Hard Times.

Back before the Cro-Mags started making shitty hair-metal, they released an album that would eventually be regarded as one of the best hardcore punk albums of all time: the Age of Quarel.

This is the kind of record that sets hardcore nerds on jizz frenzies at it's sheer mention. Whilst most hardcore bands in the early days had been suburban bored teenagers screaming bollocks about angst and alienation, the Cro-Mags were violent New York street kids who didn't know how to fake being angry and aggressive. The were generally fucked off at everything.

John Joseph, who was on microphone duties before Harley took over and ruined everything, has just got about to releasing a book about his troublesome youth, in which he narrates some of the most insane stories you could imagine. Abuse, violence, drugs, prison, the Hare Krishna: he's seen a ridiculous amount of crazy shit. This book, The Evolution of a Cro-Magnon, is also available as an audiobook. You can download the whole thing below.

John Joseph - The Evolution Of A Cro-Magnon