How Could Hell Be Any Worse?

Infobox Album | Name = How Could Hell Be Any Worse?
Type = Album
Artist = Bad Religion


Released = 1982
(Re-releases: 1988, 1991, 2004)
Recorded = 1981
Genre = Hardcore punk
Length = 29:40 (1982 Release)
54:04 (2004 Release)
Label = Epitaph
Producer = Bad Religion
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 (2004 remaster) [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:41r928vl058a link]
*Robert Christgau (B) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=bad+religion link]
Last album = "Bad Religion (EP)"
(1981)
This album = "How Could Hell Be Any Worse?"
(1982)
Next album = "Into the Unknown"
(1983)

"How Could Hell Be Any Worse?" is the first full-length album released by influential punk band Bad Religion. 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 first release, 1981's self-titled EP. The record was originally released as an LP in 1982 and again in 1988 [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/374082 How Could Hell Be Any Worse?'s entry at Discogs.com] ] 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. Many later punk groups such cite this album as their main influence. On the back of the cover there is a picture inspired by Dante's Divine Comedy.

Track listing

# "We're Only Gonna Die" (Graffin) – 2:12
# "Latch Key Kids" (Graffin) – 1:38
# "Part III" (Bentley) – 1:48
# "Faith in God" (Graffin) – 1:50
# "Fuck Armageddon... This is Hell" (Graffin) – 2:48
# "Pity" (Graffin) – 2:00
# "In the Night" (Gurewitz) – 3:25
# "Damned to Be Free" (Graffin) – 1:58
# "White Trash (2nd Generation)" (Gurewitz) – 2:21
# "American Dream" (Gurewitz) – 1:41
# "Eat Your Dog" (Graffin) – 1:04
# "Voice of God is Government" (Bentley) – 2:54
# "Oligarchy" (Gurewitz) – 1:01
# "Doing Time" (Gurewitz) – 3:00

Bonus Tracks on 2004 Re-issue

From The "BAD RELIGION" EP (1981)
#

"Bad Religion" - 1:49
# "Politics" - 1:21
# "Sensory Overload" - 1:31
# "Slaves" - 1:20
# "Drastic Actions" - 2:36
# "World War III" - 0:54

From "Back To The Known" (1984)
# "Yesterday" - 2:39
# "Frogger" - 1:19
# "Bad Religion" - 2:10
# "Along the Way" - 1:35
# "New Leaf" - 2:53

From "Public Service Comp"
# "Bad Religion" - 1:46
# "Slaves" - 1:09
# "Drastic Actions" - 2:32

Re-Release

The 2004 re-Release of the album featured 13 outtakes including multiple versions of some tracks ("Bad Religion", "Slaves", and "Drastic Actions"). [ [http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,2890558,00.html] ]

The track list to the 2004 Re-Release version of the album (including the original tracks) is the same as the track list for the compilations album 80-85.

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"

References