Bad Religion  

New Maps of Hell

Epitaph 

 
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Few modern bands are as iconic to the American punk music movement as Bad Religion.  The name alone invokes memories of hard, thumping, fast-paced music and the ideologies that go along with it.  With New Maps of Hell, the band’s 14th (!) studio album, Bad Religion fuses the force of punk with the palatability of alternative, and the result is something shockingly familiar…for better or for worse.

An objective look at New Maps of Hell would most likely garner negative results.  For starters, about 12 of the 16 non-acoustic tracks sound identical to the point of being interchangeable.  While Bad Religion has never been known for wild experimentation, the tracks still blur together towards the middle of the album.  The drums, for instance, rarely change tempo or cadence.  The listener may expect a big turnaround near the end of the album, but sadly such a thing never comes.  Even the bonus acoustic tracks share a few too many riffs.

Okay, so the music is a little generic, but surely the lyrics compensate, right?  Well, yes and no.  Greg Graffin delivers the same thought-provoking, multisyllabic lyrics that the band is known for, but many of the songs have an air of pretentiousness about them.  They're smart, no doubt, but they know they're smart, and they know you know they're smart.  While this is not a major problem, it does contribute to the larger issue of songs that seem to exist for their own sake, without much substance or connection to reality.  "The New Dark Ages" and "Dearly Beloved" are well-written, visceral songs, while "Prodigal Son" is essentially a three-minute long empty metaphor ("Well he's a mourning star with a champagne heart at his curtain call").  In short, New Maps of Hell is not a good starting place for newcomers to Bad Religion, but continues with the established nuances of the band.

However, the album is not without its merits.  The good songs are really good, and they have a tendency to stick with the listener.  "Lost Pilgrim" is a perfect example of a catchy tune, and the fusion of punk and alternative works to its advantage.  The acoustic tracks are a nice counterbalance to the decidedly drum-heavy album, and the bonus DVD contains two videos, a "making of" documentary, and a recording of a live concert.  All these extras show that Bad Religion is familiar with its rabid fan base and knows how to keep it satisfied.  

As it stands, New Maps of Hell is a tough sell.  It's difficult to recommend it to new listeners, but fans will definitely love it.  There's enough innovation to keep it afloat, but only enough substance to hook the avid punk aficionados.  Bad Religion isn’t bringing anything new to the forefront, but, by now, you should know what to expect.  And that’s plenty for thousands of Mohawk-sporting fans.
- Christopher Gibbs