| | Bad Religion Empire Strikes First CD Bad Religion Discography of CDs
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Bad Religion: Greg Graffin (vocals); Greg Hetson, Brett Gurewitz (guitar, background vocals); Brian Baker (guitar); Jay Bentley (bass, background vocals); Brooks Wackerman (drums). Bad Religion: Greg Graffin (vocals); Brett Gurewitz, Brian Baker (guitar, background vocals); Greg Hetson (guitar); Jay Bentley (bass instrument, background vocals); Brooks Wackerman (drums, percussion). In 2004, Bad Religion supplemented a magazine of reissues with one in the chamber called The Empire Strikes First. Given the state of affairs and activism of peers like NOFX's Fat Mike, it's natural for Greg Graffin, Brett Gurewitz, and company to point their measured seethe and trademark erudition against shady politics and policies of preemptive security. "We strike first and we're unrehearsed/Here we go again to stage the greatest show on heaven and earth," the title track rants. But Bad Religion was never just a catchy name, as "God's Love" illustrates yet again. And society doesn't get a pass, taken to task for ignorance in "Social Suicide" and suffered as the source of Graffin's profound cynicism in "To Another Abyss." So the band's as indignant as ever, and that's important. The punk-pop kids in the drive-thru and hanging out at half-pipes need to see the graybeards bringing the big issue pain train. But it helps if those issues are bound to strong melodies, and in this department Bad Religion doesn't disappoint. "Let Them Eat War" features a stinging lead guitar figure and the usual muscular chug; outsider rap poet Sage Francis makes an appearance in the middle. Opener "Overture" is a brooding instrumental, the sound of punk in a neutered Orwell future -- it bursts into a million pieces in the thrusting fists of "Sinister Rouge" and the aforementioned "Suicide." (Empire's lyrics are attended by footnotes -- including Orwell -- à la 1992's Generator.) Those BR harmonies rise and fall behind a pleadingly angry Graffin in "All There Is," and one of the band's three (!) guitarists adds a solo blister. Best might be "Los Angeles Is Burning," not surprisingly inspired by the California wildfires of 2003. "Palm trees are candles in the murder wind/So many lives are on the breeze even the stars are ill at ease" -- the track's as powerfully melodic as it is darn angry. The Empire Strikes First isn't a return to Bad Religion at its most vitriolic and unstoppable -- whether that could ever really happen is unclear, and probably unnecessary. Unnecessary, because Bad Religion is best when standing defiant in the way of whatever hate and shenanigans are currently inhabiting our collective psyche. Their tone doesn't change, but the battles are always changing. Watch out, evildoers -- Bad Religion is in your rear-view, and they're gaining. ~ Johnny Loftus A sense of justice and moral outrage is frequently part of punk's ethos, and Bad Religion has willfully flown this flag since the early 1980s. The title of the band's 2004 release, THE EMPIRE STRIKES FIRST, and the songs "Let Them Eat War" and "Sinister Rouge" indicate that Bad Religion has a thing or two to say about United States foreign policy and the George W. Bush administration, among other things. Driving guitars, thundering bass, and jackhammer drums create a sonic assault that reinforces the group's ideological fervor and underscores the pitch of its rage. Though Bad Religion borrows from the legacy of punk, its music does not fall strictly under that rubric. The pop melodicism of the band's song structures and sing-along choruses, along with heavy-metal time changes and blistering guitar solos, help broaden its appeal, as does the range of social and political issues addressed in the group's lyrics. THE EMPIRE STRIKES FIRST shows Bad Religion at the top of its game, mining the musical and topical principles that made its previous releases popular, while losing none of the fire or urgency that keeps its approach vital.Q (p.106) - 3 stars out of 5 - "Bad Religion know how to thrill and THE EMPIRE STRIKES FIRST is a thrill from first to last." Magnet (p.83) - "[P]otent and timely....The pedigree of the songs on THE EMPIRE STRIKES FIRST is outstanding." CMJ (p.4) - "[T]he politially charged songs have an added weight - another lesson worth paying attention to." CMJ (p.31) - "[Graffin] attacks American jingoism and 'nation building' with a passion and verve absent in his voice for too long." Empire Strikes First Music Bad Religion Empire Strikes First Songs Empire Strikes First Music Empire Strikes First Music Review Average Rating: (4.5 out of 5 stars)    List All Reviews Yet another great cd. I just got this cd recently and after listening to it the first time through, I only wanted to play it again. I love how the first track leads to the second. A lot of great songs on this cd. Add it to your shopping cart. Submitted by SCXpunk (St. Louis, MO)  Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful.
Greatness I am somewhat of an experienced online orderer. Usually there is a 2 or 3 day processing period then shipping takes forever. CD Universe however, processed immediately and shipping was quick (only 4 days). I recommended this service to all of my friends and they all agre... CD Universe is the BEST!!! Submitted by cptplanet87 (Los Angeles, CA, USA)  Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful.
FAST AND MELODIC WITH THE DRUMMER USING DOUBLE BASS! ONCE AGAIN BR PUTS OUT A KILLER ALBUM. NUFF SAID. IF YOU LIKE THE PROCESS OF BELIEF, YOU WILL JIZZ YOUR PANTS OVER THE ENEMY STRIKES FIRST! BUY IT NOW. Submitted by ANUSMCGEE (TACOMA WA)  Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful.
awsome album great album,love Beyond Electric Dreams trac 12, If you want to download a song to see if you want the album do that one. Submitted by trvscliff (Spokane,WA USA)  Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
EMPIRE STRIKES FIRST Good album from Bad Religion Sinister rouge,Atheis Peace,pretty much all the songs on this album I like from them Greg Graffin is the Man buy this this album it is a must for any bad Religion fan Submitted by Jib17 (Ripon CA) Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
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Buy Empire Strikes First CD Purchase Empire Strikes First CD To buy, Click on price to add to cart | Bad Religion Process Of Belief CD (2002)
Empire Strikes First
$9.89 Brett Gurewitz Has Rejoined The Band
Bad Religion: Greg Graffin (vocals); Brett Gurewitz (guitar, background vocals); Brian Baker, Greg Hetson (guitar); Jay Bentley (bass, background vocals); Brooks Wackerman (drums). Producers: Greg Graffin, Brett Gurewitz. Recorded at Sound City and West Beach, Los Angeles, California. Personnel: Greg Graffin (vocals); Jay Bentley (guitar, background vocals); Greg Hetson, Brett Gurewitz, Brian Baker (guitar); Brooks Wackerman (drums). Audio Mixers: Jerry Finn; Brett Gurewitz. Recording information: Sound City, Los Angeles, CA; Westbeach Recorders, ...
| | Bad Religion Against The Grain CD (1990) Reissue; Remastered
Empire Strikes First
$10.35 Bad Religion: Greg Graffin (vocals); Mr. Brett (guitar, horns, background vocals); Greg Hetson (guitar); Jay Bentley (bass, background vocals); Peter Finestone (percussion). Additional personnel: Keith Morris (background vocals). Recorded at Westbeach Recorders, Hollywood, California in May 1990. The third in a flurry of releases that followed Bad Religion's 1988 reunion, Against the Grain found the band's edge honed sharper than it had been in years. Epitaph's 2004 remaster respects this. Increased clarity between mouthpiece Greg Graffin, guitarists Brett Gurewitz and Greg Hetson, and the rhythm section of Jay Bentley and ...
| | Bad Religion Generator CD (1992) Bonus Tracks; Reissue; Remastered
Empire Strikes First
$9.95 Reissue Contains 2 Bonus Trax.
Bad Religion: Greg Graffin (vocals); Mr. Brett (guitar, background vocals); Greg Hetson (guitar); Jay Bentley (bass, background vocals); Bobby Schayer (drums). Recorded at Westbeach Recorders, Hollywood, California in May 1991. Personnel: Mister Brett (vocals, guitar); Jay Bentley (vocals, bass guitar); Greg Graffin (vocals); Greg Hetson (guitar); Pete Finestone, Bobby Schayer (drums). Recording information: Westbeach Recorders, Hollywood, CA (05/1991). Arranger: Bad Religion. Generator demonstrates ...
| | Green Day American Idiot CD (2004)
Empire Strikes First
$11.39 This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. Green Day: Billie Joe Armstrong (vocals, guitar); Mike Dirnt (vocals, bass instrument); Tre Cool (drums). It's a bit tempting to peg Green Day's sprawling, ambitious, brilliant seventh album, American Idiot, as their version of a Who album, the next logical step forward from the Kinks-inspired popcraft of their underrated ...
| | Social Distortion Sex, Love And Rock 'N' Roll CD (2004)
Empire Strikes First
$10.89
| | Charlie Gracie An Evening With... CD (2002) Import
Empire Strikes First
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| | Tribute To Audioslave CD (2003)
Empire Strikes First
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| | World's Greatest AC/DC Tribute CD (2004)
Empire Strikes First
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| | Hardcore & Gabber CD (2005)
Empire Strikes First
$6.85
| | Chelo Exitos Rancheros CD (1998) (Import) Spain
Empire Strikes First
$6.59 Arranger: Tony Lucio.
| | Stony Point Love & Politics CD (2003)
Empire Strikes First
$16.45 GREETINGS FROM STONY POINT! Thanks for clicking on us.Love and Politics contains ten original songs from Stony Point, a five piece band from Sonoma County, California. Featuring strong lead vocals and melodic guitar solos, Stony Point serves up an exciting and eclectic mix of rock ...
| | Ginger Yoni CD (2007) (Import) Bonus Tracks; Japan; +3 Bonus Tracks
Empire Strikes First
$35.49
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