  
Ever since Bad Religion formed back in 1979 they
have been one of the most influential punk bands
who have gone on to release 16 studio albums,
tour the world over more times than I can count
on my fingers and toes, had various line up changes
and also gone on to influence so many new bands
starting up over the years and now Bad Religion
are set to release their seventeenth studio album
‘Christmas Songs’ which see’s
the band cover 8 classic Christmas hymns whilst
also mixing up their classic single ‘American
Jesus’.
When Bad Religion formed never in a million years
did they think they would go on to release an
Christmas album and never did their fans expect
them to do so which means the release of ‘Christmas
Songs’ is a big surprise and it is actually
a pleasant surprise as these classic Christmas
hymns which most people were forced to sing at
school and have escaped hearing ever since are
covered in a way which makes them enjoyable as
Bad Religion do what they do best and put a big
powerful punk spin on the songs.
The album kicks off with ‘Hark! The Herald
Angels Sing’ which opens sounding very much
like the original until the song hits the 33 seconds
mark and Bad Religion do what they do best and
come blasting in with super charged guitars and
a general up beat vibe where front man Greg Graffin
really does make the song a pleasure to listen
to due to his strong vocals.
‘O Come all Ye Faithful’ once again
see’s Bad Religion speed things and turn
a boring slow paced Christmas song into a fun
enjoyable fast paced listen, the vocal range from
Greg Graffin are great here as he really does
give it his all.
‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’ is easily
one of the best tracks on the album in a way it
sounds like a Bad Religion original track and
that is mainly because of the work and effort
that bad Religion have put into the track to make
it sound different, the song is pretty fast and
oozes in punk rock attitude and once again the
vocals from Greg Graffin are spot on and quite
melodic in places.
Bad Religion open up ‘White Christmas’
sounding like they have lifted some guitar riffs
from The Ramones and that alongside the solid
guitar solo and Greg Graffin’s upbeat vocals
I can see this becoming the soundtrack to many
punk fan’s Christmases in the future.
With ‘Little Drummer Boy’ Bad Religion
stay true to the song title with drummer Brooks
Wackerman really creating a sound with his drum
beats in fact his drumming is so good you would
be forgiving for thinking that a marching band
were on a mission as Wackerman really does give
it his all whilst the also equally in tour face.
What Bad Religion have done with ‘God Rest
Ye Merry Gentlemen’ is special as they have
managed to turn this Christmas hymn into such
an upbeat song which is hardly unrecognisable
as the speed and passion that Bad Religion put
in really does make the song sound like their
own.
The album closes with ‘American Jesus (Andy
Wallace Mix)’ and it is a perfect ending
to the album as after all these Christmas covers
you are reminded what Bad Religion are all about
and the mix is a good alternative to the original
version of the song.
Overall ‘Christmas songs’ is a short
but fun offering clocking in at just under 20minutes
and Bad Religion have managed to turn a bunch
of average Christmas songs and hymn’s into
a fun upbeat offering which I can honestly say
is going to provide the soundtrack to my Christmas
alongside the Punk goes Christmas compilation
album.
4.5/5
Review by Trigger
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