From New York To Salt Lake, Madball Travels the Legacy Highway

Hard, Fast, heavy, and mean, Madball is the truest form of New York hardcore, and maybe Hardcore in general. They hold absolutely nothing back and although their records are devastatingly excellent, it’s their live show that has made them the Legendary band that they are. For the past15 years they’ve been making hardcore music and that has only made this band more resolute to elevate themselves and the entire hardcore scene.
I had a conversation with lead singer Freddy Cricien who was just a 12 year old kid when his older brother Roger Miret(Agnostic Front) brought him up on stage to sing. Since then Freddy has been creating his own legacy in hardcore music.

“Just being around it from an early age got me into hardcore. My brother Roger got me involved and he’d bring me on stage and sing with them. There were a few years that I grew away from it when I was 14/15, and then when I was 17 we decided to do another 7 inch because I was only 12 when we did the first one Ball of Destruction. I’d have to say the second time around, the second 7 inch, was when I decided to role with it, and as the years have gone on I became more grateful for the opportunity, and more focused and passionate about the band.”

Madball started out as a side project of Agnostic Front’s, releasing early 7’s and opening up for A.F. Once Freddy was old enough he took control of the band and set out on his own course to make something more of Madball. After brother Roger left the band bassist Hoya joined, and they began working on their first full-length record Set It Off. Soon word got out around the NY hardcore scene and Madball took their place amongst the renowned hardcore groups of that close tight nit scene.

“Believe it or not there is still that closeness in the scene. I remember way back in the days I met all these guys my brother was hanging around with like Ray Beeze (Agnostic Front, Warzone) and of course Vinnie [Stigma] (Agnostic Front, Madball), and all these characters. These guys all lived together and you can’t get any closer than that, and you’ll never have those exact same moments again, but there’s still people that are involved in bands and the scene that are still pretty close. There’s a sense of family, and there’s definitely respect there. You know how they say that New York pizza no matter where you go it can’t be duplicated. Its that New York vibe, its in the air, its in the streets, there’s just a different vibe here in New York. This city is a Mecca for music.”

Maball’s furious live shows and constant touring brings them fans all over the world. Fans of hardcore, punk and metal alike are appreciating what Madball is doing.

“Maybe it’s the way we carry ourselves. Our music is straight up New York hardcore, but its got a groove to it you can bob you head to it. Were not elitist. A lot of people can relate to the stuff we talk about. Even if they’re not street kids they can still get something out of it. We’re all pretty open individuals, and maybe they can get that vibe from us. We’re pretty sincere about what we do and maybe people respect that aspect of it.”

After releasing five full-length records, touring the globe, and many stressful situations, Madball called it quits. Leaving Freddy and Hoya to work on a collaboration with Toby Morse (H2O) called Hazen St. After almost 3 years had passed and clarity set the members of Maball decided to resume the band with fresh attitudes and perspectives.

“At the time it was a break up. We had a lot of personal issues, and it was just a combination of things that made us decide to end it for the time. We weren’t sure if we’d ever get back together to do it again. We let circumstances around us dictate our decisions for our career and we’ve never been ones to do that. Its not like we lost passion for it, it wasn’t for lack of passion. We felt like Madball hadn’t reached its full potential, and so thats what brought us back, and so far its been going good, We want to take [Madball] places we’ve never been. We want to elevate the band to as much as we can.”

With those goals in mind Madball released the New York Hardcore EP which announced their return as of the kings of hardcore, and then created their newest and most exciting full-length record to date. Legacy takes listeners by the throat and pounds them with heavy riffs, thunderous drumming and of course Freddy’s growling vocals.

“The record is fresher, I mean the last record we did was in 2000. It’s where we are now. Its a new chapter in our lives, every album is like that. This is where we stand personally and as band. The music, the lyrics, the entire vibe of the record reflects that. I think there are things on the record that tell those stories.”

Madball has such strength, and tenacity. They can’t be stopped. It’s rough, it’s mean, it’s honest. If you have any doubts to the contrary get a copy of Legacy and they’ll set you straight, and make sure to be In the Venue the night of the 15th to see Madball destroy the place.

MadBall, Walls of Jericho, Misery Signals, Full Blown Chaos
$12 Thurs., 9/15
In the Venue
Doors at 6:30 pm