Artist: Bad Religion
Album: The Empire Strikes First
Release date: June 8 2004
Reviewed by our friend Eevill

Over the years that Bad Religion has existed, every album they have released has been a little different than the one before it, with the exception being "Into the Unknown", which was so different it made certain individuals lose faith in punk rock. So Bad Religion has learned their lesson; they have attained hundreds of thousands of fans with their distinct, melodic style of punk, and they?re sticking to it. And yes, if you compared the new album, "The Empire Strikes First" to the very first album, "How Could Hell Be Any Worse", well, it?s hard not to notice the musical differences. While "HCHBAW" was a straightforward hardcore blast of noise, "The Empire" is harmonic and more musically diverse. But it?s by evolving at slow rate that Bad Religion stays new and yet, not too new.

For one familiar with the band?s recent works, "The Empire" sounds like it has a lot of influence from 2002?s "The Process of Belief". Songs like "Sinister Rouge" and "Social Suicide" take from "Supersonic", "Can?t Stop" and "Prove it". "Live Again" is a souped-up version of the alternative radio hit "Sorrow". But there are a few oddities, like "Boot Stamping on A Human Face Forever", which has a sound never heard by the band before.

The album begins with the mellow-yet-spooky "Overture", which almost sounds like music from a suspenseful video game. It is short; only a minute long, but it provides an interesting "Stealth"-like sound, last heard on "Recipe For Hate".

"Overture" almost provides a false sense of what the album is going to sound like. The next track, "Sinister Rouge", is about as different as it could possibly be from the first, unless it was grind metal or opera (I can?t wait to see that on a Bad Religion album). A furious punk anthem with obvious roots in "Supersonic", "Sinister Rouge" is not like the rest of the album, but it alone will satisfy those hungry for hardcore.

"Social Suicide", it?s name possibly stolen from the pre-chorus of "Sensory Overload", one of Bad Religion?s first songs ever, is, in my opinion, the best song on the album. If "The New America", "Against The Grain" and "The Process Of Belief" were thrown into a blender, ground up into a smooth liquid, and poured into a song-sized shot glass, that concoction would sound something like "Social Suicide". It is pure punk rock music, with smart lyrics that most bands wouldn?t have the talent to write.

"Atheist Peace" and "All There is" sound similar, like they should have belonged on "The Process". I wouldn?t be surprised if they were cut from the previous album at the last second, although that wouldn?t be fair, as they are great songs musically and lyrically. I especially enjoyed the Chili Peppers-esque guitar at the end of "Atheist Peace".

"Los Angeles Is Burning" belongs on the radio. I may sound like a punk traitor for saying that, but really, it?s the most radio friendly song they?ve ever done, even more so than "Sorrow" in my opinion. It?s rather light, as opposed to heavy and dark, which radio station seem to try and avoid. For example: Which Rancid songs off their new album are radio tracks? "Fall Back Down" and "Red Hot Moon". One of them is a happy song, the video depicting the band playing dominoes with Good Charlotte and Pink (retch). The other is a happy ska song, the video depicting the band sitting around doing not much of anything.

Sorry for that, but, "Los Angeles Is Burning" is the only reasonably light song on "The Empire". If Bad Religion wants a radio song, they should pick this one.
Time for the political edge of the album! "Let Them Eat War" is a song about the government. NOFX did it, why not Bad Religion too? I?m saying that politics are kind of the "big thing" right now, but I know Bad Religion isn?t trying to cash in on that. These guys have always written about things that matter to them. This song is likely no different. Lyrics aside, the tune is very catchy. And it has rap! Woo-hoo yeah!

"God?s Love" is fast and punky, "To Another Abyss" is slower and not punky. Those two, along with "The Quickening", seem kind of just there. They?re good songs, but that?s about it.

The title track is basically a cover of "The Defense". That?s not a bad thing.

And then comes the song that no one can understand the words too. A catchy chorus helps "Beyond Electric Dreams" greatly. I especially liked the distorted guitar throughout. The 3rd best on the album.

"Boot Stamping On A Human Face Forever" sounds like, gulp, mainstream rock. Sorry, Greg and co., it?s a great song, but it?s not you. I could see myself flipping radio stations in a car and landing on a Nickelback song and after that ended "Boot Stamping" would come on. That?s no joke.

The best is saved for last on "The Empire". "Live Again" is a beautiful mix of "Sorrow" and "There Will Be A Way". Genius on Graffin and Gurewitz?s part.

Overall, it?s great, not excellent, and better than good. So I?d say that if 3 out of 5 was mediocre, and 5 out of 5 was "Against The Grain", this guy gets a 4 and a half.

Thanks a lot Eevill!