Bad Religion
New Maps of Hell

The lithographs of Gustave Doré are dusted off for the occasion.

It is 2007: dictated by the twenty-fifth anniversary of "How Could Hell Be Any Worse?". No missteps are allowed.

It's true, the latest "The Empire Strikes First" was generally well received, "Sinister Rouge" was pounding well, but there is a concrete feeling that merit on the field has yielded to reverential fear. A piece from the '90s is needed, not a move from seasoned professionals.

And the crossbuster printed on the CD, fortunately, is promptly honored: it is an epic, powerful, and passionate fresco aimed at immortalizing the new maps of hell.

"New Maps of Hell" (from the title of the novel by Kingsley Amis) will be remembered as the first true return to the past for Bad Religion: no one would have complained about its hypothetical recording in 1992, being an expert compendium of the immediacy of "No Control", the majestic stride of "Against the Grain", and the experimental ambitions of "Generator". The spontaneity of the composition is immediately perceived: there's no longer that frantic need to appear punk at all costs (see the beginning of "The Process of Belief") or to be tolerated by the masses by discrediting Bush Jr. with singalong compilations. The only warning to grasp is: to overthrow the established institutions, with the usual dose of refinement. After all, there’s a 1982 to eternalize with self-referential ease.

The over-forties might crinkle their noses, but "New Maps of Hell" boasts the best album opening of the sextet from Canoga Park: the first five tracks overwhelm without interruption, leaving no prisoners. "52 Seconds", for its lyrics and music, is nothing more than a reprise of the swift "Change of Ideas"; "Germs of Perfection" makes 28 years seem like a lustrum, and "New Dark Ages" is the most comprehensive synopsis of the Bad Religion word, exalted by an always impeccable rhythm section.

But the leap in quality is entrusted to "Requiem for Dissent": a tremendous blow, the last call to arms of a timeless revolution. Only Bad Religion could resurrect the most clichéd and sold-out punk rock riff so excitingly; an epic onslaught licking "Against the Grain" (with "Operation Rescue" echoing nostalgically like never before), the "No Control" of the 2000s has its sharpest blade in immediacy, highlighting mercilessly how some leaders don’t need epigones.

The track by track unpacks the tracks, I admit, but how can you omit the vocal intertwining of "Heroes and Martyrs", the heartfelt spaciousness of "Grains of Wrath", or the heavy imprint of "The Grand Delusion" (a really original arrangement)?

One can only applaud the Bad for their constant ability to outline ever new and elegant nuances of their thirty-year epic: Professor Graffin signs the supersonic folk (not coincidentally the release of the album, originally titled "The Ultra Tyranny" and expected for 2006, was postponed due to the edition of "Cold as the Clay", Greg's solo work) that closes the album, a "Fields of Mars" inspired by the utopia of a future without wars; Gurewitz's passionate nihilism renews with ruthless realism the raw scenario of "Heaven Is Falling" ("Murder"). As usual, one of the most refined pairs of rock writers.

Although it is not a masterpiece, "New Maps of Hell" is nonetheless a very solid work. Both in realization, with sharp and abrasive sounds that relegate the terrifying 2004 rap to faded memories, and in content. A flaw? Perhaps the baroque redundancy of some pieces ("Lost Pilgrim" and "Submission Complete" above all). Despite this, the disc in question remains a succulent anthological work, made of references, self-quotes, and nostalgias ready to teach the most unripe of neophytes.

P.S.: The hefty tracklist had "New Chapter" removed, according to Jay Bentley because "it ran into insurmountable issues that we couldn't rectify. Maybe we can give it a try next time again..."