Bad Religion - New Maps of Hell
Rating
RIYL
RancidAgainst Me!
Black Flag
The Clash
Label
EpitaphTracklist
1. 52 Seconds2. Heroes & Martyrs
3. Germs of Perfection
4. New Dark Ages
5. Requiem for Dissent
6. Before You Die
7. Honest Goodbye
8. Dearly Beloved
9. Grains of Wrath
10. Murder
11. Scrutiny
12. Prodigal Son
13. The Grand Delusion
14. Lost Pilgrim
15. Submission Complete
16. Fields of Mars
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Consistency seems impossible for some bands, yet to Bad Religion it comes naturally as the speed and ferocity with which they play is just as solid today as it was in the band's infancy. New Maps of Hell, their 14th album of their 20 year career, is another solid, nearly classic addition to their already bulging canon of punk rock gems. The album serves as a departure from their concept-centric previous effort, The Empire Strikes First, which is one of the best punk albums of the decade thus far. Instead of focusing on one person or thing to attack, Bad Religion is content to attack everything, making the album feel more like a shotgun shell than a sniper bullet.
However, while the album tackles a variety of issues, the music feels concise and focused. The band is back to basics with the songs being faster and rougher than they have been in the last few albums. Many songs feel like a throwback to the Bad Religion that made “Fuck Armageddon, This is Hell,” than the slower, more straightforward “Infected.” “New Dark Ages” and “Requiem for Dissent” are a propulsive, adrenaline fueled one-two punch featuring Greg Graffin doing what he does best: finding a melody in all of the chaos. These songs signify why Bad Religion have been such a long standing punk rock institution -- they are musicians first and punks second.
The band blew up out of a scene (the 1980s hardcore scene) that formed from an attitude rather than musical ambition. Bad Religion, on the other hand, adapted punk rock as a musical approach, allowing the music to crackle with life and ingenuity instead of just being a few chords and grunted vocals. They used their records to craft songs that stand the test of more than one listen, that can exist through the ear phones instead of just on stage. Previous examples include “American Jesus,” “Infected,” and “Los Angeles is Burning” which strike a balance between punk and songwriting ethics.
The album’s main strength lies in tracks like “Honest Goodbye” where they vary their approach, toning down the speed, sounding more like Weezer or Against Me! than Black Flag. The band takes a step back from their political onslaught, infusing the songs with personal narrative, which gives the album depth. “Honest Goodbye,” as well as “Dearly Beloved,” bring the band's political message to a smaller stage, letting their message come to life. Unfortunately, over the course of the sixteen songs, the band can’t hold the tight pace and unrelenting pathos throughout. Some songs fail to live up to others, causing the parts of the latter portion of the album to sag a bit.
Despite a weak track here or there, New Maps of Hell is definitely an album worth picking up. Bad Religion are the most talented, consistent, and engaging punk band playing today. A mere twenty years into their career, it sounds like they are just hitting their stride. While not as tight and focused as The Empire Strikes First, New Maps of Hell is a testament to the legacy of the band. While some bands are having trouble with their second or third albums, Bad Religion is churning out a gem for their fourteenth.
--Matt McGraw
Comments
Minnesota
I think the review is spot on on how it describes the band. The only thing I would have done differently is the score--3.5 for me, because I'm a stingy bastard.
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