In a world ruled increasingly by superstition and intolerance, Bad Religion's rousing wall-of-sound punk seems about as necessary now as ever before. It is the impassioned sound of reason, anthems of a bittersweet idealism and a guarded hope set to propulsive guitars and charging drumbeats. And while most groups with even half the artistic output have long ago morphed into stylistic self parody, Bad Religion is currently surging forward with a renewed creative intensity. Their fourteenth album, entitled New Maps of Hell, is both a nod to the band's defiant past and an undeniable step forward in the evolution of a genre they helped to define. While many of the new songs are as brutally fast and unflinchingly heartfelt as anything the band has done before, the record is also filled with unexpected sounds, inventive rhythms and lush pop choruses.
"I think we're reaching back to our roots as a garage band and doing some really aggressive music," guitarist and co-songwriter Brett Gurewitz says. "But we're also trying to look forward and write some really interesting new rock songs."
After some years away, Gurewitz has been back in the fold for the previous two records, Process of Belief and The Empire Strikes First, both discs widely accepted as a return to form for the veteran band. He is again accompanying his longtime friends, co songwriter and singer Greg Graffin and original bassist Jay Bentley. The (slightly) newer band members read like a punk rock all star team, with guitarist Greg Hetson of the legendary Circle Jerks and Brian Baker of hardcore pioneers Minor Threat. The latest addition being a startling young drum prodigy and sought after session drummer named Brooks Wackerman.
For this latest record, Bad Religion convened with renowned producer Joe Barresi at a downtown Hollywood recording studio just blocks from so many of the nightclubs and halls where the band first inspired legions of like minded young malcontents amidst the vibrant eighties Los Angeles punk scene. Back then, the band members had been young teen rebels from the dystopian suburbs of the nearby San Fernando Valley, leather clad intelligentsia lashing out at a pervasive culture of greed and conformity. And while the band might now look less like brash young upstarts and more like hip college professors (singer Graffin is, in fact, a college professor) - there's still a whole lot to rail against and the band is undeniably up to the task.
"I think at heart, Bad Religion has always been anti establishment and about open mindedness," Gurewitz says. "Since we we're kids, this country has vacillated between varying degrees of anti intellectualism, machismo and religiosity - maybe now more than ever. And we write with a secular humanist world view which really goes against all that."
This sentiment is echoed in his lyrics to the blistering state-of-the-art hardcore of Welcome to the New Dark Ages. As a frantic wall of guitars power a rousing sing along chorus, Graffin's surprisingly soulful voice calls out: 'Welcome to the new dark ages / I hope you're living right / these are the new dark ages / and the world might end tonight / So how do you sleep - there's nothing to keep. This is deep / because we're animals with golden rules who can't be moved by rational views.'
It is this world view which infuses so much of New Maps of Hell. But there is also a sense of inner turmoil absent from the band's previous efforts. Where before there had been a defiant questioning and call for change, there is now an underlying sense of lost idealism - an acknowledgement that all the angry protest songs in the world could not prevent the mess we're in. And as unsettling as this sentiment might be for the longstanding firebrands, it has undoubtedly inspired a vital and emotionally charged record.
"Living in this world can leave you with a pretty bleak outlook," Graffin says, at the recording studio. "But then we still have that same naive hope we had as angry idealistic teenagers, that human beings will hear this music and think, 'This isn't right and I'm gonna do something about it.' There's a song called Requiem for Dissent on this record which is actually one of the more uplifting songs - the idea behind it being to try and raise the dead rebel from his grave."
And while a stunning new record from one of the most influential bands in recent history may not be enough save this messed up world, it might very well inspire a few defiant souls into action. Watching the band rip through a live set in front of a few thousand exhilarated fans days after completing New Maps to Hell, the sheer power of Bad Religion's music is unquestionable. The kids are pressed against the barrier, many with eyes closed and fists raised, singing each lyric as if it means the world to them. The entire affair has an intensely inspirational and cathartic air, like some riotous punk rock baptism in the name of free thought and dissent.
"I think a lot of our fans are just angry nerds like us,"Gurewitz says afterwards. "And that's really who we write for. Being a humanist and an intellectual is about as rebellious as it gets these days."
"In the end we do this because we still care deeply about inspiring people," Graffin adds. "I know that may sound a little lofty, but the truth is when I was a teenager, music was only thing that gave me hope in this world."
this page is currently operated by b-wack (p.k.a. "dr. rock") and jdb
each bad religion is independently owned and operated, some restrictions may apply. see your local representative for details. no shoes, no shirt, no service.
Hey ! how are you ? Hope you dont mind the comment and us bugging you. We just wanted to let you know we have 4 BRAND NEW SONGS from our debut EP up on our player now, it would mean the world to us if you could listen to them and tell us what you think :) thanks so much for your time its really appreciated !
Bad Brains T-Shirt Giveaway! In celebration of our new online store, we're giving away a Bad Brains shirt, sticker & button pack to 5 lucky winners.
To enter, all you have to do is sign up for our new mailing list by Monday Dec-7 at 10am EST (if you're already on our mailing list, you've already automatically been entered). You'll also get the latest news on Bad Brains shows and more...
Enter the Bad Brains T-Shirt Giveaway & Sign Up for the Bad Brains Newsletter at www.badbrains.com. We'll be contacting the winners that week via email.
Hi! Thanks for being our friend! It would mean a lot if you'd check out our songs and leave us a comment. If we're doing our job you might even get a smile out of it. Comment how you feel!
Also, if you're in the Salt Lake City area let me know, we are trying to build a really strong local fanbase and always looking for people to jam with! Get with us early and we'll hook you up when we're huge...which will probably be in a week or two.
IL REGALO X UN NATALE "IN LEVARE"....richiedilo qui!!! IL RITMO NEL TACCO (200 copie vendute in un giorno!!) (www.myspace.com/ilritmoneltacco), di Mauro Cardinale, Gabriele Blandini e Gabriele Donadei. Un progetto vincitore di "Principi Attivi", in collaborazione con SUD SOUND SYSTEM, APRES LA CLASSE, CESARE DELL'ANNA, RAFFAELE CASARANO prefazione di CAPAREZZA. Progetto grafico di Flavio&Frank e AmletoM. Il panorama musicale salentino raccontato dai suoi protagonisti: tra interviste e foto inedite, un libro da non perdere! www.myspace.com/ilritmoneltacco ---------------------------------------------- BURNED -il Romanzo del Reggae- di Mauro Cardinale (prefazione di Don Ciccio, italian reggae veteran) ULTIME COPIE!
la Giamaica, il potere della musica, le guerre tra badman, la fede in Jah. Tutto questo è BURNED. Ricky è un giovane avvocato e quando viene spedito in Giamaica per scovare un nuovo talento della musica reggae, non immagina che l’incontro col talentuoso Derrick, un rudeboy, lo condurrà alla scoperta di un mondo che è anche un microcosmo di vita. In un’ambientazione ricca e fascinosa ma al contempo in grado di offrire molteplici spunti di riflessione, Cardinale spinge il lettore a guardare nelle baracche dei sufferah, nella fede Rastafariana e nei guasti del Babylon System, attraverso un romanzo che va ascoltato, oltre che letto.
A lot of things began in NYC but they were perfected in LOSAN (L.A.) - two prime examples are Punk Rock and Graffiti. The Los Angeles Death Squad (LADS) played a major role in both scenes. In 1979 i a was a kid and i remember seeing Los Angeles Death Squad spray painted in black on Hollywood BLVD. These days there are tons of bands, artists, marketers, entrepenuers and the like who at least owe them a Thank You. I've come to the conclusion that history must be properly tattooed with the vestige that remains of their story. 30 years later a lot has transpired and i am asking these homeboys and those who know them and knew them to write here so we can make a book. This is for the fallen heads that we will never forget - always knowing we share the same destiny. This is for the heads who lived and the brave who made peace. This is the only blog i will keep on his profile until it becomes a reality. Uncle Monster
Dear friends! We are happy to see a good year go towards a good end. Again we will be playing our Christmas Show in the Moscow Megasphere - and that really makes us happy. The Moscow crowd is one of the best in the world and we would love to have you all with is. It's gonna be one hell of a rock party! Our website has undergone major updates at the moment, but it's back and we highly recomment that you pick up your free Single and DVD "Chase the Dragon" and tell us what you think. In the meantime Rozencrantz is back in the studio, working on brand new material. As always, we will keep you updated. Best regards, Horatio
Online Now!
