dejected at working with his idol. A lineup change occurred again with Bobby Schaver leaving the band due to injury and was replaced by Brooks Wackerman from Suicidal Tendencies. 1999 also saw a reunion of sorts between Gaffin and Gurewitz with them collaborating on the track Believe It which was released on The New America. By 2001 Gurewitz was back in the band full time and having left Atlantic, Bad Religion returned to Epitaph. Now a six piece, Bad Religion stormed back to original hardhitting form with The Process of Belief (2002) and The Empire Strikes First (2004). Both albums were commercial successes as they both peaked in the top 50 of the Billboard charts. The latter being especially well received by the mainstream as it seemingly referenced the negative aspects of the Bush Administration not only with references to the war but also on the socio-economic
HISTORY
climate of America as a whole. In a world increasingly disillusioned by the modus operandi of President Bush, the album really hit home. Gurewitz has been quoted as saying he ‘just hates the guy’. 2007 saw the release of New Maps of Hell , another blistering album from the band regardless of the noticeable musical experimentation featured with the inclusion of more melodic overtures and piano intros. With a seemingly never ending touring schedule including the ever exhausting Warped Tour, Bad Religion are not slowing down and now that they have comfortably returned to form, the punk community has no desire for them to do anything than that which they do best.