The Empire Strikes First
by Bad Religion
  • Record Label: Epitaph
  • Release Date: Jun 8, 2004
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 27 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 27
  3. Negative: 2 out of 27

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  1. Member27
    Jun 21, 2004
    2
    Same crap as their other albums. Left wing politics translated into psuedo-insightful obtuse lyrics put to the tunes of some awesome punk music. The lyrics totally ruin the experience of Bad Religion and no matter how good the music is, and it is good, I will never be able to like them because of it. Not that I am a right-winger or anything, I just find their lyrics to be awfully Same crap as their other albums. Left wing politics translated into psuedo-insightful obtuse lyrics put to the tunes of some awesome punk music. The lyrics totally ruin the experience of Bad Religion and no matter how good the music is, and it is good, I will never be able to like them because of it. Not that I am a right-winger or anything, I just find their lyrics to be awfully patronising and instead of constructing a lyrical arguement they are reasonless blind protests against very tired targets.… Expand
  2. joshw
    Aug 29, 2004
    3
    Their music is awsome but they seem very anti-american in all that they sing. One of the best punk rock bands around but they are way too liberal and very anti all religion in general. They all really have nothing to live for if what they say is true.

Awards & Rankings

98
#98 Most Discussed Album of 2004

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 15
  3. Negative: 1 out of 15
  1. Magnet
    80
    As potent and timely as anything it released during the Reagan era. [#64, p.83]
  2. Alternative Press
    60
    The songs have the urgency and vitriol we've come to expect from the band, but there's one major problem: the spit shine production. [Jul 2004, p.128]
  3. AllMusic
    60
    The Empire Strikes First isn't a return to Bad Religion at its most vitriolic and unstoppable -- whether that could ever really happen is unclear, and probably unnecessary.
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