Bad Religion

Bad Religion has been together since New Found Glory was in diapers, which may make them the grandpas of the Vans Warped Tour. But Bad Religion isn't just rehashing the SoCal hardcore punk they perfected on Against the Grain and Recipe for Hate. The just-released album The Empire Strikes First (on guitarist Brett Gurewitz's Epitaph Records) is the angriest and most scathing in years, taking on Bush, the war in Iraq and compassionate conservatism with well-spoken rage and catchy songs. Old? Yes. But perhaps more important now than ever.