New Maps of Hell

Bad Religion | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 10, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Epitaph / Ada
• ASIN: B000RGSOBO
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,057 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #65 in Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > Hardcore
  • #77 in Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > American Punk
  • #85 in Music > Alternative Rock > American Alternative > General

Track Listings

1. 52 Seconds

2. Heroes & Martyrs

3. Germs of Perfection

4. New Dark Ages

5. Requiem for Dissent

6. Before You Die

7. Honest Goodbye

8. Dearly Beloved

9. Grains of Wrath

10. Murder

11. Scrutiny

12. Prodigal Son

13. The Grand Delusion

14. Lost Pilgrim

15. Submission Complete

16. Fields of Mars

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Bad Religion has for years been considered by new crops of listeners to be a vital band because they're such OG hardcore kingpins. And while the band's justly revered--they've managed to stay together for almost 25 years, all while getting better and growing their audience--"political punk realness" is not where their strengths lie. As to their political numbers, they were never quite able to pen the sort of personal yet timeless anthems that the Minutemen or the Ex did, while in terms of 1-2-3-4 punch, you'd get far more visceral thrills from the first Damned single. Of course, Southern California punk bands injected bushels of melody and hooks into their songs, and B.R. added elements of metal and even psychedelia to their own taut tunes. Their fourteenth album to date, New Maps is a terrific sounding record; at least two-thirds of it begs many repeated listens. The album's second single, "Heroes and Martyrs," is exactly what the band does best. A tightly-coiled and super revved-up anthem, it pits the energy and fast Barre chord sound of the greatest hardcore with a delicious, poppy production and doubled-up backing vocals that brings to mind Queen (or at least Queens of the Stone Age), in the very best way. --Mike McGonigal

Product Description

In a world ruled increasingly by superstition and intolerance, Bad Religion's rousing wall-of-sound punk seems about as necessary now as ever before. It is the impassioned sound of reason, anthems of a bittersweet idealism and a guarded hope set to propulsive guitars and charging drumbeats. And while most groups with even half the artistic output have long ago morphed into stylistic self-parody, Bad Religion is currently surging forward with a renewed creative intensity. Their fourteenth album is both a nod to the band's defiant past and an undeniable step forward in the evolution of a genre they helped to define. Look for them on this summer's Warped Tour, inspiring a new generation of fans.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Lacerate eviscerate and perforate and mutilate. . . July 9, 2007

By L. J. Penglase

Format:Audio CD

Bad Religion's third album since their triumphant return to their own Epitaph Records is surely the fastest and angriest of them all. All sense of hope ("It's time to turn the tides. . .") is gone here, replaced by a looming dark reality ("Welcome to the new dark ages") and sadness ("Pity yet another casualty's demoralized decline").

On first listen, the sonic blasts and scathing lyrics elicit thoughts of their late 80's albums (No Control, Against the Grain) but the song structures and impeccable musicianship is something we have not heard from them since Into the Unknown, except here it is punk and not prog, and it is produced so slick you could slide off it.

A major achievement by a band that already has enough major achievements to retire with a great legacy. More younger acts should look to them and follow their maps through hell.

Grab yourself a neighbor's skeleton to lean upon, and prepare for the decent.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent as Always July 11, 2007

By charlieheston

Format:Audio CD

New Maps of Hell is yet another Bad Religion record, the third since Brett and Brooks (re)joined. The quality has not dipped. There are throwbacks on this album (the artwork, the hell references to the first album, generally less poppy/more fast punk), and less experimentation than particularly the last album (nothing like Beyond Electric Dreams here) - it's with a couple exceptions straight ahead classic fast BR from start to finish.

This record opens with a faux lo-fi hardcore tinged "52 Seconds" and keeps a slightly junky production throughout. Definitely worse production than the last couple - more like Stranger Than Fiction with lots of mid-range tones, but it sounds fairly analog. In some ways it sounds like they are going through the motions on this one - but at the same time, there are no duds like usual (The Quickening, Television)...pretty much every track is strong. I don't care for "Prodigal Son" too much, but whatever.

Faster and less dark than the last album, and angrier than Process of Belief - you can blind buy this one is you are a BR fan, not much has changed. I love it. Brooks still impresses as well.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "New Maps of Hell" - Bad Religion July 13, 2007

By Mick V. Nicholas

Format:Audio CD

"New Maps of Hell" proved to be a very unexpected turn for Bad Religion. If you listen to "Process of Belief" and then "The Empire Strikes First" you will notice that Bad Religion seemed to be going in the direction of straight melodic rock with only a seasoning of punk influence. This album, on the other hand, sounds like a straight punk album with only a few songs ("Honest Goodbye" and "Lost Pilgrim" to name two) falling into the category in which Bad Religion was starting to wedge itself.
That being said, this album is an astonishing achievement from an already well established and respected punk rock band. I haven't heard this type of energy from this band since the album "Generator" and I have to say that the mix of old and new is quite refreshing.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Punk with harmony. Atheism with purpose. Critics without a clue. October 15, 2007

By Luke

Format:Audio CD

I gotta say, It amazes me that any long-time Bad Religion listener could be disappointed with this album, or any other Bad Religion album for that matter. As far back as I can remember this band has always experimented with slightly different sounds and styles upon each new album. And as far back as I can remember they have always found a way to make it work beautifully. This album is not my favorite. But why should it be? They are all unique!!! And make no mistake, this is another awesome addition to Bad Religion's legacy of music with insight, meaning, and reason - doused with a perfect blend of harmony. Never mind that it is punk rock. Where on earth can you find a shower of lucid philosophy, incessant rationality, and consummate harmony? Look no further...

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid but not spectacular September 12, 2007

By N. Perz

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I've been a long-time BR fan so it's hard for me to give them less than 4 stars. NMoH is a solid disc but nothing to get overly excited about. If you're new to Bad Religion, there are other discs you should probably get before this one but, for the loyal fan, NMoH will not fail to please.

Recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars New BR sounds almost like old BR July 12, 2007

By Kevin J. Mckenna

Format:Audio CD

WOW! I bought this album the day it came out, and I was so surprised by the content. Starting with 52 Seconds, the buzz saw/distortion sound is in full effect! This new record is a step forward, and also back to the more uptempo sound BR used to have on all of it's songs. From Suffer until Stranger Than Fiction, most of their records were all fast and loud and we loved it that way. Then came The Gray Race, which was good, but started a trend towards more melodic songwriting. The Empire Strikes First was a step back in time, and a step in the right direction for the fans. Now we have New Maps of Hell, and you can TOTALLY tell that there are 3 guitarists all trying to outdo each other on this record. The term "wall of sound" is used well here. This record will definately please the long time BR fan, as well as create new ones around the world.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars amazing October 17, 2007

By M. Zeller

Format:Audio CD

Well this is the umpteenth release from Bad Religion. I read the reviews, I cringed at the thought of being disappointed, I gave the album a try anyway. First of all the production value on this album is akin to Against the Grain and Suffer. If you can listen to those, and you should be able to since those were classic BR albums, you can listen to this one. BR got rid of the polished studio sound, but it still sounds absolutely amazing. I'd recommend this to any BR fan. Secondly, let's face it..you can't tell people what the good tracks are..as always I read about tracks like Murder, Prodigal Son, The Grand Delusion, and Fields of Mars which have been called the worst of the album, they're not. It's a matter of opinion. Many BR fans didn't like The Gray Race and No Substance and while I agree those were not BR's greatest efforts, there were plenty of good songs to be heard on both. The best part of this album for me was the lyrics. Here is, in my opinion, the best example of why I think the Greg/Brett team is at their best: "when the prodigal son with a caroming shadow of hate comes to land at home, well he's a morning star with a champaigne heart at his curtain call and father never understood the way the work gets done, don't look at me, no i ain't one, no prodigal son." Give it a shot, turn up the sound and enjoy.