Bad Religion — The Empire Strikes First

Judged on influence alone, Bad Religion are the Beatles of the last two decades. Without them, punk doesn’t go mainstream, and neither does Blink-182, Avril Lavigne or Alexisonfire. Of course, the punk pioneers’ politics rarely get furthered by their disciples — which might (along with an eschatological-minded U.S. leader) explain the return to accusatory rage exhibited on Empire.

"Maybe it’s too late for intellectual debate," sings Greg Graffin on "Atheist Peace," but the PhD in biology doesn’t mean it; this disc is packed with the stuff, and it’s the sharpest they’ve been since 1992’s Generator. The music is no less powerful; see the huge opening salvo of "Sinister Rouge," or "Let Them Eat War," a soaring, searing indictment of the snafu in Iraq.

Think of this: the Beatles’ game only lasted 10 years; after 22, Bad Religion are still at the top of theirs.

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