Bad Religion shows a 'Belief' in positive punk
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What's this? Melodic punk rock? How can that be?
Bad Religion has always been a different kind of punk-rock band. Its music is as wild, furious and angry as punk can be, but its lyrics are generally smart and positive, often challenging the negative, nihilist, hopeless diatribes of other punk bands.
The veteran California group's new album, "The Process of Belief," goes one step further, topping thick and fast punk music with poplike harmonies — including "aaahs" and "ooohs" — and lead vocals you can actually understand! Of course, we're talking about the album — in concert, the vocals may be buried under the musical assault, in the grand tradition of punk.
The album is a turning point for Bad Religion. It marks the return of founding member Brett Gurewitz, who twice before left the band, once to head the punk-rock label Epitaph — which the band founded 20 years ago to release its first recordings — and later, after briefly rejoining the band (which had left Epitaph and signed with Atlantic), to get help for a drug problem.
Not only is the healthy Gurewitz back, and again co-writing songs with fellow band founder Greg Graffin, but Bad Religion has returned to the label it started, which has become a major player, having more than 30 acts on its roster (including tour-mates Hot Water Music). Gurewitz remains a co-owner of the label and its subsidiary, Hellcat.
Bad Religion's more melodic sound has been well-received by the fans. "The Process of Belief" had the biggest first-week sales of any Bad Religion release, and a single from it, "Sorrow" (one of few songs on the album that could be called a ballad), is a hit on modern rock stations. The disc's success helped the band land recent appearances on Conan O'Brien's and Craig Kilborn's late-night TV shows.
The band will feature songs from the new album in its set, as well as material from its dozen or so other albums. And expect to hear the band's only big hit, "Infected," which is now a decade old.
Less Than Jake, also a veteran punk-rock band, noted for its ska-influenced sound, has played here many times. It seems to have been on one long tour since it was founded in 1993. Its speed-demon style is favored by skateboarders and extreme sports fans.
Hot Water Music has a more basic punk sound — in-your-face guitars and growling vocals. It comes from the same hotbed of punk as Less Than Jake, Gainesville, Fla.
Patrick MacDonald: 206-464-2312 or pmacdonald@seattletimes.com.
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