Judge is a seminal hardcore band that burst onto the New York City scene in the late 1980s as the brainchild of Youth of Today guitarist John "Porcell" Porcelly and vocalist Mike "Judge" Ferraro. Their formation was a direct response to what they perceived as the hedonistic and nihilistic trends within the NY hardcore scene at the time. Judge sought to promote a message of straight-edge living—an ethos of abstaining from drugs, alcohol, and promiscuous sex—and personal responsibility through their aggressive music and confrontational lyrics.

After their initial formation in 1987, Judge released their landmark "New York Crew" EP in 1988, which was quickly followed by their debut full-length, "Bringin' It Down," in 1989. Both releases solidified their place in hardcore history, capturing the band's raw intensity and moral conviction. Despite their influential status, Judge's career was relatively short-lived; internal tensions and the strain of relentless touring contributed to their disbandment in 1991. The posthumous release, "Chung King Can Suck It," a rare and much sought-after LP, featured recordings that were scrapped in favor of what would become "Bringin' It Down." "The Storm," another critical release, further showcases Judge's ability to channel their fierce ideals into a sound that was both powerful and inspiring, leaving a legacy that continues to influence the hardcore genre to this day.