Music as a force for social change
Margaret BauerBad Religion
The Empire Strikes First
Epitaph Records
For fans of: NoFX, Rancid/Operation Ivy, anything vaguely punk.
Grade : A-
Final word: A solid, politically charged album overflowing with excellent lyrics and musicianship.
Songs to download: “Sinister Rouge,” “Let Them Eat War,” “God’s Love,” “Beyond Electric Dreams”
Since rising out of the L.A. underground in 1980, Bad Religion have always been a powerful force in punk, constantly improving and reinventing their sound over the past 24 years. ‘The Empire Strikes First’ is their 14th album, and their second since the return of original guitarist Brett Gurewitz. Bad Religion have always seen music as a force for social change, and this album is no different.
You won’t find any immature lyrics about ex-girlfriends and skateboarding. Instead, you’ll find songs that are thoughtful, cynical, and even patronizing. With titles like ‘Atheist Peace’, ‘Social Suicide’, and ‘Let Them Eat War’, it’s obvious that many of the songs on this album are a direct response to the political events of the past three years.
Because of this, the lyrics sometimes feel patronizing. The vast majority of material on this album is an attack on the institutions of organized religion, media, the Bush Administration, and the upper class. However, all of these attacks are plausible and well thought out, often providing food for thought for those of stronger mental constitution.
The longest song on this album clocks in at a little more than four minutes, and the average is somewhere between two and three and a half minutes.
The album itself is finely polished, probably from the band playing together for so long. There are no discordant riffs or whiny vocals, and the three guitarists play right off of one another. Greg Graffin’s vocals perfectly match the melody and his lyrical delivery is excellent.
Aside from the length and the sometimes patronizing lyrics, ‘The Empire Strikes First’ is a solid album, probably one of the best punk albums in recent memory. It certainly beats what’s been masquerading as punk these days. ‘The Empire Strikes First’ marks the return of punk to its original roots: a form of political expression.
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