Customer Reviews

New Maps of Hell

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

"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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

What a disappointment this record! I am a HUGE Bad Religion fan, and was stoked to pick up the new release. Was very disappointed in this record. First off, each track doesn't come off as individual. Every track seems to blend into the next with no discernable differences amongst them. I do like how they've gone to a more "Minor" tone to each track, but overall they all sound basically the same.

The biggest complaint I have with this record is with the mixing. Greg's vocals get swallowed up by the production. Too many times the guitars and harmony vocals completely drown out the lead vocal. So much to the point where things tend to sound "muddy". I much prefer to hear Greg's vocals distinctly above the rest of the production. Not sure what they did differently this time, but there are WAY too many times when Greg's vocals are indistinguishable.

Whoever did the sound editing on this one should be shot!

Just like every other BR album this one is great. always a treat to listen to this band. The only thing better is to go see these guys live, they put on a great show. A must have for any Bad Religion fan.

a long time ago me and my friends were joking that you can always rely on BR to give you more of what you like. Honestly, looking back, Suffer, No Control and Against the Grain might as well have been recorded in one session. Now things are certainly a tad different. Gotta listen to the CD a couple of times first before you start to like it; very un-BR like.
Overall, great CD, I did like Empire a tad more but I might change my mind in a few weeks.
The mix, yes, very unusual, yes, we would like to have the vocals float above the music just like we are used to from the "old" albums. but luckily there is a solution. . . Play it LOUD!!!! Honestly, it helps.
Punk Rock ... play it loud remember?