Bad Religion
True North
Epitaph RecordsΒ Β
True North is the 16th studio album from Los Angelesβ Punk Rock veterans Bad Religion. Coupled with the fact that the band is now entering its 34th year of existence, one would assume that the band is starting to calm down and maybe stray away from their raucous Punk upbringings towards a more sedate, safer new sound. To take the bandβs first single as an answer to this question, though, weβre left with a deep, resounding, Fuck You.
Bad Religion slams out of the gate with 16 tracks of pure, unhinged fury that show no signs of the cobwebs that sometimes trail other βaggressiveβ bands in their third decade. Halfway through the record though, as with most Bad Religion albums, the listener starts to realize that not only are these guys fast, pointed, and talentedβ¦ theyβve also got a socially-conscious head on their shoulders.
Vocalist Greg Graffin (the bandβs only constant member over the course of their existence) tackles issues on True North ranging from intellectual poverty to (surprise surprise) the impact of religion in our world today. Tracks like βHello Cruel Worldβ and βRobin Hood in Reverseβ call out a domineering church with raw, powerful lyrics and seething guitar riffs courtesy of the bandβs three (count βem) three talented guitarists. Brian Baker, Greg Hetson, and Brett Gurewitz (Gurewitz also co-produced and mixed the album) fire out guitar licks that add the hard edge to Graffinβs melodic vocal offerings. With the rhythm section of Brooks Wackerman on drums and founding member Jay Bentley on bass, the band sounds just as unstoppable now as they did in β85.
From the bandβs Hardcore upbringing in the early β80s to their present day βGodfathers of Punkβ standing, Bad Religion have always been a force to be reckoned with. True North is no exception, and the band shows no signs of slowing down in their fourth decade of existence. This record is a must-have for diehard fans, new listeners, or any devotee of loud, fast Punk Rock who yearns for the snarl of the golden years of Hardcore.
Josh Taugher (Twitter @JoshTaugher)
Album Review: Bad Religion – True North
Josh Taugher