When it comes to the claims of who the 'legends' of the hardcore scene really are, some prime factors need to be taken into consideration - namely: influence, longevity and reputation. Madball - a pummeling staple of New York Hardcore since the band's inception in 1988 is one of the few groups that can lay claim to achieving high marks in regards to all of the above, while also maintaining an undying spirit that, to many,represents the heart of what hardcore is all about. Originally coming to fruition as an Agnostic Front side-project, featuring a junior-high aged Freddy Cricien, younger brother of legendary Agnostic Front frontman Roger Miret - on vocals, Madball quickly established a reputation as beingone of the hardest-working and most visceral hardcore bands in the scene, which still holds true to this day. In fact, Madball has shared the stage with nearly every reputable hardcore and metal band of the past decade, and even after years of existence the band can still outperform most of its contemporaries. The group's influence has affected many of the modern giants of the scene - Hatebreed and Terror, among countless others, being notable examples.