Break Down the Walls

Released

Youth Of Today pretty much invented “youth crew” hardcore, a mini-movement dedicated to advocating for vegetarianism or veganism, straight-edge lifestyles (no drugs, no alcohol, in some cases no sex), and eventually, weirdly, Hare Krishna. Frontman Ray Cappo (aka “Ray of Today”) and John “Porcell” Porcelly founded the band in Danbury, Connecticut in 1985; this album features second guitarist Richie Birkenhead, bassist Craig Setari (who’d later join Sick Of It All) and drummer Drew Cardellichio, also a member of Bold. Cappo shrieks and moans like an angry, kicked dog, sounding genuinely unhinged at times, as the band up- and down-shift through one collection of blazing punk riffs after another. Every song has a midtempo “breakdown” section so people can stage dive, but there are shout-along choruses aplenty, too.

Phil Freeman