Marking Bad Religion and their label Epitaph’s twenty fifth anniversary, New Maps Of Hell finds the band still trapped in a world where setting political and social commentary to catchy punk tunes is still a necessary and relevant past time.

By now you should have a good idea of what a Bad Religion sound like (and if you don’t, stop reading and go and find out) and you’ll be pleased to know that this album is no great departure from any of the other thirteen. Songs such as Heroes & Martyrs and Murder resurrect the band’s more aggressive roots, and these help balance out the album’s missteps, Prodigal Son and recent single Honest Goodbye, the latter of which smacks of a radio-friendly unit shifter.

Sixteen tracks is probably two or three too many and this is by no means Bad Religion’s best work but it’s still better than most of the bands following behind them. The passion and believe in their music and their message has not wavered and finding that out always helps me sleep a bit easier.

Label: Epitaph
Website: www.badreligion.com
Release date: 9th July 2007

Tracklist:

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