New Maps of Hell | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | July 10, 2007 | |||
Recorded | February–April 2007 | |||
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Length | 38:27 | |||
Label | Epitaph | |||
Producer | ||||
Bad Religion chronology | ||||
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Singles from New Maps of Hell | ||||
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New Maps of Hell is the fourteenth studio album by Bad Religion, released on July 10, 2007.
Bad Religion's follow-up to 2004's The Empire Strikes First was originally rumored to be a double album to be released in 2006, but this was denied by bassist Jay Bentley. Due to the band's ongoing support with their previous release, the album was put on hold until 2007. Another one of the reasons why the band had yet to release a follow-up to The Empire Strikes First was their various other activities, most obviously frontman Greg Graffin's, who released his second solo album in 2006, his first since 1997.
New Maps of Hell also marks the third Bad Religion album released after returning to Epitaph Records for 2002's The Process of Belief and with guitarist Brett Gurewitz since his departure during the release of 1994's Stranger Than Fiction .
The song "New Dark Ages" makes an appearance in the video game NHL 2K9 .
Bad Religion first mentioned the follow-up to The Empire Strikes First in 2005, stating that the band would begin recording it later that year, making it likely that it would be released sometime in 2006. [3] In July 2005, it was announced that Graffin and Gurewitz had begun writing "about 20 songs or more" for the album. [4]
On January 20, 2006, it was announced that Bad Religion was "almost 100% ready to go back to the studio or to the house" to begin working on the album. [5] Members of the band had mentioned that it would be a double release, [6] but this idea was later turned down flat by Bentley. [7]
In early February 2006, Bentley was chatting with a visitor who comments on news articles at the official Bad Religion fansite, stating that the new Bad Religion album was planned for a September release, as well as a tour to follow. [8]
In May 2006, Bentley also mentioned that the band was planning to begin recording it around late June/early July. [9] In September, the band mentioned they were in the process of demoing. [10]
Bentley also told Kristoffer Averheim, the webmaster of the Bad Religion fansite, that the album had been pushed back to late 2006/early 2007. [11] While drummer Brooks Wackerman posted a message on MySpace stating that the band had continued working on a new album, he stated that the album was once again pushed back to "mid/late 2007".
In January 2007, it was announced that the album would be called New Maps of Hell and the band would work with producer Joe Barresi. [12] The band began recording at Grandmaster Recorders in Los Angeles, California, [13] with all background vocals being recorded at Gurewitz's house (The Evil Pink Room). [14] On April 1, Bentley posted an update on the MySpace bulletin board, stating that the band was finally finished recording the album and would soon begin mixing it. [15] He had this to say:
We are done recording. Now it's mix time. We're getting ready to play the Santa Monica show and head down to Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico for our tour... looking forward to getting back on the road...
On March 16, 2007, New Maps of Hell was announced for release and the track listing was revealed. [16] The following month, they embarked on a tour of South America, encapsulating Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. [17] On April 25, the track listing was rearranged and the track "New Chapter" was dropped. [18] When asked why "New Chapter" would not appear on the album, Bentley recently stated that it "ran into insurmountable issues" that the band "couldn't rectify", hinting that it will probably appear on the next Bad Religion album. [19] "Honest Goodbye" was made available for streaming via the band's Myspace account on May 15, [20] and released as a single a week later. [21] On May 25, "Heroes & Martyrs" was released as a free download. [22]
"Honest Goodbye" was released to radio on June 12, 2007. [23] From late June to late August, the band went on the 2007 edition of Warped Tour. [24] New Maps of Hell was made available for streaming on July 3, [25] and released a week later through Epitaph. [16] Discussing the album's title, guitarist Brett Gurewitz stated "We all liked the concept of maps, because we are exploring new material on this record, both musically and topically." [26] In September and October, the band went on a headlining tour across the US, with support from the Briggs and Gallows. [27] "New Dark Ages" was released to radio on October 23. [23] In November 2007, the band went on a headlining tour of Australia with Strung Out and MYC. [28] On November 14, a music video was released for "New Dark Ages". [29] The video for "Honest Goodbye" was planned, but "never made it out of the office" according to Bentley. The band ended the year with an appearance at the KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas festival. [30]
On February 27, 2008, Punknews.org reported that Epitaph would be releasing a deluxe edition of New Maps of Hell on July 8. [31] In February and March, the band went on a West Coast tour of the US, consisting of two-night residencies in multiple Californian and Nevadan cities. [32] Further shows were added, extending it into April 2008; Hi Fi Handgrenades supported some of these shows. [33] [34] They appeared on The Daily Habit , performing "We're Only Going to Die" and "New Dark Ages". [35] On May 9, 2008, Punknews.org released the artwork for the reissue and more details, including the track list and the bonus DVD. [36] The DVD features an hour of a live performance, music videos for "New Dark Ages" and "Honest Goodbye", a showing of Bad Religion making New Maps of Hell and Graffin and Gurewitz recording the seven acoustic bonus tracks. Three of the tracks are new – "Won't Somebody", "Adam's Atoms" and "Chronophobia" – written specifically for the deluxe edition; the other four are new acoustic versions of older Bad Religion songs. [37] An electric version of "Won't Somebody" was later recorded for 2010's The Dissent of Man . [38]
Over the next two months, the band appeared at various festivals in Europe including Groezrock, Pinkpop, Nova Rock and Hove. [39] [40] Between late June and late August 2008, the band performed on the Warped Tour. [41] An acoustic version of "Sorrow" was posted on the band's Myspace on July 2. [42] After two shows in Germany and Brazil, they played a few US shows, followed by a tour of Canada. [43] The tour was supported by the Bronx, and was followed by a Califorian tour until October 2008. [44] They played a few West Coast US shows in March 2009, prior to a performance at the Punk Spring festival in Japan, which was followed by shows in Hawaii and Spain. [45] [46] In September and October 2009, the band went on a tour of Australia with NOFX. [47]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 69/100 [48] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [49] |
The A.V. Club | B [50] |
IGN | 8.7/10 [51] |
Kerrang! | |
PopMatters | [52] |
Punknews.org | [2] |
Following the album's release, it debuted at number 35 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 21,000 copies in its first week. [53]
All tracks credited jointly to Greg Graffin and Brett Gurewitz in the album liner notes. [54]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "52 Seconds" | Gurewitz | 0:58 |
2. | "Heroes & Martyrs" | Gurewitz | 1:25 |
3. | "Germs of Perfection" | Graffin | 1:27 |
4. | "New Dark Ages" | Gurewitz | 2:47 |
5. | "Requiem for Dissent" | Graffin | 2:08 |
6. | "Before You Die" | Graffin | 2:34 |
7. | "Honest Goodbye" | Gurewitz | 2:51 |
8. | "Dearly Beloved" | Gurewitz | 2:19 |
9. | "Grains of Wrath" | Graffin | 3:00 |
10. | "Murder" | Gurewitz | 1:18 |
11. | "Scrutiny" | Graffin | 2:36 |
12. | "Prodigal Son" | Gurewitz | 3:07 |
13. | "The Grand Delusion" | Graffin | 2:10 |
14. | "Lost Pilgrim" | Graffin | 2:28 |
15. | "Submission Complete" | Graffin | 3:40 |
16. | "Fields of Mars" | Gurewitz | 3:39 |
Total length: | 38:27 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
17. | Untitled | 0:04 | |
18. | "Won't Somebody" (acoustic) | Gurewitz | 3:08 |
19. | "Adam's Atoms" (acoustic) | Graffin | 2:37 |
20. | "Sorrow" (acoustic) | Gurewitz | 3:12 |
21. | "God Song" (acoustic) | Graffin | 2:40 |
22. | "Dearly Beloved" (acoustic) | Gurewitz | 2:37 |
23. | "Chronophobia" (acoustic) | Graffin | 1:55 |
24. | "Skyscraper" (acoustic) | Gurewitz | 3:00 |
Total length: | 60:19 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Complete concert performance from the House of Blues, Las Vegas" | |
2. | "Documentary footage of Brett and Greg recording 7 acoustic tracks" | |
3. | "Music videos for "Honest Goodbye" and "New Dark Ages"" | |
4. | "Footage of the making of the New Maps of Hell album" |
Adapted from the album liner notes. [54]
Bad Religion
Additional musicians
Technical
Bad Religion is an American punk rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1980. The band's lyrics cover topics related to religion, politics, society, the media and science. Musically, they are noted for their melodic sensibilities and extensive use of three-part vocal harmonies. The band has experienced multiple line-up changes, with singer Greg Graffin being the band's only constant member, though fellow founding members Jay Bentley and Brett Gurewitz have also been with the band for most of their history while guitarist Brian Baker has been a member of the group since 1994. Guitarist Mike Dimkich and drummer Jamie Miller have been members of the band since 2013 and 2015 respectively. To date, Bad Religion has released seventeen studio albums, two live albums, three compilation albums, three EPs, and two live DVDs. They are considered to be one of the best-selling punk rock acts of all time, having sold over five million albums worldwide.
The Process of Belief is the twelfth studio album by the American punk rock band Bad Religion. It was produced by its leaders Greg Graffin and Brett Gurewitz, and was released on January 22, 2002, through Epitaph Records. After touring in support of its previous studio album, The New America (2000), Gurewitz re-joined Bad Religion in 2001 after a seven-year hiatus. The band re-signed with Epitaph, and then began work on its first album for the label in over eight years. The album also marked the first album to feature Brooks Wackerman, who replaced former drummer Bobby Schayer.
Suffer is the third album by American punk rock band Bad Religion, released on the Californian independent record label Epitaph Records on September 8, 1988. It was the first album that was both released and distributed by the label. Following the release of the EP Back to the Known (1985), Bad Religion went on a temporary hiatus, then reunited with its original members and went to work on their first full-length studio album in five years.
Gregory Walter Graffin is an American singer and evolutionary biologist. He is most recognized as the lead vocalist and only constant member of punk rock band Bad Religion, which he co-founded in 1980. He embarked on a solo career in 1997, when he released the album American Lesion. His follow-up album, Cold as the Clay, was released nine years later. His newest solo work is Millport, released in 2017.
Brett W. Gurewitz, nicknamed Mr. Brett, is an American musician best known as the co-founder and lead guitarist of Bad Religion. He is also the owner of the music label Epitaph Records and a number of sister labels. He has produced albums for Bad Religion as well as Epitaph Records labelmates NOFX, Rancid, and Pennywise, among others. Gurewitz also had a project called Error, which also featured Atticus Ross, Leopold Ross, and Greg Puciato. He is also the co-founder of comic book and graphic novel publisher, Black Mask Studios.
Stranger than Fiction is the eighth full-length studio album and major label debut by American punk rock band Bad Religion, released in 1994. It was a major breakthrough for Bad Religion, being certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America and becoming the band's first album to chart on the Billboard 200, peaking at 87.
The New America is the eleventh studio album by punk band Bad Religion. It was released in 2000 and is their last album on Atlantic Records.
No Control is the fourth album by American punk rock band Bad Religion, released on November 2, 1989, through Epitaph Records. Bad Religion began work on the album while touring in support of their previous album, Suffer (1988). No Control is stylistically faster than its predecessor, owing more to hardcore punk. Additionally, it was the first Bad Religion album not to feature a lineup change from the previous album.
The Gray Race is the ninth full-length album of the punk rock band Bad Religion, which was released in 1996. It was the follow-up to the band's highly successful 1994 album Stranger Than Fiction.
Into the Unknown is the second studio album by Bad Religion, released in August 1983 through Epitaph Records. The album marks a distinct departure from the band's previous album; instead of featuring hardcore punk, the album is characterized by slower tempos, use of electronic organ and pianos, and a prog-influenced hard rock sound. Into the Unknown is the only Bad Religion album to feature Paul Dedona on bass and Davy Goldman on drums. Dedona was ejected from the band before their next recording and replaced by Tim Gallegos, while former drummer Pete Finestone returned to the band in 1986. The album also features Bad Religion's longest track to date, "Time and Disregard", which is seven minutes long.
The Empire Strikes First is the thirteenth studio album by American punk rock band Bad Religion, released on June 8, 2004. The album is heavily influenced by the then-current Iraq War and also has some nods to George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, the latter most likely inspired by the Patriot Act.
Greg Hetson is an American guitarist. He was born in Brooklyn, New York and has lived in the Los Angeles area since he was 2 years old. He is Jewish. Active since 1979, Hetson is best known as the guitarist for the influential hardcore punk bands Redd Kross, Circle Jerks and Bad Religion. He is known for his high energy stage antics which people have coined the term "The Hetson Leap". Hetson was a founding member of and also plays guitar in another supergroup, Punk Rock Karaoke, and the hardcore punk band G.F.P.
How Could Hell Be Any Worse? is the debut studio album by American punk rock band Bad Religion, released on January 19, 1982 by Epitaph Records. Released almost a year after their self-titled EP, it was financed from the sales of the self titled EP and partly by a $1,000 loan by guitarist Brett Gurewitz's father. Its success surprised the band when it sold 10,000 copies in under a year.
Blackhawks Over Los Angeles is the sixth studio album by Strung Out, released by Fat Wreck Chords on June 12, 2007.
Horizons is the second studio album by Australian metalcore band Parkway Drive. It was released on 6 October 2007 through Resist and Epitaph Records, and was produced by Adam Dutkiewicz. It was recorded in Westfield, Massachusetts at Zing Studios in May 2007. The record was a surprising commercial success for the band at the time, charting at #6 on the ARIA Album Charts, a notable achievement for an Australian metal band in 2007.
Farewell is an American pop punk band formed in 2004 in Greensboro, North Carolina. They were signed to Epitaph Records releasing two CDs. After fulfilling their contractual obligations with the release of their second CD, the relationship with Epitaph ended.
Let the Dominoes Fall is the seventh studio album by the American punk rock band Rancid. It is their first album of new material in nearly six years, following 2003's Indestructible, and their first with drummer Branden Steineckert, who joined the band in 2006 after the departure of founding drummer Brett Reed.
The Dissent of Man is the fifteenth studio album by American punk rock band Bad Religion, which was released on September 28, 2010. It was their first album in three years, following the release of New Maps of Hell in 2007. The band commenced writing new material in 2008, but would not begin studio work until May 2010. The writing and recording process spanned two years and was slowed down considerably by touring schedules. The album was finally finished in June 2010. Some of the material was originally performed live by Bad Religion on its 30th anniversary tour in early 2010. "The Devil in Stitches" was released as a single to accompany the release of this album, while "Cyanide" and "Wrong Way Kids" also received radio airplay. Clocking in at 43 minutes, The Dissent of Man is Bad Religion's longest album to date.
True North is the sixteenth studio album by the California punk rock band Bad Religion, which was released on January 22, 2013. After touring in support of their previous album The Dissent of Man (2010), Bad Religion began writing new material for an album that was planned for release in 2012. During their 2011 tour, frontman Greg Graffin stated that Bad Religion would make "one more album and then all join the navy, do honest work", which led to speculation that they were breaking up, although this turned out not to be the case. The recording sessions took place in July and August 2012 at Joe's House of Compression, a studio owned by Joe Barresi, who produced the album.
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