Album: The Empire Strikes First

Artist: Bad Religion

Release Year: 2004

Label: Epitaph

Bad Religion is: Greg Graffin (vocals), Brett Gurewitz (guitar, vocals), Jay Bentley (bass, vocals), Brain Baker (guitar, vocals), Greg Hetson (guitar), Brooks Wackerman (drums, percussion)

Additional Personnel: David Bragger (violins), Mike Campbell (guitar), Sage Francis (vocals), John Ginty (Hammond B-3), Leopold Ross (sonic alienator), Claude Sarne (vocals)

Tracklist:

1.  Overture (G. Graffin, B. Gurewitz)

2.  Sinister Rouge (G. Graffin, B. Gurewitx)

3.  Social Suicide (G. Graffin, B. Gurewitz)

4.  Atheist Peace (G. Graffin, B. Gurewitz)

5.  All There Is (G. Graffin, B. Gurewitz)

6.  Los Angeles is Burning (G. Graffin, B. Gurewitz)

7.  Let Them Eat War (G. Graffin, B. Gurewitz, B. Baker, J. Bentley, B. Wackerman, S. Francis)

8.  God's Love (G. Graffin, B. Gurewitz)

9.  To Another Abyss (G. Graffin, B. Gurewitz)

10.  The Quickening (G. Graffin, B. Gurewitz, C. Wollard, B. Wackerman)

11.  The Empire Strikes First (G. Graffin, B. Gurewitz, B. Baker)

12.  Beyond Electric Dreams (G. Graffin, B. Gurewitz, C. Wollard, B. Wackerman)

13.  Boot Stamping on a Human Face Forever (G. Graffin, B. Gurewitz)

14.  Live Again (The Fall of Man) (G. Graffin, B. Gurewitz)

Lyrics:

Bad Religion's usual smart lyrics are right here in their most politically oriented album in a long time.  Songs such as "Atheist Peace," "Let Them Eat War," and the title track all state Bad Religion's views on various political issues.  "Live Again (The Fall of Man)" talks about what one would have to give up to live their life completely over again, and asks if you would be able to do that.  All-in-all, the lyrics are up to Bad Religion standards, which are quite high.

Music:

This is the strongest point of this album.  "Let Them Eat War" features rapper Sage Francis on guest vocals, adding a new flavor to the music that's new to Bad Religion.  Brooks Wackerman's drumming is the best that has ever appeared on a Bad Religion album, outdoing even his own effort on The Process of Belief.  "Sinister Rouge" features another first for Bad Religion – Wackerman's use of the double bass, and the sound is great.  This is one of the, if not the, best Bad Religion albums in terms of musical quality.

Highlights:

The best track on this album is "Los Angeles is Burning," and it is a very solid track, featuring a great solo and insightful lyrics from Greg Graffin.  Also very good is the track "To Another Abyss," which some people may dislike, but I happen to enjoy very much.  Finally, "Live Again (The Fall of Man)" rounds out the Top 3, and this is without a doubt one of the finest trios of songs ever compiled on a single album.

Overall:

I don't know what to say.  This album is absolutely incredible.  My favorite Bad Religion album, bar none.  The lyrics are great, the music is great… I don't know what else you can ask for.  This album is absolutely amazing.  Get it.  Now.

FarSight37's Score:  96%