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  • Record Label:
  • Release Date:
The Empire Strikes First Image
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 27 Ratings

  • Summary: The veteran Southern California hardcore punk band returns with--as you may have guessed from the title--a political-themed disc, complete with carefully-footnoted lyrics.

Top Track

All There Is
This song goes out to all the hopeless sinners With grave allegiances so meaningless and vain The walking wounded in a pageant of contenders Who... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 15
  2. Negative: 1 out of 15
  1. Spin
    91
    Good records from the Descendents and Bad Religion in one year? Joe Strummer's ghost must be keeping close watch. [Jul 2004, p.110]
  2. One of its most charged and inspired records in years.
  3. Magnet
    80
    As potent and timely as anything it released during the Reagan era. [#64, p.83]
  4. Q Magazine
    70
    A thrill from first to last. [Aug 2004, p.106]
  5. Bad Religion sound more relevant than ever on their incendiary, political manifesto The Empire Strikes First.
  6. 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]

See all 15 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 19
  2. Negative: 2 out of 19
  1. BobBananas
    Jun 9, 2005
    10
    Wonderful!
  2. BadLuCkbRam
    Aug 31, 2004
    10
    i'm an indonesian n my respond 4 this album: i think this album is perfect.in this album show the real character of Bad Religion i'm an indonesian n my respond 4 this album: i think this album is perfect.in this album show the real character of Bad Religion music.Brave,Wise n Grow Up puNkRoCk that i called. Bad Religion was mediator to telling the Truth about side of life!!! Expand
  3. Loki
    Jun 28, 2004
    9
    This album has taken over my stereo. Aside from showing crap-filled "bands" like good charlote, new found glory, and all those other poseurs This album has taken over my stereo. Aside from showing crap-filled "bands" like good charlote, new found glory, and all those other poseurs what punk is all about, this album is perfect for times like these. While the album stumbles a bit on tracks without a message, like "LA is Burning", when they get fired up, this is some of the finest punk you'll ever hear. Favorite tracks: "Let Them Eat War", "The Empire Strikes First", "Atheist Peace" Expand
  4. Steve
    Jul 18, 2004
    9
    The Empire Strikes First is easily one of my favorite CD's from Bad Religion. For me it ties with 'The Process of Belief' and The Empire Strikes First is easily one of my favorite CD's from Bad Religion. For me it ties with 'The Process of Belief' and only trails ' Stranger Than Fiction' as far as what i consider their best. The political theme and heavy Orwell influence with the lyrics is easy to see and it helps and is well appreciated in these times. I am not a left-winger, however the theme and mood of the album is something that even us who are in the center can appreciate without being bashed as Bush haters. As far as albums this year go, only 'Rock Against Bush' is probably more obvious in its political leanings this year. Well, so far. Expand
  5. Oct 28, 2016
    9
    This is in my top three Bad Religion albums of all time. Sure, they did milk the whole, "George Bush sucks" cash cow, but who cares? ItThis is in my top three Bad Religion albums of all time. Sure, they did milk the whole, "George Bush sucks" cash cow, but who cares? It resulted in some very provocative and interesting lyrics, surely to capture the listener. Songs like, "Sinister Rouge", "Beyond Electric Dreams, "The Empire Strikes First", and "Social Suicide" show the band's tenacity, that they still have. The opener blasts you with double bass and Wackerman's superb drumming. The production quality is incredible, and everything about this album is great to me. I would've liked to hear some more slower songs, as they did very well with, "To Another Abyss", but I'm fine with that. One song that might be a little weak is, "The Quickening", but, its chorus saves it from flopping. Anyway, if you're a true Bad Religion fan, there's no excuse as to why you can't listen to this awesome album! Expand
  6. [Anonymous]
    Jul 11, 2005
    8
    Bad Religion is one of the few "older" bands that has managed to retain its sound, message, and dignity. Empire is no exception to this Bad Religion is one of the few "older" bands that has managed to retain its sound, message, and dignity. Empire is no exception to this statement, though this is by no means their best album. Expand
  7. 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 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

See all 19 User Reviews