About this episode
Can you believe Roger Miret of Agnostic Front , the literal Godfather of Hardcore, just called the internet and AI the “most destructive tool there ever is”? He doesn’t hold back, arguing that our obsession with phones is making us “soulless fucking people” and destroying human creativity and genuine connection. It’s a hardcore take on modern life, and honestly, you have to hear his reasoning behind Evolution of Madness and why he thinks we’ve all gone “batshit crazy”! This conversation goes deep, so strap in. Chris Akin sits down with Roger Miret to dive into the band’s latest killer record, Echoes in Eternity , set for release on November 7th. Roger reveals the fascinating story behind their genre-bending collaboration with the legendary DMC of Run DMC on the track Matter of Life and Death , touching on how hardcore and hip hop have walked “parallel lives”. He also gets intensely personal, discussing his battle with cancer during the pandemic and how overcoming that fight—similar to his past struggles—provided a new spark to maximize every second of life. Beyond the music, Roger shares why Echoes in Eternity is a collection of all their past records and the punk ethic of caring about the art and packaging, not just a song on Spotify. He even drops some eye-opening thoughts on American consumerism and how different the food and lifestyle is in Europe. Agnostic Front is hitting the road soon, with East Coast shows starting December 4th and a European tour in February 2026, so be ready to witness the live monster. 00:00 Mike Gallo’s ID / Roger Miret’s “Hot Take” on the internet/AI01:13 Agnostic Front: The legendary band’s new album, Echoes in Eternity (November 7th release)02:14 The true secret to Agnostic Front’s longevity03:16 Why Agnostic Front is a live monster , not a studio band04:09 Why touring and younger bands keep the music and lyrics inspired04:57 Lyrical focus: social-political, day-to-day issues (not world politics)05:41 Echoes in Eternity as a “catalog record”06:27 The DMC collaboration on “Matter of Life and Death”07:12 Hardcore and Hip Hop: Walking “parallel lives”08:52 Roger’s instruction to DMC: “Do your thing, your way”09:14 DMC’s recording and excitement for the song and video10:45 DMC’s humbleness and why he’s true to heavy music12:23 The importance of hip hop/metal collaborations (Run-DMC & Aerosmith, Anthrax & Public Enemy)13:15 The deeply personal song “I Can Win” 13:47 Overcoming depression and getting hit with cancer during the pandemic14:09 Finding hope: The song was originally “I Can’t/Can Win”15:56 Cancer and prison as a “spark” to maximize life and fight oppression17:12 The system is “fucking broke” and the song “Evolution of Madness” 17:50 The internet and AI as the “most destructive tool”19:36 Why AI and Chat GPT create “soulless fucking people”20:20 Agnostic Front’s logo and the meaning of “Agnostic”20:39 The Echoes in Eternity cover art: blindfolded by belief21:38 Upcoming tour dates: East Coast (December 4th) and Europe (February 2026)22:14 The non-glamorous side of touring: lots of waiting23:48 Why seeing the world is essential to experience truth25:16 Americans are “non-appreciative” and the differences in food (preservatives)27:43 Where to buy the new album and merchandise (agnosticfront.com)28:27 The importance of the physical album art and punk ethics Get commercial-free versions of our episodes, early releases, and exclusive content by subscribing to our premium platforms. We highly recommend our Locals page: https://classicmetalshow.locals.com You can also find us on Rumble: https://rumble.com/premium and Substack: Get all your favorite CMS Merchandise from our online store: https://classicmetalshow.creator-spring.com/ BUY CHRIS AKIN’S BEST BOOKS HERE: Call Me Chris by Chris Akin - https://amzn.to/44TDIZ4 Little Victories by Chris Akin - https://amzn.to/43A143y ...AND OTHER THINGS I SHOULD NOT SAY... By Chris Akin - https://amzn.to/3SRP3Bq NOTE: Everything said here, and on every episode of all of our shows, are 100% the opinions of the hosts. Nothing is stated as fact. Do your own research to see if their opinions are true or not. #AgnosticFront, #RogerMiret, #HardcorePunk, #DMC, #EchoesInEternity, #NYHC, #HardcoreMusic, #PunkRock, #ChrisAkinPresents, #TheGodfatherOfHardcore This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe