Bad Religion - The Empire Strikes First

Bad Religion
The Empire Strikes First
Epitaph Records
Grade: A-

As part of American punk rock legends Bad Religion regeneration, The Empire Strikes Back is the second record with the remerged partnership of guitarist Brett Gurewitz (head of Epitaph) and singer Greg Graffin (along with the rest of the bunch) - the first being 2002's The Process of Belief. Along with this record, Bad Religion just re-released completely remastered versions 5 previous records including Suffer and Generator, along with a film about their 1989 European tour entitled Along the Way. Probably the most notable item from The Process was the song "Sorrow" for which they did a video which got seen in a variety of locations - including the Rock Against Bush comp. As Bad Religion goes nuts with their rebirth, I'm interested to know what their fan base is like. Meaning, is it all these older guys from back in the day? Is it all the kids whose punk regiment comes mostly from the hyper-major pop punk - e.g., Good Charlotte, etc.? Is it a mix? Bad Religion is heading up the Warped Tour so they can at least school the youngsters.

The Empire Strikes Back, armed with the three guitar wall of Gurewitz, Greg Hetson and Brian Baker, comes out of the gates with serious ferocity on the second track "Sinister Rouge." The song has this bridge with guitar and drums that could come off an industrial album - slightly unexpected. As you might predict from the intellectual and political pens of Graffin and Gurewitz, the album has substantial political and social overtures coursing through its fourteen tracks. While songs focus on what's going on now, Bad Religion have tried to score them so they aren't dated within a year or two. Examples, included the above mentioned "Sinister Rouge," "Social Suicide" and "Let Them Eat War" with an appearance by fellow Epitaph talent Sage Francis. Parallel with previous Bad Religion records, the drumming by Brooks Wackerman is consistent and tight, if not a bit monotonous and generic - though they helped define the standard. Some of the better songs here include "Sinister Rouge;" the smoking "Los Angeles is Burning" with a compelling cadence by Graffin; the politically overt "Let Them Eat War;" the chorus of "God's Love" makes it hot; the harmonics-driven title track and the finale "Live Again - The Fall of Man."

Though an immediate critical response to The Empire Strikes First is 'just what I needed, another Bad Religion album,' on this record Bad Religion have just cranked up the guitars and simply knock out a strong album. I've heard a lot of Bad Religion in my time and often found their albums to have a couple of standout tracks and the rest is close to filler. Here, the product is more consistent and reliable good times and, with the Warped Tour, it should help bring the kids on board. Or at least they better if they expect to get signed to Epitaph.