Bad Religion - The Empire Strikes First
Reviewed on Oct 8, 2005 by SoYa
“The Empire Strikes First... 14 songs that are fresh, focused, and absolutely alive in the way that great rock 'n' roll energizes everything it touches.”(www.badreligion.com)
I couldn't define it any better then this, though there is much more to say about the album.
I have been waiting on this album since the first minute I heard that this legendary Southern-Californian punkrock-band was working on a new one! And now finally, I've got it, and I like it!
But who wouldn't? Which punk(rock)fan would dare to say he doesn't like this great band, that already exists more then 20 years?
Bad Religion is one of those bands that are against the whole Bush administration (eg NOFX, ...). Not only the name of the album was inspired by this matter but there won't be many songs that don't contain anything about the American president's policy or about the religious discussion (as if the band's name wasn't enough).
Brett Gurewitz and Greg Gaffin are the creative songwriting duo of this godlike band. As always, they put together huge, memorable melodic punk rock songs. Every single song has a great chorus, magnificent guitarplay and their two voices really make you feel like you finally made it to heaven.
I'd have to say I was very surprised upon two moments of this album. First of all: the intro called “Overture”, I was already afraid of some metalsound or something. And second, the song “Let them eat war”. With this song I was positively surprised. It features street poet Sage Francis in what's a surprisingly well-integrated hip-hop contribution to a rock song to me, this track really is the highlight of the record, showcasing the interplay between the band's three guitarists and lyrically tackling the social impact of religion, poverty and war.
Like Process before it, The Empire Strikes First shows Bad Religion on top of their game, neither dwelling on their early glories nor held back by their late 90s slump. This is every bit as exciting, rocking and relevant as one would hope.
Want my advice? Go buy this album!
Album Information
| Best Song: | Let them eat war |
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| Medium/Type: | Full-Length |
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| Released: | August 6th, 2004 |
| Record Label: | Epitaph Records |
Related Links:
| Viewed: | 584 times |
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Tracklisting
- Overture
- Sinister rouge
- Social suicide
- Atheist peace
- All there is
- Los Angeles is burning
- Let them eat war
- God's love
- To another abyss
- The quickening
- The empire strikes first
- Beyond electric dreams
- Boot stamping on a human face forever
- Live again (the fall of man)
