For a band that has been around since 1979 and 15 albums in, Bad Religion really haven't changed at all. Fans of their sound won't be disappointed as The Dissent Of Man is pretty much what you'd expect of these Californians. Due to touring schedules, leader singer Greg Graffin teaching at UCLA and time constraints, this album took 2 years to materialize. Greg Graffin can still belt it and their harmonies are still spot on. The songs are riddled with power chords and 31 years into the band and these guys still have a message to get across in most of their songs (listen to the anti-Christianity track "Only Rain"). These guys know what they like and know what fans want and have been able to successfully continue producing great albums. There are a number of great hooks which will draw you in (though I found track "Cyanide" sounds an awful like "The Difference" by The Wallflowers). The guys are getting older and while they may not have the same tempo of song they once had, they really haven't slowed down too much. Just listen to "Meeting Of Minds" which offers up some quick guitar riffs with a bit of a middle eastern feel (like the Offspring have done in the past). Other tracks have been around for a while like "The Resist Stance" which was first performed on the 30 Years Live album as well as "Won't Somebody" which was originally a bonus track on album Maps Of Hell, heard here in a slightly different form. Fans of Bad Religion will very much enjoy this album, those seeking something different should look elsewhere. This is not Bad Religion trying to reinvent themselves, push boundaries or explore different sounds; you get what you've always gotten. It's nice to be able to hear some new material from these guys, it's a familiar yet refreshing take on the punk-rock they have always made.
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