Best Wishes

Infobox Album
Name = Best Wishes
Type = studio
Artist = Cro-Mags

Released = 1989
Recorded = Normandy Sound,
Warren, Rhode Island, USA
Genre = Thrash metal
Length = 33:09
Label = Profile Records
Another Planet 1994 reissue
Producer = Chris Williamson
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:u1ud6j5h71u0 link]
Last album = "The Age Of Quarrel"
(1986)
This album = "Best Wishes"
(1989)
Next album = "Alpha Omega"
(1992)
Misc = Extra album cover
Upper caption = Re-issue cover
Background = darkseagreen


Lower caption = 1994 Another Planet re-issue – with "The Age Of Quarrel" on same disc |

"Best Wishes" is the second album by New York hardcore band, Cro-Mags. It was released in 1989 on Profile Records and was subsequently re-released on Another Planet – along with their debut album, "The Age Of Quarrel", on the same disc.

The album's cover reflected the band's interest in the Hare Krishna religion which started with previous singer John Joseph and then carried on through Harley Flanagan who also became a devotee. The Krishna faith was ultimately the demise of the band, as the contradiction of a faith of pacifism against the violence of the band's music was often even too much for the band members to handle. However, before this, in 1992, their next album, "Alpha Omega", saw the return of John Joseph to the Cro-Mags fold, and an even further gravitation towards a metal sound.

Overview

After the short, sharp bursts of song encountered on their previous album, 1986's "The Age Of Quarrel", this album saw a complete change of style as Cro-Mags entered the crossover thrash arena, complete with guitar solos. The songs also became longer – averaging around four minutes, whereas "Quarrel's" came in at around the three minute mark. There were two line-up changes from the previous album – most notably, John Joseph's departure paved the way for Harley Flanagan to take up both bass and vocal duties. Flanagan's was a very different vocal style and it further juxtaposed the band's image from straightout hardcore punk to a more metal sound. Another change was Pete Hines coming in on drums.

Track listing

#"Death Camps" (Harley Flanagan, Doug Holland, Pete Hines) – 5:22
#"Days Of Confusion" (Flanagan) – 2:19
#"The Only One" (Flanagan, Paris M Mayhew) – 4:55
#"Down But Not Out" (Flanagan, Mayhew) – 3:59
#"Crush The Demoniac" (Flanagan, Holland, Mayhew) – 3:56
#"Fugitive" (Flanagan, Holland, Mayhew) – 4:40
#"Then And Now" (Flanagan, Hines) – 3:12
#"Age Of Quarrel" (Flanagan) – 4:45

Credits

* Harley Flanagan – vocals, bass
* Parris Mitchell Mayhew – guitar
* Doug Holland – guitar
* Pete Hines – drums

* Recorded at Normandy Sound, Warren, Rhode Island, USA
* Produced by Chris Williamson
* Engineered by Tom Soares
* Assistant engineered by Jamie Locke
* Mixed by Chris Williamson and Tom Soares
* Further assistance by Robert Windsor
* Original cover illustration by The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust

* Re-issue remastered by Alan Douches at West Westside Music

External links

* [http://www.cro-mags.com/ Parris Mayhew's Official Cro-Mags Website]
* [http://www.cromags.com/ Harley Flanagan's Official Cro-mags Website]