Albums : Bad Religion : True North
Albums : Bad Religion : True North
Listen To Bad Religion : True North
Listen To Bad Religion : True North
Who Is Bad Religion?
Bad Religion is a punk rock band
that formed in Los Angeles in 1979. The band makes extensive use of soaring
3-part vocal harmonies (which they refer to in their album liner notes as the
"oozin' aahs"), guitar solos and intellectual lyrics that often
contain political or religious commentary. Their lyrics often relate to matters
of social responsibility. The band's lineup has changed several times over its
lifespan, with lead vocalist Greg Graffin being the only consistent member; the
current lineup, however, features three out of four of the band's original
members (Graffin, Brett Gurewitz and Jay Bentley).
Bad Religion has released
sixteen studio albums, two live albums, three compilation albums, two EPs, and
two DVDs (which were both recorded live). Although they gained a cult following
with many of their early albums, Bad Religion did not experience major
worldwide commercial success until the 1994 release of their eighth studio
album Stranger Than Fiction, which spawned their biggest hits "Infected"
and a re-recorded version of "21st Century (Digital Boy)", and was
certified gold in both the United States and Canada. Their latest album, True
North, was released on January 22, 2013. Bad Religion has sold at least over 5
million albums worldwide. (Read More)
True North Review
One of the strongest and most
influential classic punk bands of their time, Bad Religion, is back in full
force with their newest effort, True North – an album that proudly shows the
world they never lost their reigning hold on the punk scene. Having gained
their notoriety in the punk arena of the 80s, cementing their place in the
hearts of ‘old school’ punks, this LA-based sextet is known for their signature
three-part vocal harmonies (the oozin’ aahs) and provocative lyrical subject
matter on politics and religion.
Two decades later and a number
of significant lineup changes, Bad Religion launches their 16th studio album,
True North, and a coinciding tour to give their long-time fans the best way to
kick off the New Year.
Rest assured that True North is
exactly what long time fans have been looking for. Bad Religion has not given
up anything that has made them a staple in the hardcore punk world. Their music
is still fun - a perfect thrashing, danceable beat, paired with lyrics that, if
you take the time to listen, deliver a powerful commentary on the current state
of the world, cleverly stylized with tongue in cheek wordplay.
It’s everything you love about
Bad Religion amped up to a hundred. The band, known for going out of their way
to accommodate the fans, decided to release the entire album to stream on
YouTube a week before their scheduled release on January 22.
The 16 tracks delivered on this
album are bursts of everything that punk should be – short and to-the-point
songs (the longest being “Hello Cruel World” at just shy of four minutes), full
of frantic and fast musicianship - tight guitars, steady and driven drums, and
powerful vocal play.
“Robin Hood in Reverse” stands
out as a personal favorite off the album. The song starts out referencing
lyrics from a rhyme I remember as a kid “Here is the church, there is the
steeple…” before it unravels to reveal a dystopian truth, one that begs a
further look into the layers of word smithing locked in the hailstorm of music.
“Dharma and the Bomb” is another
song with significant religious references to Hindu and Buddhist
spiritualities, lost purities in a commercialized and sensationalized world.
“Yeah Kali is coming and you’d better believe it, that girl’s got the atom and
the bhagavad ghita, oh yeah samsara’s coming down like Dharma and the bomb”.
“Fuck You”, the first track
released for radio play, along with “Nothing to Dismay”, take the titles for
having the most rocking, chant worthy and fist pumping choruses to send
frenzied crowds into a partying ruckus.
True North is a quick album,
half an hour from beginning to end, full of punk anthems to be played loud and
proud, rock out to, dance, kick and stomp to your heart’s content. My only complaint
is that it ends too soon.
Bad Religion will be playing at
Toronto’s Horseshoe Tavern on January 27th.
Contact Bad Religion
Contact Lithium Magazine
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