Let Them Eat War (The Empire Strikes First - Bad Religion)

Member Name: rleigh

Product:	The Empire Strikes First - Bad Religion
Date:	25/06/08 (33 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: An excellent politically charged punk rock album, an incredible display of lyrical intelligence.

Disadvantages: The band has produced finer albums than this in its career.

Unlucky for some, 'The Empire Strikes First' is the thirteenth studio album from Bad Religion. The album was released through the Epitaph record label in 2004 and consists of a grand total of fourteen tracks. The album clocks in at just under the forty minute mark and with this release Bad Religion continues to show its excellence as a band through releasing an album which comes complete with a large number of exceptional tracks. The album was produced by Bad Religion's lead vocalist Greg Graffin and rhythm guitarist Brett Gurewitz also; a well put across construction of music from the excellent American punk rock band that is Bad Religion.

The album begins with the supremely short 'Overture', a track which clocks in at a mere 1 minute and 9 seconds in length. Although this track is short it begins the album well and leaves you wanting well and truly for more. As the album progresses more is indeed provided by Bad Religion and always here the music created by the band is highly impressive.

The first real moment of glory here comes in the form of the track 'Los Angeles Is Burning', it's certainly not one of the bands finest tracks of all time but still is one that is well worth listening to. The track progresses slowly, it's a fine display of melodic punk rock from the band and provides for a fine three minutes of powerful music entertainment. 'Let Them Eat War' follows on directly from this track, once more the music is highly impressive and the incredible punk rock finesse of Bad Religion is further showcased here. The music is mid-tempo punk rock fun, not the fastest album that Bad Religion has ever recorded but still an incredibly strong album offering from the American punk rock band that just never seems to run out of ideas.

Title track 'The Empire Strikes First' is another impressive offering from this album, always the bands music is full of fun here and incredibly well put across by the band. The title 'The Empire Strikes First' is actually a reference to the Bush doctrine of preventive war; many of the tracks do lyrically focus on the subject of the Iraq war and although this is the main lyrical stance of the album a number of other subjects are also covered. Subjects such as religion and the media are covered by the band here, the album possesses a terrific level of lyrical intelligence and always the lyrical intellect of the band is hugely impressive here.

From start to finish this 'The Empire Strikes First' release is absolutely excellent, always the music of Bad Religion has much to offer here and never does the bands supreme sound cease to amaze me throughout the forty minute run time of this album. Bad Religion is an excellent punk rock band and this, the bands thirteenth studio album really does impress hugely. If you like politically charged punk rock music then Bad Religion's 'The Empire Strikes First' album should certainly be of great appeal. Released in the same year as Green Day's popular 'American Idiot' album I certainly know which one I'd rather listen to; Bad Religion's political punk rock offering of 2004 is an excellent album and once more with this one the band showed itself to be incredibly talented and hugely capable of putting together a fine album of excellent music. Definitely consider giving this album a go, if you like politically charged punk rock then 'The Empire Strikes First' may well be an album that you'll absolutely love.

Summary: 'The Empire Strikes First' is a fantastic thirteenth studio album from Bad Religion.