*Cough cough*
With all due respect, but some of you kids should put down your Xbox and learn a little bit about the world outside (the US of A). Griffith Observatory in L.A., not Notre Dame in Paris?
Do yourselves a favor and google "Notre Dame" and "Sagrada Familia". Henchman from Brazil is spot on as far as I can tell.
Apart from the somewhat generic color scheme, I like this new artwork. Possibly their best since Generator.
17 "fast, straight to the point punk rock songs"? Bring on the new album I say!

Generator has the best cover art. It's so... odd... just like the rest of the album. In the best possible way, of course.

Fantastic. It looks wonderful!

The cover looks pretty good. Though the font for "New maps of hell" looks a bit out of place...looks more like a cover for a heavy metal album.

Best BR album cover ever... No Control.

I agree, it does reek of generic influences

The album title and song titles are fairly generic Bad Religion, but still seems somewhat interesting anyway. I like the last 2 albums, so I'll probably be pretty excited come late June. I'm not big on the album cover, seeing as it reeks of the lame "Graffiti" design style that's been plastered everywhere lately

TOM CUT THE BULLSHIT, IT'S HARD NOT TO REPEAT AN ARTWORK UNLESS YOU PUT SOME EFFORT AND IMAGINATION INTO IT

I like the new cover, it may be the same colors as before but when there are so many previous albums it is hard not to repeat. Also, anyone think it looks like the video fo Los Angeles is Burning? But I like it.

The use of the red/white/black colours is getting old already. Don't like it at all!

it's not notre dame.. it's the griffith observatory. and it's in l.a.

br covers kick ass!!!

I like the art because of the use of the color read. It appears to me that the red on "New Maps of Hell" is supposed to be spray paint, the red on "Bad Religion" is supposed to be blood, and the red on the graphics higher up is supposed to be fire. Very clever, in my opinion.

this cover still sucks

AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!!!!!
Finally a new album!!!!
YEAH!!! :D

i like the sleeve minus the 'new maps of hell' bit, that bit looks hackneyed

"They still CAN write straight forward punk songs and use their experience. Think TPOB's Prove It and Can't Stop It. Fast punk, good melodies, and each under 2 minutes. It doesn't have to be the same as HCHBAW, but I would like to see more of these type of songs."
Exactly. This is the point I've been trying to make.

They still CAN write straight forward punk songs and use their experience. Think TPOB's Prove It and Can't Stop It. Fast punk, good melodies, and each under 2 minutes. It doesn't have to be the same as HCHBAW, but I would like to see more of these type of songs.

I think the new cover is awsome and intresting.

Cut us some slack though; this is the first thing we're getting from BR in 3 years (which for this band is a long time... this is actually the longest BR album drought since Suffer.)
We're clutching at straws here. =)

"yea stop being spoiled little babies. they are making another album, that's all that matters honestly."
Amen.

coolest cd cover ever!

Part III, Tommy...
Who ever said Notre Dame is on it? It's a small, low-res image viewed from an angle. Could be Royce Hall from UCLA... or somethings else.

I like how people equate slower songs with them wanting to sell more records. It's not like songs like Boots Stamping and Beyond Electric Dreams are any more commercially viable than songs like Athiest Peace or All There Is. And if they weren't released as singles, how would they help sell more records?
Doing what they're known for over and over would be a safer way to sell records. And they do stick to that to a large degree. It's not like TESF is some grand stylistic departure from Suffer.
I doubt Bad Religion would ever do something a fraction as exploratory as Into The Unknown again, but you never know.

yea stop being spoiled little babies. they are making another album, that's all that matters honestly.

You can't say that until you hear it, though. Like I said, I prefer the new stuff, but why is it such a big deal if they write a simple punk song like in the old days? It doesn't mean they're going to discard their improved songwriting abilities. Right now, they experiment a lot with more melodic and folky choruses. The remnants of HCHBAW means straight forward punk songs. Has nothing to do pretention, and sounding forced. All I'm saying is that it will be interesting to hear these songs.

ok, who cares about the cover? Even if it does suck, it is rarely the thing I tend to spend most of my energy with.
And I agree with Bad Brett. If the guys (who are all 40ish, except Brooks "Sherley Temple" Wackerman) try to act like teenagers it would suck anyway. I think we are blessed that they still wanna do punk rock, and since I am a little bitch deep inside, I welcome a little emo - and I thought Boot Stamping... was a great fucking song - even if the rest of the world hates it.
Anyway punk rock should never be about satisfying someone elses expectations. I will be glad as long as the new album is not as bland as New America.

Bad Brett definitely has a point. TheMike, even if they satisfied your nostalgia with songs sounding like White Trash..., don't you think it would seem too forced?

"So WHY THE HELL do you want BR to write songs like 15-year olds again? To satify your own 15-year old minds?"
Nostalgia? Anyway, talking about immaturity, we aren't the ones taking a fit over someone else's opinions and/or interests. Personally, I like the newer stuff better. But I still love old numbers like "We're Only Gonna Die" and "White Trash, 2nd Generation". It would be interesting to hear a couple new songs of a similar style.

I like how you included your email address as if someone would find your banality worthy of a private conversation.

this cover sucks

I don't get it. They made HCHBAW at a time when none of them could play, sing or write music and lyrics.
Now they've played together for 26 years. They have fantastic drummer. Graffin has his PhD. Epitaph has grown into a big record company and is capable of making really well produced records.
So WHY THE HELL do you want BR to write songs like 15-year olds again? To satify your own 15-year old minds?

yea that'd be the way to go out...
I hope not to see him for another 2 or 3 albums.

that's pretty much what I said two days ago

just one thing I cant understand..with all those buildings taking from LA.. what the hell is the Notre Dame doing on it then?

if they ever get the sufferboy back on an album cover.. you can bet your ass that it'll be their last one

I'm curious if they'll bring suffer boy back... it would seem appropriate if they are returning to an older-school sound.
in any case, as long as the rest of the artwork isn't the album cover over and over again, I think everyone is gonna be cool with it, personal preferences aside.

I agree with RatGuy, anyways, back to the "Greg Hetson has the best hair" discussion...

Welcome to the BR Page, Jesus. It's what we do.

You guys are bitching waaaay to much on artwork for a record.

same color scheme as tesf. thats disappointing. but i like the art.

The latest epitaph newsletter says "Don't be surprised if they hit us with some fast, straight to the point punk rock songs that are remnant of How Could Hell Be Any Worse?"
Thought I would just put that out there.

I feel bad for the people who can't embrace change and diversity in bad religion's music.
It's like a kid in a candy store... who only likes one specific type of candy.

LOL jonny (if you were being sarcastic)
Actually I just figured out what that "twin towers" building is. I saw it driving through Hollywood to work this morning. That little white square in the corner reads "House of Blues".

looks like twin towers to me for sure i'm sure i can see leaning tower of piza to.Art work is ok but nothing special.
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No you can't, if you what the leaning tower of Pisa looked like you'd know it wasn't it. Stop guessing here. They're all from LA.

looks like twin towers to me for sure i'm sure i can see leaning tower of piza to.Art work is ok but nothing special.

i wasnt keen on the last album so hope this one aint to experimental, i did'nt like boot stamping and beyond electric dreams too much, i'd prefer something more like tpob and older albums, i really don't wanna hear an album packed with slow poppy numbers, i hope the production is better than tesf which was weak imo.I prefer the typical BR sound, of course thats why i got into them, not some watered down version to sell more records , which i feel tesf was to some degree.
I hope im pleasantly suprised but im not building my hopes up yet.

Johnny T, thouWgh you mAay still be crSazy, I hope it's a booHkend. WhiEle it reDally does look like it cUould be br's hePll, the art is boring to say the least.

it's ok, i like it, but i was hoping something like the art cover of TPOB, that album cover is one of the best that i've ever seen. Anyway, it's just the cover... the main thing about the album are the songs and i can't wait to hear it!
cheers from Argentina, folks

Am I crazy or is that the notre dames church or whatever from france?( next to the hollywood hill

Danny,
They're not?
Left to Right: Griffith Observatory, Watts Towers, Hollywood Freeway (as seen from the hills), the tallest building in Hollywood (under construction), 2 buildings I don't know, Capitol Records, LA City Hall, some stuff I dunno, and the Hollywood sign. All in Los Angeles.
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It would be very odd is amongst all those LA landmarks, there would suddenly be buildings from other random places, let alone the World Trade Center.

It seems like Epitaph must be getting a bulk discount rate for this shitty style of art. It looks like it was done by the same shitty artist who did the stupid artwork for the last album and motion city soundtrack and the last few punkoramas...How about something different for a change?

what ever happend to this being a double album?

albaholic those are not all buildings from California. I like this cover. But I'm not really wowed. I honestly expected more.

All I can say is that I'm indifferent on the cover...I will bet your life that the album rocks. I don't get excited about artwork on CDs.

i love the artwork... think The New Maps of Hell has any connection with kingsley amis and his science fiction book with the same title, or is it just a coincidence? oh what am i saying, nothing in this universe is coincidental :P

Don't think this is the final artwork. I kinda hope not, because it's pretty bland in my opinion.

This is it! This is the last Bad religion album you heard it here first

My opinion on the album cover definetly went more positive when I read it had buildings from loads of different cities around the world in it, but now someone's saying it's all LA and now it's gone back down again.
:S

I think it will last for more than a trilogy as long as Brooks stays. The drummer decides so much of the energic sound, and the energy is the red line through POB and TESF.

"I'm sorry but your use of energy and synergy in a row just makes me even more suspicious."
I'm afraid I don't quite catch your drift. Suspicious of what?

Part III,
There's no way in (New Maps of) Hell that the building you're thinking of is the Twin Towers. Every other building/landmark is from LA. I'm pretty sure I've seen this other building around here too but I can't remember where or what it is.
Svein,
Yah, I missed that other one.

very cool cover... can't wait to hear the new songs!!!

Okay, I'm not sure about this, but the building to the left of the Capitol Records tower, is that the Crystal Cathedral? The huge megachurch in Orange County?

I'm sorry but your use of energy and synergy in a row just makes me even more suspicious.

Red and black is cool but it seems like they use that color scheme for every other album.

Jau: That's very true. Althought, I hear a similar energy and enthusiasm within the two albums. They have similar production as well. I don't know, I just feel as though they have a kind of synergy together as the big return to epitaph. The new album is apparently exploring new ground as well, and if it has that similar sound and energy, it would feel like the last part of a new trilogy to me.

ehh as much as I like POB and TESF, I don't think they are that similar to be considered part of a trilogy, POB kinda had its own theme going (the artwork was similar to Generator) whereas TESF experimented more and had much more radically different artwork than previous BR albums.

'Gurewitz states, "we all liked the concept of maps, because we are exploring new material on this record, both musically and topically."'
Yesssss! That's what I want Bad Religion to do precisely. Take risks, don't be conservative. I liked what they tried in songs like Beyond Electric Dreams (making the most of a drummer like Brooks) or Boot Stamping..., one of the highlights of Empire, no matter what conservative fans say. It should have definitely made a second single and video.

what the hell, I swear I selected NL as country, damnit

awesome cover,
the twin towers are on it too btw

"perhaps this is 1st or 2nd in a new trilogy? Maybe the next one will have similar artwork :D"
I was thinking of it as the third installment in a new trilogy, to be honest. Process and Empire had a somewhat similar vibe to them. This one might, too. And with 17 songs, it plays the role of Against the Grain, the big final hurrah.

perhaps this is 1st or 2nd in a new trilogy? Maybe the next one will have similar artwork :D

Albaholic, I think you misread my comment, because that's basically what I said as well :)

Svein, that's no socialist red flag. It's the standard American flag -- look closer; you'll see the blue in the left corner.
The Capitol Records building has the US flag on it.
I think it's a good cover... though I wish BR would do something a little different... this makes the album look like "TESF Volume II"... and nothing wrong with that; it was an awesome album. But it would be nice to see some kind of evolution.

No clouds here, they defiantly could do it. Bad Religion has done more for punk than most bands have in past 25 years; they've managed to maintain an excellent balance between underground and mainstream , remaining popular yet by no means trendy, and have managed to stay relevant to a T for almost 3 decades now. Not to mention cranking out kick ass albums (despite fans preferring certain fans in a certain era over others) for 25 years. I'm know a lot of people thought we'd never see Bad Religion again after 1983, but they were wrong.
If they aren't inducted, it would only because those responsible for choosing the bands are complete idiots. I would boycott the Hall Of Fame if they don't at least consider BR, or nominate them.

As long as everyone is making references back to "How Could Hell Be Any Worse," this year makes 25 years since that albums release right? Wouldn't that mean that they qualify to be enducted into the Rock n' roll Hall of fame? Does anyone else think that they could pull it off? Or do I need to get my head out of the clouds?

I think this is a pretty damn good cover. I was afraid it'd be a lot more like the crap artwork that epitaph has been featuring in recent years, similar to the last 3 punk-o-ramas or the LATP dvd (i mean what the fuck, tv's with eyes?!) It looks great and I think it is definitely reminiscent of their first album.

Dude, this album cover looks NOTHING like How Could Hell....the only common bonds between the two are the architecture and the work "hell"..this cover looks just like the TESF stuff....
As for Jonny T's comment.... Jonny stop thinking so hard...you're hurting me.

methinks the band would've commented on it as being possibly the last album.
I think you are crazy; I don't see them doing their final album for at about 2 more.

As cool as it looks, it worries me. Maybe I'm over-scrutinizing, but there are two things that indicate that this may be BRs final album.
1. The song "Honest Goodbye"
2. The album art is reminiscent of their first album, which is kind of like bookending all the others.
I don't know, maybe I'm crazy. I hope so.

Damnit, Ive been sick all week, I shoulda checked the mail :\.
And yea, this album is going to be amazing.

Comments by Drew from Global Citizen on 2007-03-26 @ 23:19
There's a red flag on top of that building...socialism anyone? I'm not sure that's what the actual message is but still, it's awesome.
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If you zoom in, it's clear that it's an American flag in black and red colours.

I just shat myself.
This looks really cool! I see they're still going for the black/red look.
I want back covers and liner notes and stuff, too. And music.

There's a red flag on top of that building...socialism anyone? I'm not sure that's what the actual message is but still, it's awesome.

You?re right Tommy. I can see Notredame church near "hollywood" from Paris , trere?s also "sagrada familia" from barcelone (Spain). there?s also the planet mars in the sky i believe and i can?t recognize any other famous building.
The art reminds me of the videoclip LOS ANGELES IS BURNING...

This is not just a pic of their home town. It has buildings from other countries..So maybe this is some sort of answer on "how could hell be any worse?" It can't be worse, because hell is on earth.

' Very reminiscent of "How Could Hell Be Any Worse?". I love it. '
I think thats the point. NEW maps of hell. maybe. i dont know. whatevs.

I'm in two minds.
On one hand I'm happy to see the three main BR colours being used, but then again, there is nothing particularly exciting about the art.
Empire Strikes First was cool as it used the BR colours and had political symbolism (Flag) and religious (Prayer). This is just a pic of their home town. :/
However, if some of the red is supposed to be fire, then I'd say it's slightly better, but seriously, it's not got much impact.

thats cool!
its like a mix of new america and as mike said how could hell..

I just shat my drawers, son.

Very reminiscent of "How Could Hell Be Any Worse?". I love it.