Alcatraz Line up: 2023, 2024

This New York hardcore outfit emerged in the late 80s as an offshoot of Agnostic Front and launched their first studio album in 1994. Freddy Cricien made his on-stage debut with Agnostic Front at just 12 years old. Thirty-five years and many incarnations later Freddy is the sole founding member still flying the flag. Groovy/thrashy riffs, fast hardcore drumming and lyrics about the hardships of life on the streets of NYC are the main ingredients of their debut ‘Set It Off’. There’s a bit of a hip hop feel to their debut but on ‘Hold It Down’ (2000) they experimented with a more traditional hardcore punk sound, resulting in faster-paced tracks. 2010’s ‘Empire’ is one of the highlights in their discography. Brimming with raw energy, the album clocks in at just over half an hour for 16 tracks. Lyrically they still write about themes like family values and urban violence, topics that are more relevant than ever. ‘For the Cause’ (2018) continues to stay the true NYHC course and Ice-T was one of several guest artists to contribute. Madball is still one of the best live bands when it comes to channelling the rawness of American street life into furious songs.