Cro-Mags were the New York hardcore band with the greatest crossover potential; The Age of Quarrel has high-impact production and some absolutely brutal thrash-punk riffs. Their more fast and furious songs (“We Gotta Know,” “World Peace,” “Street Justice,” “Hard Times”) are balanced by more grinding, metallic floor-pounders like “Malfunction” and “Seekers of the Truth.” At all times, though, they have an anthemic quality, the twin guitars of Parris Mayhew and Doug Holland clawing at the air atop Harley Flanagan’s bass and Mackie Jayson’s demolition-crew drumming, and John Joseph’s hoarse, desperate vocals delivered like he’s grabbed your shirt and is screaming in your face on a subway platform. Given the band’s internal volatility, it’s amazing they were able to produce anything at all, but this album is an absolute masterpiece, maybe the paradigmatic NYHC album.