This weekend we lost one of the most iconic frontman in New York Hardcore, Eddie Leeway to lung cancer. Leeway was a seminal hardcore band for much of New York and would go on to influence bands from the 80s all the way until today. List is NYHC classics/digs and a sound off for the first two Leeway records. Give them a spin and celebrate the Kingpin
The first Leeway album to ever drop is notable for it's blending of metal, punk, and hardcore in a way few bands had done at the time. Sure you had NYHC staples like Carnivore and Agnostic Front dropping in the late 80s but they did not have the presence/vocals like Eddie did. His Ozzy-like delivery really made him stand amongst the pack combined with the attention to textures, a slight hip hop/funk influence and more melodic parts that would help to solidify the Leeway sound. This and Desperate Measures are underrated thrash/hardcore classics around here. You can still hear the band in newer bands like Mindforce and Turnstile's early work.
The second Leeway album is often revered as their best work to date and I can see why. Upping the funk/hip hop influences, increasing the melodic parts and having overall more catchy songs that would further make them stand out from their contemporaries. This would be the tightest the band would ever sound moving forward. This was the album that got me into Leeway after seeing Power Trip cover Ball Hugger in 2012. RIP Riley!!!
