On
Bad Religion
's 15th album in 30 years, the stage opens with a sentimental but roused
Greg Graffin
reminiscing, "Do you remember when we were young?/Adventure had no end/Those were the days, my friend," to recall the melodic blast of their early years. Producer
Joe Barresi
(
Queens of the Stone Age
,
Tool
) seeks range with some midtempo pop/rockers like
"The Devil in Stitches,"
"Won't Somebody,"
and
"Cyanide,"
the latter with
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
'
Mike Campbell
on slide guitar. Elsewhere,
"Only Rain"
takes it back to their roots and features some of
's most provocative anti-Christian commentary -- which is saying a lot for a band with a crossed-out cross for a family crest. ~ Jason Lymangrover