How Could Hell Be Any Worse? is the first full-length album released by influential punk band Bad Religion, which was released on June 1, 1981.[4][5] Released months after the release of their self-titled EP, it was financed by a $1,000 loan by guitarist Brett Gurewitz's father. Its success surprised the band when it sold 10,000 copies in under a year. The sound of the record was vastly improved from their self-titled EP. The record was originally released as an LP in 1981 and again in 1988[6] with a different catalogue number and Epitaph's current address. It was released on CD as part of the 1991 compilation, 80–85, and was remastered for the 2004 re-issue of this album.
How Could Hell Be Any Worse? is the band's first album recorded with Pete Finestone on drums and also their only full-length album to date with original member Jay Ziskrout, who played drums on each track not recorded with Finestone. Though not yet credited as a member of the band, future guitarist Greg Hetson, who was in Circle Jerks during this time, also did a guitar solo on "Part III".
"We're Only Gonna Die," and "Fuck Armageddon... This Is Hell," became fan favorites and are staples of the band's live show to this day.[citation needed] Many later punk groups cite this album as their main influence.[citation needed] On the back of the cover is one of Gustave Dore's illustrations of Dante's Divine Comedy.[citation needed]
[edit] Track listing
| Writer(s) |
| 1. |
"We're Only Gonna Die" |
Graffin |
2:12 |
| 2. |
"Latch Key Kids" |
Graffin |
1:38 |
| 3. |
"Part III" |
Bentley |
1:48 |
| 4. |
"Faith In God" |
Graffin |
1:50 |
| 5. |
"Fuck Armageddon... This Is Hell" |
Graffin |
2:48 |
| 6. |
"Pity" |
Graffin |
2:00 |
| 7. |
"In The Night" |
Gurewitz |
3:25 |
| 8. |
"Damned To Be Free" |
Graffin |
2:12 |
| 9. |
"White Trash (2nd Generation)" |
Gurewitz |
2:21 |
| 10. |
"American Dream" |
Gurewitz |
1:41 |
| 11. |
"Eat Your Dog" |
Graffin |
1:04 |
| 12. |
"Voice Of God Is Government" |
Bentley |
2:54 |
| 13. |
"Oligarchy" |
Gurewitz |
1:01 |
| 14. |
"Doing Time" |
Gurewitz |
3:00 |
|
Total length:
|
29:54 |
| Writer(s) |
Originally appears on |
| 15. |
"Bad Religion" |
Gurewitz |
Bad Religion |
1:49 |
| 16. |
"Politics" |
Graffin |
Bad Religion |
1:21 |
| 17. |
"Sensory Overload" |
Gurewitz |
Bad Religion |
1:31 |
| 18. |
"Slaves" |
Graffin |
Bad Religion |
1:20 |
| 19. |
"Drastic Actions" |
Gurewitz |
Bad Religion |
2:36 |
| 20. |
"World War III" |
Graffin |
Bad Religion |
0:54 |
| 21. |
"Yesterday" |
Graffin |
Back To The Known |
2:39 |
| 22. |
"Frogger" |
Hetson |
Back To The Known |
1:19 |
| 23. |
"Bad Religion" |
Gurewitz |
Back To The Known |
2:10 |
| 24. |
"Along The Way" |
Graffin |
Back To The Known |
1:36 |
| 25. |
"New Leaf" |
Graffin |
Back To The Known |
2:53 |
| 26. |
"Bad Religion" |
Gurewitz |
Public Service |
1:48 |
| 27. |
"Slaves" |
Graffin |
Public Service |
1:07 |
| 28. |
"Drastic Actions" |
Gurewitz |
Public Service |
2:31 |
|
Total length:
|
55:28 |
[edit] Re-release
The track list to the 2004 remastered version of How Could Hell Be Any Worse? is exactly the same as track listing to the band's long-out of print compilation album, 1991's 80–85. Reissues of their post-1985 releases – Suffer, No Control, Against the Grain and Generator – were released on the same day as the 2004 remastered version of this album, as well as a DVD reissue of their long-out of print 1992 live VHS Along the Way.
[edit] Personnel
- Greg Graffin - vocals
- Brett Gurewitz - guitars
- Jay Bentley - bass
- Pete Finestone - drums on tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 13
- Jay Ziskrout - drums on tracks 2, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 14
- Greg Hetson - guitar solo on Part III
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r514033
- ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r689116
- ^ http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=bad+religion
- ^ http://www.thebrpage.net/discography/variation.asp?varID=2
- ^ http://www.discogs.com/Bad-Religion-How-Could-Hell-Be-Any-Worse/master/25526
- ^ How Could Hell Be Any Worse?'s entry at Discogs.com
