:: Bad Religion - New Maps Of Hell

Bad Religion

With a career spanning well beyond twenty-five years, and having produced no less than thirteen full-length albums in that time, southern Californian act Bad Religion have well and truly earned their legend status within the punk rock scene. Since reuniting with guitarist Brett Gurewitz after an eight year absence for 2002’s ‘The Process Of Belief’, Bad Religion once again sounded re-energised and focussed, with their follow-up release ‘The Empire Strikes First’ sounding nothing short of classic Bad Religion. After a lengthy and successful tour in support of ‘The Empire Strikes First’, Bad Religion once again return with their fourteenth album ‘New Maps Of Hell’, and it’s as you would expect, another in a long line of strong releases.

The album opens up in a surprisingly fast manner, with the minute long ‘52 Seconds’ an aggressive and hardcore influenced number with plenty of Bad Religion’s trademark harmonies shining through in the choruses, while the punchy ‘Heroes & Martyrs’, ‘The Grand Delusion’, ‘Murder’ and ‘Germs Of Perfection’ recall the band’s penchant for short, sharp slices of punk rock of many years ago. The continued strength of the Graffin and Gurewitz’s song writing partnership is evident throughout the entire album, but tracks of particular note include ‘New Dark Ages’, ‘Requiem For Dissent’, ‘Dearly Beloved’, ‘Scrutiny’ and ‘Submission Complete’, all of which feature the trademark Graffin/Gurewitz infectious backing vocals and huge anthem like hooks and melodies, all of which add up to the classic Bad Religion sound. The current single ‘Honest Goodbye’, ‘Before You Die’ and the album closer ‘Fields Of Mars’ all provide some breathing moments amongst the faster tracks, while ‘Prodigal Son’ and ‘Lost Pilgrim’ are pop punk at its best.

While the debate as to whether or not the latest album stacks up against the band’s glorious past will always renew itself with every new release, ‘New Maps Of Hell’ is as solid and consistent as their return to form last couple of releases, and that’s everything I could have asked for from a new Bad Religion album.