True North

Bad Religion know how to make punk rock

If you are thinking of recording a short, yet proper punk rock album with two-minute tracks, then you had better consult Bad Religion. The legendary American ensemble has recently reminded hard rock fans how good it is at doing work of this kind. Bad Religion’s sixteenth studio effort called True North will give a brief and clear description of the music these mature and seriously-looking men have always liked playing. Bad Religion issued this CD at the label of their own Brett Gurewitz. Brett, by the way, also did the production for this record and wrote many of the songs it contains. This man’s enthusiasm and contribution became a great motivation for the rest of the band who eventually made a very energetic and expressive album, the one good enough to join the best effort by this American outfit.

Urgent issues and genuine emotions on True North

Thirty five minutes and sixteen tracks: Bad Religion’s new songs are short like mottoes and sharp like swords. True North brings back the band’s trademark anger, dissatisfaction and indignation that have worn out, faded and weakened in the last years. Unlike many other performers of the same music, these guys not only say that they are sick and tired of everything and that the government must all together resign. Bad Religion call things what they really are and address particular problems, like that of corruption in Robin Hood In Reverse. Dept. Of False Hope unexpectedly turns its aggression towards listeners, the public, calling everybody to get their act together instead of waiting politicians to work wonders. Poignant Fuck You, one of the album’s fastest tracks, is just a wave of emotions of a man who goes through the same routine day in day out without standing a chance to get out of this mad circle where he is locked down by the system. Actually, Bad Religion’s lyrics have always been an indisputable advantage, thank to vocalist Greg Graffin, who has always stood out as a big master of word, which is an extraordinary thing for punk rock.

The best punk rock can deliver

True North is, of course, punk rock, vibrant, malicious and uncompromising. Unfortunately. The genre has long buried itself under stereotypes, and most listeners are convinced (and not for the wrong reason)– that this music is elementary, predictable and completely devoid of any chances to evolve. Bad Religion, indeed, rely on the speed, their drummer’s physical fitness, and tried and tested chords in unsophisticated combinations which do not change much as times goes by. However, what else do you need to have a big time punk rock record? True North was not supposed to be an hour long, neither did its songs have to be full of frequent and mind blowing patterns, and the musicians did not have to play solos to the limit of human powers, either. Yet when you compare this record with the other Bad Religion albums, you will have no doubt that the musicians have not delivered anything as integral and solid in a long time. From start to finish, gnarling guitars and mad drums will drive these songs forward. The album ends before you know it. You will be hit by a train, crushed by an avalanche and knocked over by a tsunami, but once you come round you want to experience it one more time.