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Posted by: admin | 09/04/2007 at 19:43
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[Blogcritics]
One of the greatest punk rock bands of all time have put out yet another album. It?s been 27 years since Bad Religion first formed as a band and they are still going strong. They are the godfathers of the Warped Tour and have a wide age range of fans all over the world. Their genre of music has been called punk, pop punk, and even melodic hardcore. There is not other band quite like Bad Religion. Their latest CD, New Maps Of Hell marks their 14th album release.
[IGN - 8.7/10]
August 10, 2007 - There has never been a more intelligent band in the history of punk rock. No, scratch that. There has never been a more intelligent band in the history of music. Period. Bad Religion sits atop the heap, alone, awaiting the day that the world finally understands the purpose the band serves, the meaning the members espouse and the reality they so desperately crave - but deep down inside know they will never see.
The band's latest effort is its 14th full-length album and 20th release overall. The album is as focused as any of the band's past records; its messages are as poignant and trenchant as ever; it is musically as tight as the band has ever sounded; and lyrically, it is everything a fan should expect from lead singer and principal lyric writer Greg Graffin: perspicacious, penetrating, sage and felicitous.
[Cleveland Scene]
Republican presidents always bring out the best in Bad Religion. New Maps of Hell is the sextet's first full-length in three years, and the disc ranks among its finest.
With renewed vigor, Bad Religion continues its fight against religious dogma and political ignorance, trading its long-standing idealism for straight-up rage. Singer Greg Graffin sums up his group's disenchantment on "New Dark Ages": "We're animals with golden rules/Who can't be moved by rational views."
Although the band tweaked its established sound with dirtier production and more guitar leads, the patented three-way harmonies and indelible melodies still dominate on the fist-pumping anthems "Requiem for Dissent," "Before You Die," and "Scrutiny."
These punk rock legends, however, aren't formulaic in a stale way; they're just consistently awesome. Twenty-seven years into its storied career, Bad Religion is more vital than ever.
[The Vista Online]
Punk rock legends Bad Religion return after a three-year absence with their 14th studio album, "New Maps of Hell," following up the 2004 release "The Empire Strikes First." Once again, the band manages to impress with fast-paced punk rock, intelligent and politically charged lyrics and their ability to question authority when it needs to be questioned the most.
The 16-track album is classic Bad Religion, down to the cross-buster art adorning the physical disc. The songs are short and sweet, with the longest song being the final track, "Fields of Mars," clocking in at 3:35 (or 3:39 if my copy of iTunes is to be believed).
[Glide Magazine - 4/5]
Who said you can?t play punk in your 40?s? That's obviously not the case for Bad Religon, who after 25 years and 14 albums are still pumping out blistering riffs, super revved up rhythms and assaulting lyrics. The 2007 Warped Tour headliners, now icons to all the Paramores and New Found Glorys in their punk path have unveiled their latest and almost greatest record? New Maps of Hell.
What has always separated Bad Religion apart from their peers was their knack for incorporating melody into their assault, without coming off as softy pop. ?New Dark Ages? and ?Honest Goodbye? are anthem ready, while the fiery ?Scrutiny? and ?Requiem for Dissent? prove Bad Religion are still hardcore. Greg Graffin remains dominating, transforming each word to sound prolific, while Mr. Brett Gurewitz and Greg Hetson continue to make their strings bleed. New Maps of Hell is direct, short, catchy and attacking - what more can you ask for in a good punk album?
One of the greatest punk rock bands of all time have put out yet another album. It?s been 27 years since Bad Religion first formed as a band and they are still going strong. They are the godfathers of the Warped Tour and have a wide age range of fans all over the world. Their genre of music has been called punk, pop punk, and even melodic hardcore. There is not other band quite like Bad Religion. Their latest CD, New Maps Of Hell marks their 14th album release.
[IGN - 8.7/10]
August 10, 2007 - There has never been a more intelligent band in the history of punk rock. No, scratch that. There has never been a more intelligent band in the history of music. Period. Bad Religion sits atop the heap, alone, awaiting the day that the world finally understands the purpose the band serves, the meaning the members espouse and the reality they so desperately crave - but deep down inside know they will never see.
The band's latest effort is its 14th full-length album and 20th release overall. The album is as focused as any of the band's past records; its messages are as poignant and trenchant as ever; it is musically as tight as the band has ever sounded; and lyrically, it is everything a fan should expect from lead singer and principal lyric writer Greg Graffin: perspicacious, penetrating, sage and felicitous.
[Cleveland Scene]
Republican presidents always bring out the best in Bad Religion. New Maps of Hell is the sextet's first full-length in three years, and the disc ranks among its finest.
With renewed vigor, Bad Religion continues its fight against religious dogma and political ignorance, trading its long-standing idealism for straight-up rage. Singer Greg Graffin sums up his group's disenchantment on "New Dark Ages": "We're animals with golden rules/Who can't be moved by rational views."
Although the band tweaked its established sound with dirtier production and more guitar leads, the patented three-way harmonies and indelible melodies still dominate on the fist-pumping anthems "Requiem for Dissent," "Before You Die," and "Scrutiny."
These punk rock legends, however, aren't formulaic in a stale way; they're just consistently awesome. Twenty-seven years into its storied career, Bad Religion is more vital than ever.
[The Vista Online]
Punk rock legends Bad Religion return after a three-year absence with their 14th studio album, "New Maps of Hell," following up the 2004 release "The Empire Strikes First." Once again, the band manages to impress with fast-paced punk rock, intelligent and politically charged lyrics and their ability to question authority when it needs to be questioned the most.
The 16-track album is classic Bad Religion, down to the cross-buster art adorning the physical disc. The songs are short and sweet, with the longest song being the final track, "Fields of Mars," clocking in at 3:35 (or 3:39 if my copy of iTunes is to be believed).
[Glide Magazine - 4/5]
Who said you can?t play punk in your 40?s? That's obviously not the case for Bad Religon, who after 25 years and 14 albums are still pumping out blistering riffs, super revved up rhythms and assaulting lyrics. The 2007 Warped Tour headliners, now icons to all the Paramores and New Found Glorys in their punk path have unveiled their latest and almost greatest record? New Maps of Hell.
What has always separated Bad Religion apart from their peers was their knack for incorporating melody into their assault, without coming off as softy pop. ?New Dark Ages? and ?Honest Goodbye? are anthem ready, while the fiery ?Scrutiny? and ?Requiem for Dissent? prove Bad Religion are still hardcore. Greg Graffin remains dominating, transforming each word to sound prolific, while Mr. Brett Gurewitz and Greg Hetson continue to make their strings bleed. New Maps of Hell is direct, short, catchy and attacking - what more can you ask for in a good punk album?
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01/18/2012 at 22:21
WHERE IS WATCHO WHEN YOU NEED HIM... I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FOR 5 YEARS
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10/20/2007 at 19:00
capreolary infamiliarity dazedness gobletful glossopalatinus engrailment quisquilian keraulophone
<a href= http://www.theminnesotareview.org/ >The Minnesota Review</a> http://cnn.com/2001/LAW/04/17/prison.rape/ |
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10/16/2007 at 02:06
capreolary infamiliarity dazedness gobletful glossopalatinus engrailment quisquilian keraulophone
<a href= http://www.yaa.org.au/ >Young Achievement Australia</a> http://myrtlebeachmri.com/ |
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09/18/2007 at 08:42
Comments by Watcho! from Mexico on 2007-09-17 @ 17:11
Wait, who deleted my more recent comments where me and another guy agreed that it's ok to have different opinions? Hmm...Brett, I'm looking in your direction... HA! if I was brett I would buy this site and have somebody sift through all of watchos comments and delete them, petty sure, funny YES "If I still had money I'd buy a klimpies just to burn it to the ground" |
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09/17/2007 at 17:11
Wait, who deleted my more recent comments where me and another guy agreed that it's ok to have different opinions? Hmm...Brett, I'm looking in your direction...
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09/16/2007 at 21:55
The funny thing is that BR incorporated some singalong tunes ont their albums since day 1 (or 2), remember Along The Way?
So why shouldn't Greg and Brett still write some "commercial" sounding songs 25 years into their recording career? Because of some snot-nosed punkrock-Gestapo wannabes on the internet? And to clear things up, I don't think Honest Goodbye is BR's best composition either, but I enjoy poppy songs like L.A. Is Burning or Before You Die very much, thank you. |
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09/16/2007 at 18:06
Even a punk band needs money...
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09/13/2007 at 02:00
I hope they do get a kick out of hearing their songs played on the radio I think after 25 or so years they deserve it. if brett or greg did not want to write another br song they would retire the band. get with it watcho. br isn't exactly buring up the billboard charts or at the end of the day number 3 on pollstars highest grossing concert tours. I am really pissed off at you watcho. seriously.
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09/13/2007 at 01:55
The rest of the globe gets an album with weak filler material nobody asked for in the first place and flacid encores like 'Infected/LA is Burning/Honest Goodbye
I would agree with you on the infected song because I am really tired of that fucking song. as for la is buring, thats a great sing along song. what compells you to still be a fan a band you find so many faults in? is this because brett closed down the little playground of hate, meaning the old br board I mean calling their songs flacid.. are you fucking kidding me??? toss their music in the trash and go listen to some obscure little indie band that only you heard of. what exactly does br have to prove these days, they aren't 15 anymore. you should post on punknews.org, where they love to tear down br. |
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09/12/2007 at 19:12
No, they DON'T have to write radio "hits" and yet they do. The fanbase isn't clamoring for them, and BR isn't going to have a 'Come Out And Play' change their careers at this point. The singles don't even get much airplay anywhere (in the US) outside of LA, so basically Brett/Greg have started sticking limp tunes on the records, presumably so they can hear themselves on their car radios. The rest of the globe gets an album with weak filler material nobody asked for in the first place and flacid encores like 'Infected/LA is Burning/Honest Goodbye.' And what, because ITO flopped they can't do anything adventureous again? I do think that this version of the band is afraid to stray too far from the formula, so they just regurgitate imagery from HCHBAW and remind everyone who'll listen that they've got old-skool punk cred.
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09/12/2007 at 00:56
"Unfortunately I think they're playing it too safe these days largely due to the fact that they don't even have to try to get constant KROQ spins and their fanbase is unquestionably devout (ironic!)."
What does that even mean? Do BR have to write radio hits in order to be relevant nowadays? And don't you think your KROQ argument is a bit narrow-minded and US-centric for a band that made it big outside the US first and that has a global fanbase nowadays? Oh, and BR already did write the experimental album Into The Unknown in the early 80ies - didn't really work out for them on an artistic level and as a cohesive musical unit... |
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09/10/2007 at 20:18
I wouldn't say that I have it in for Brett, but I would argue that his isolation has affected his writing. I believe that Graffin wishes he could stay home to focus on different things as well, but can't because he's the singer. The result is that BR's principal songwriting elements are a bit self-stifled. They still write great hooks and riffs, and the band still hammers away with the fury I love. Unfortunately I think they're playing it too safe these days largely due to the fact that they don't even have to try to get constant KROQ spins and their fanbase is unquestionably devout (ironic!). From Brett's window on Sunset Blvd, BR is as strong and relevent as ever. In my headphones, they're not.
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09/08/2007 at 22:33
he already listens to frank zappa. I think watcho is a real fan of br because he can actually fault them for something and that's cool. he just has it in for brett like most of the fans in the internet world. that makes him dislike whatever music br puts out. watcho will never like br the way he did, say 15 years ago.
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09/08/2007 at 13:40
As a "real longtime BR fan" (more than 15 years, is that 'longtime' enough for you?) I have to say that I disrespectfully disagree. Speak for yourself, but don't dare to speak for other BR connaisseurs. If you hate their "paint by numbers" music so much, go listen to some Frank Zappa. Bye bye.
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09/07/2007 at 23:06
'Fields of Mars' isn't typical, it's formulaic. It's consistent with the way the last track sounds on the past couple of albums (US versions, anyway). It's like 'Live Again' with the 'Bored/Dangerous' pause near the end. Paint by numbers.
I like Brett just fine, and my opinion about his role in the band is just that, an opinion. |
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09/07/2007 at 08:05
this album is not boring, you what is boring. fall out boy and velvet revolver.
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09/07/2007 at 08:03
Comments by Watcho! from Bolivia on 06/09/2007 @ 23:59
I think a "real BR fan" reviewer would point out that this record sounds like paint-by-numbers BR music, and that a longtime fan like myself would be happy downloading it or finding a used copy somewhere. It's just topically boring. I'd rather hear Jay's record. See you at the show, though. Yeah that's right you will still pay to see them and that's the only thing that counts. It's ok if you download the album or buy a used copy because you hate brett. oh and another thing, that song fields of mars.. yeah thats a typical br song. yep. |
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09/07/2007 at 00:45
I think as time goes by and I become more active in music (hopefully making the jump from semi-serious jam band nonsense to actually making songs and preforming them), I will more than likley begin to appreciate albums I didn't originally think much of. I could imagine probably liking TESF (in some way) more when me and my mates go through the agonizing process of making something creative, and then trying to be consistent about it (I already view NMoH a revelation in keeping consistent after so many albums, in same vein as Grey Race)
Not to say TESF isn't creative at all, but yea. |
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09/07/2007 at 00:20
There might not be new territory explored here, but the album's saving grace is that it's more solid all the way through that any record since The Gray Race (in my opinion). Not one song I'd even think about skipping.
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09/06/2007 at 23:59
I think a "real BR fan" reviewer would point out that this record sounds like paint-by-numbers BR music, and that a longtime fan like myself would be happy downloading it or finding a used copy somewhere. It's just topically boring. I'd rather hear Jay's record. See you at the show, though.
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09/06/2007 at 23:21
also a review they failed to mention in a magazine called "drum" they discussed bad religions drummer brooks wackerman and he talks about the band and songs off the new record and future plans for another record there are about 6 pages about it all!!!!
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09/06/2007 at 10:45
while the fiery ?Scrutiny? and ?Requiem for Dissent? prove Bad Religion are still hardcore
Did that reviewer skipped 52 Seconds and Murder or what? |
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09/05/2007 at 23:13
When will reviewers learn that Brian Baker is the one who "continues to make the strings bleed" most of the time...?
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09/05/2007 at 21:27
I love it when people who have no musical talent review albums for bands they only know one album about, in this case its two, either suffer or tesf. either way being a br fan one has to dismiss reviews from the onset.
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09/05/2007 at 14:19
Comments by lurker from United States on 2007-09-05 @ 04:49
If you like it...do you really care what some magazine or newspaper stiff thinks? When someone likes something it is often the case that they also want other people to like it. |
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09/05/2007 at 12:37
These reviews don't mean that much to me. What I did find awesome was that a few days ago the dutch version from "metro"(a well known free newspaper read by 1.3 million people in the netherlands) had a tiny review from new maps of hell. Very funny to see a bad religion piece next to britney spears
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09/05/2007 at 04:49
If you like it...do you really care what some magazine or newspaper stiff thinks?
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09/05/2007 at 00:23
You're right, i was juust thinking that. 'Bout them being positive. None of this 'sounds the same' crap. That's good.
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09/04/2007 at 20:16
Well they were rather positive. I just reviewed the review, hehe.
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