True North

When most men approach the big 5-0 they start to look to slow down the pace in life. They look towards a comfortable retirement, maybe clear that mortgage, wait for the grandchildren to arrive. Not the six members of Bad Religion.

They keep recording and put out new records with more regularity then most of their younger counterparts and still manage to tour half the year on top of other commitments. (Brett heading Epitaph records and producing albums including the new Rancid disc, Greg teaching at Universities and studying biology) And the best part is there is no signs of slowing down and the venom and vigor of their youth is still there along with breakneck punk riffs and plenty of trademark harmonies.

True North is a staple Bad Religion album. Centering around themes of greed and sociopolitics, this record has a similar feel to it as The Grey Race record back in mid 90s. It's very melodic while still having a bite to it as Greg pushes through his thoughts and ideas on the world. The thing I've always loved about Bad Religion is the distinct differences in lyrical content between Greg and Brett. Greg tells it like he sees it and still has a penchant for using big words which makes you requiring a Dictionary to understand what they mean.

Brett tends to get his point across through characters and stories and sometimes his points a little abstract but compared to Greg, it's what makes Bad Religion work. Best example is Brett's 'My Head Is Full Of Ghosts' which looks at a character with deep regrets from the past compared to the straight up no bullshit of Greg's 'Fuck You' which is a defiant war cry to the mainstream and harks back to old Bad Religion songs like 'Do What You Want' and 'You Are The Government'.

The album motors through sixteen tracks in thirty six minutes again proving they haven't slowed. 'Vanity' is a short one minute blast and no other track breaks the three minute barrier. Inspired by the last Pennywise album that was probably one of their fastest records in their history, the guys have nailed it with the short, sharp to the point. Stand out tracks is the harmonic title track 'True North', 'Robin Hood In Reverse' and the 'Dharma And The Bomb'. While the record looks at human greed and the continuing desecration of social values,the air hope for all is displayed in the albums final cut ' Changing Tide'.

Bad Religion have been quoted as saying this might be their last album and while I doubt that will be the case, if it is the final record it will see them ending on a high note, but I suspect their wont be able to break themselves away from this band and expect another record in a couple of years.

Review Score: 8.0 out of 10

- Jason Strange