The Krays

Not to be confused with the well-dressed twin British gangsters, the Krays erupted from the New York City punk scene in the mid-‘90s, remaining underground and hardcore while their peers on the West Coast hopped onto major labels and MTV. Completely devoid of any studio gloss or even a decent studio budget, the Krays have proudly remained faithful to their punk roots, drawing comparisons to Agnostic Front and Sick Of It All. Eschewing pop hooks and teen-diary lyrics for honest narratives about living on the streets, played with breakneck tempos and extremely loud, slashing guitars, the Krays quickly established a tight, loyal bond with alienated youths. Led by Jon Rosado, otherwise known as Johnny Kray, the Krays were formed in 1994 in Brooklyn, NY. Inspired by classic punk groups from the U.S. and the U.K., the Krays were part of a small East Coast oi! scene. The group made their debut in 1998 with Inside Warfare. After 2000's A Battle for the Truth, the band signed with TKO Records. In 2002, the group released A Time for Action to critical acclaim. That same year Kray did moonlighting work for Agnostic Front's Roger Miret and his group the Disasters, playing drums on their album Roger Miret & the Disasters.