Punknews.orgPunknews.org Logo
Review Navigator

BackForward

Features

 

Contests

 




Reviews

Bad Religion - New Maps of Hell (Deluxe)

There's something inherently weird about hearing a guy, who for the past 6 years of my life has done nothing but recite some of the most biting political rhetoric ever put to music, make an album about his feelings.

Let me clarify - this disc is Dennis Lyxzén, frontman of hardcore legends Refused and rock revolutionaries The [International] Noise Conspiracy, singing about his feelings. Not about capitialism or foriegn policy. About girls and stuff.

Yeah, I know.

But what's even more unusual is that Lyxzén makes the transition rather smoothly, something I didn't expect at all. His voice, known for it's dynamic power, takes on an almost childlike frailty for a majority of the album. The album has a very confessionalized feel to it, like Lyxzén is putting his real self out in the open, for all to gaze upon and react how they deem appropriate.

The album's lyrics mirror the soulful qualities of Lyxzén's voice, allowing him to truly reveal himself through these words, words that have probably been hidden in journals for years. The music the band creates is heavily R & B influenced, with an indie-pop sheen applied to it. Tracks like "Desperate Attempts" conjur up images of Nick Cave, while conversely the bouncy romp of "Alright" make me think Motown. The eclectic instrumentation of the disc makes it all the more interesting to listen to - you never seem to know when a clarinet, flute, or saxophone could pop up and deliver a jazzy, haunting countermelody.

With the Lost Patrol, Dennis Lyxzén has completed his grasp on rock and roll; he's touched all the bases admirably, and knows what he's doing. While I don't think this record will be getting more spins than The Shape Of Punk To Come, it is nice knowing that there's a softer side to Lyxzén, and that he's willing to let us enjoy it.

MP3s
No New Manifesto
Left And Leaving Blues



People who liked this also liked:
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Hearts Of OakGet Up Kids - Something To Write Home AboutWeezer - The Blue AlbumRx Bandits - The ResignationMaritime - We, The VehiclesWeezer - PinkertonAlkaline Trio - GoddamnitAt The Drive-In - VayaThe Clash - London CallingThe Clash - The Clash



Please login or register to post comments.
What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
  • Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
  • Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
  • Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
  • Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 11, 2005 at 4:05 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    hehe that guy wants to get Dennis Hard and then he probably wants to suck on hard dennis maybe get hard dennis up his pooper.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 29, 2004 at 10:46 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Dennis is a Wussy...
    Part wimp part pussy!

    -Start the Song!

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 29, 2004 at 10:41 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I don't like soft dennis. I like dennis hard. I wish dennis could get harder. I wish dennis could show me how hard he can get. I wish I could turn dennis on and feel his hardness. I dont want to see everyones goddamn sensitive side. Save that for your couch sessions. You fucking people with your emotions. Hide them. Bottle them up for fucks sake. Save them for when you need to lift a car off of a loved one. Don't whine in my fucking ear.
    twat

    Posted by Romeo on 2004-01-28 23:38:06
    My Score:

    anything Ian > most things

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 9:01 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    fugazi > most things

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 1:31 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    nothing better than idots running around screaming about the evils of captialism in hundred dollar jeans.

    Posted by Romeo on 2004-01-27 10:10:56
    My Score:

    What do I care about some guys feelings. Oh wah, he must of gotten his dick cut off after he quit Refused.

    Posted by dignin on 2004-01-27 01:46:50
    My Score:

    None of this guys stuff ever did anything for me. And scott, fugazi > refused

    Posted by heelturn on 2004-01-27 00:37:01
    My Score:

    i love fags.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 25, 2004 at 3:04 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Local Felons are a group of fags

    Posted by CallingLondon on 2004-01-25 14:23:15
    My Score:

    woops, i mean better than the first

    Posted by CallingLondon on 2004-01-25 14:22:39
    My Score:

    it's not bad. kinda unoriginal in the song writing, and i think the production is way too polished, but those two songs are alright. Left and Leaving Blues is better than the second, for sure.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 25, 2004 at 1:00 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    i work all day doing nothing, not making anything.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 25, 2004 at 12:11 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "There's something inherently weird about hearing a guy, who for the past 6 years of my life has done nothing but recite some of the most biting political rhetoric ever put to music, make an album about his feelings."

    Oh please... His songs straddle nonsensical most of the time and wouldn't be consider "political" all that much if he didn't keep repeating the whole anti-capitalist spiel (something someone from his part of the world doesn't even have to really worry about).

    Biting political lyrics are rooted in REAL opinions or something deeper than "I've got a bone to pick with capitalism- and a few to break!". I mean, what is he? A proffesional wrestler?

    Check out Crass- "Big Man, Big M.A.N." or "Time Out", or their slogan song "Do They Owe Us a Living?" for something closer to the Refused.

    -BSD

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 25, 2004 at 11:13 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    I really really really really really really miss Refused ... but this album is great. Check out 93 Million Miles From The Sun for more Dennis actshun.

    -Bobo

    Posted by GreenVandal on 2004-01-25 00:34:28
    My Score:

    I think thi guy is a propaghandist idiot dick who uses politics more for fashion then anything else.

    But he does make some really kick ass tunes.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 24, 2004 at 11:54 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Dennis*

    -BSD

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 24, 2004 at 11:54 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Hahahahaha...

    Welcome to the new age of celebrity worship. I don't think making Denis out to be Christ would fit in very well with his plan for a communist utopia.

    -BSD

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 24, 2004 at 11:43 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    dennis lyxzen has more talent in his pinky finger than anyone commenting on how shitty he is...and anyone else who even says that he's good. this man deserves more respect than one could ever muster. long live refused....but don't cop him out and say shit about this newest recording...he is a legend that is still producing because he too has emotions...so fuck all y'all. thank you.

    Posted by ashton on 2004-01-24 20:55:57
    My Score:

    for the guy calling him a dick:

    are you sure you didn't spill beer over his 200$ pants or something?

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 24, 2004 at 4:42 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    totally enjoy it, for some reason reminded me of harvest by neal young.

    Posted by Ted_The_Bellhop on 2004-01-24 14:49:25
    My Score:

    less weird albums and more Refused!

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 24, 2004 at 11:02 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    this is like kenny g with vocals.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 24, 2004 at 2:41 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    This week must have been "music BSD feels nothing for" week at punknews.org... I don't hate these bands, don't really like'em...

    They're just "eh..."

    -BSD

    Posted by heelturn on 2004-01-24 00:52:53
    My Score:

    i met dennis in west palm beach a couple of years ago when t(i)nc was playing with rocket from the crypt. i met speedo, too. i approached dennis before the show(and before i was drunk) to thank him for such a rad album, the shape of punk..., and to tell him i was very excited to see his new band. he could not have been more of a dick. he literally laughed at me. when i talked to speedo after the show(when i was retardedly drunk) he could not have been nicer. he invited us to go drinking with the band. i love refused. i just listened to the lost patrol mp3's and what a bunch of self indulgent nonsense. i think he's just making music now to pay for his dry cleaning bill.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 24, 2004 at 12:47 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Wow, this is some really good stuff. I like how he uses instruments you don't here much anymore in this kinds of music. stuf like the clarinet. i think it runs very smoothly. great record.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 24, 2004 at 12:18 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    this $ellout $old his $oul to american recordings...

    All style NO substance!

    Posted by Jesse on 2004-01-23 21:08:07
    My Score:

    Reminds me a little of an updated The Velvet Underground.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 23, 2004 at 8:58 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    jump the shark:

    a term to describe a moment when somethin that was once great has reached a point where it will now decline in quality and popularity.

    Origin of this phrase comes from a Happy Days episode where the Fonz jumped a shark on waterskis. Thus was labeled the lowest point of the show.

    Posted by 8dollarclarinetsolo on 2004-01-23 18:27:41
    My Score:

    im downloading the songs now, but to be honest, i think alot of the INC songs are about girls as opposed to politics. some of them may function as metaphors for politics, and some are simply about politics, but i dont see the transition being hard for him at all, because there are many songs that address love, i think

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 23, 2004 at 5:39 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    i got the cd a while ago because it came out in june in europe, and all i can say is that it's fucking brilliant. i hope epitaph posts the "alright" video soon.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 23, 2004 at 5:36 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Scott, that was probably the best review you've ever written.

    - Kirby

    Posted by ElVaquero on 2004-01-23 16:02:29
    My Score:

    this man is tied with mike park for the "can do no wrong" title.

    Posted by siropsycho on 2004-01-23 15:51:34
    My Score:

    i've only heard no new manifesto but that's a good song

    i'm going to check this out

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 23, 2004 at 3:49 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I'm not even sure if i want to hear this but i'll prolly check out just out just for the hell of it.