Agression
Agression was part of the first wave of skatepunk bands to emerge from southern California in the early '80s. These groups were on the front lines of a new union between the skateboard and punk rock cultures, which were put on a path to convergence by the establishment hassling each group. The resulting music was a confluence of punk's anger and simplicity, the furious speed of hardcore, and defiantly smart-assed machismo.
Emerging out of Oxnard, CA (which was such a hotbed of punk and skate bands that their sound became known as "Nardcore"), Agression consisted of vocalist Mark Hickey, guitarist Henry Knowles, bassist Bob Clark, and drummer Mark Aber. The unit was one of the first groups to be involved with the Better Youth Organization (BYO) -- the collective started by Shawn and Mark Stern of Youth Brigade -- and contributed two songs to Someone Got Their Head Kicked In, the label's classic 1982 compilation. Don't Be Mistaken followed in 1983, chock-full of rapid-fire skatepunk rhythms. Contributions to various Mystic Records compilations followed, with Agression's sound wavering between skatepunk and more generic heavy metal; a self-titled LP on that label appeared in 1985, as did the "official" bootleg of an Agression show at the New York club CBGB. Agression was able to get as far as CBGB with the aid of their manager, Scott Hatch, who also managed the more established hardcore outfit Fear. As Hickey said at the time, it was difficult not to appreciate the coolness of "Agression" and "Fear" listed on one bill.
Aber left the group in 1985 for a spot with Angry Samoans, and Agression began to lose steam. Despite a series of low-quality live recordings for Mystic, the band couldn't re-capture the sneering rage of its original material, and eventually ground to a halt. Hickey left music and moved to Colorado. However, in 2000, Knowles was inspired to get the band back together. Hickey came on board, but before anything could be recorded, Hickey died of liver failure. Knowles solidered on, putting together a new version of Agression with old friends of the band. But in August 2002, he too passed away after a bout with leukemia. In Spring 2003, Cleopatra issued the Agression retrospective Full Circle; the collection included bonus live material.
© Johnny Loftus /TiVo
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Discography
8 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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The Best of Agression
Electronic - Released by Mystic Records on 15 Nov 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best of Agression
Punk / New Wave - Released by Mystic Records on 29 Jan 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Don't Be Mistaken (TRUST Edition)
Punk / New Wave - Released by TRUST RECORDS on 26 Aug 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Don't Be Mistaken
Punk / New Wave - Released by TRUST RECORDS on 7 Jan 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Agression (Remastered)
Punk / New Wave - Released by Mystic Records on 12 Mar 1985
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Full Circle
Punk / New Wave - Released by Cleopatra Records on 8 Apr 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live at C.B.G.B.'s in New York (Remastered)
Punk / New Wave - Released by Mystic Records on 30 Mar 1985
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Agression Live "Locals Only"
Electronic - Released by Mystic Records on 21 Nov 1986
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo