15. A Wise Man feat. Matt Henderson on guitar
16. Just Like Yesterday

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Agnostic Front Streaming Intro Video For The American Dream Died


agnostic front 1

New York hardcore pioneers AGNOSTIC FRONT have posted an intro video for the upcoming webisode series the band filmed documenting the production process and the background for the new album The American Dream Died, out April 7, 2015 via Nuclear Blast Records, here.

The American Dream Died was produced by MADBALL singer Freddy Cricien and engineered, mixed and mastered by Paul Miner (H2O, TERROR).

The record will feature guest appearances by Cricien, Toby Morse (H2O) and Lou Koller (SICK OF IT ALL). The band also announced the collaboration of legendary AGNOSTIC FRONT/MADBALL guitarist Matt Henderson on the song “A Wise Man.”

Commented Miret:

“Matt Henderson tracked all guitars for ‘A Wise Man’ being that song has a total One Voice era feel! Our good friend Ricky Singh (BACKTRACK NYHC) is to credit for the songs existence! The band executed it with such a great feel and bringing in our brother and ex-AF veteran Matt Henderson to solely do the guitar tracks was just magical!”

AGNOSTIC FRONT has announced that as a special bonus in each vinyl edition of the album, every copy will also contain a download code for the album Your Time’s Up by THE ALLIGATORS, a rowdy punk project featuring AGNOSTIC FRONT singer Roger Miret and members of legendary Anaheim, CA hardcore band INSTED.

Recently AGNOSTIC FRONT posted a track-by-track commentary for every song on the new album. It was written by the band’s iconic front man, Roger Miretand can be read below.

The American Dream Died: It’s a harsh look at what’s going on today in our society. The intro that precedes this song says it all! It’s a reaction to everything happening around us right now. The higher ups are out of control!

Police Violence: This is our reaction to what’s going on in our country regarding the unprovoked brutality of our citizens by those who we pay to “protect and serve” us. If they are going to act like criminals, then they should be prosecuted as one! They have some kind of elite fraternity-like understanding that they protect each other with. Don’t abuse your badge!

Only In America: It’s sad to learn that the people who serve in our military and risk their lives fighting in wars come home to the government not giving a shit about them, especially if those veterans were wounded mentally or physically. They gotta go through a lot of bullshit just to try and get a little help and support. You’ve gotta be blind if you don’t see that, only in America. This is why I strongly believe the US Government should stop policing the world, and start caring for the issues right here in the USA!

Test Of Time: Learning from the past is important, to help you move forward and not make the mistakes we did in our youth. Longevity is the key to success. We won’t get left behind.

We Walk The Line: It’s a statement of who we are and how we live in relation to the hardcore community.

Never Walk Alone: We always spoke about unity and how sticking together will help us grow as scene. Hardcore is worldwide now. This is our scene, our passion and it was great to present this song with honorable NYHC veteran’s Freddy Cricien (MADBALL), Toby Morse (H2O) and Lou Koller (SICK OF IT ALL) joining on the anthemy chorus!!! Punk rock/Hardcore is a movement it’s not an image!

Enough Is Enough: Protest song! I once read an inspiring quote that went like this “I hold it, that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical” – Thomas Jefferson.

I Can’t Relate: Dealing with different people you don’t like in different situations. Could be applied to a boss, ex girlfriend, someone who lives a completely opposite lifestyle, etc.

Old New York: New York City has lost its edge. It’s been stripped of its culture and over run by money. Making it hard for musicians and artist to live there. Now we’re surrounded by transplants and rich hipsters. Let’s face it, it’s not the NYC I once adored. That one is so well documented in one of my favorite movies Taxi Driver! Hence the intro, I Miss The Old New York.

Social Justice: Nothing is more disgusting than hearing about a grown man rapping a child. This song talks about a man who got caught in the act and was served street justice stabbed with knives from his head to his toes. Justice served!

Reasonable Doubt: Our whole lives we’ve been criminalized for one reason or another. But it’s actually the media, the corporations and the government who are the scumbags. Power to the people standing up against them. Wake the fuck up people!

No War Fuck You: Self explanatory, stop creating wars so you can justify your unlimited defense budget and make all your friends rich. Innocent people are dying for your stupid games.

Attack!: On some occasions people tend to disrespect and take our kindness for weakness. We have always been known for never taken shit from anyone. Cross the line and we will attack!

A Wise Man: Growing up in NYC living in and out of Vinnie’s apartment. Our old friend John always looked out for us like a father figure. He tried to guide us in the right direction and give us good advice. He was a wise man, a friend forever.

Just Like Yesterday: This song takes us on the journey through our history as a band, from touring all over the world and making friends that still remain loyal today. One of my favorite lines is “From NYC to the Berlin beat.” It shows our love for those two great cities and our great world accomplishments as a hardcore community.

The American Dream Died Track Listing:
01. Intro
02. The American Died
03. Police Violence
04. Only In America
05. Test Of Time
06. We Walk The Line
07. Never Walk Alone feat. Freddy Cricien, Toby Morse & Lou Koller
08. Enough Is Enough
09. I Can’t Relate
10. Old New York
11. Social Justice
12. Reasonable Doubt
13. No War Fuck You
14. Attack!
15. A Wise Man feat. Matt Henderson on guitar
16. Just Like Yesterday

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