How Could Hell Be Any Worse?

by Bad Religion

Overview

Listening to Bad Religion's 1982 debut , How Could Hell Be Any Worse?, is like cupping your ear against the garage door of their practice space. Greg Graffin's vocal style isn't fully formed here, nor is his lyrical agenda, but the building blocks are significant and affecting, bigger than piles of collapsed cathedrals. Indeed, "Voice of God Is Government" begins with a caustic caricature of the money-grubbing preacher, who assures that donations will be used to "censor TV and radio, ban questionable books, and contribute to many other Godly services." Snotty punk then crumbles into accelerated, anthemic hardcore. The subtle "We're Only Gonna Die" opens the album; the piano and acoustic guitar midsection is a nice foil for the youthful anger in the vocal and its crackling lead guitar riff, a sound and tone that would only become more refined and powerful with consecutive '80s outings. "Fuck Armageddon...This Is Hell" is another highlight, with its tense, urgent opening instrumental section and Graffin's Southern California-centric rail against throat-choking smog. ~ Johnny Loftus

Product Details

Release Date:	11/11/2022
Label:	Epitaph
UPC:	0045778640751
Rank:	18203

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bad Religion   Primary Artist
Greg Hetson   Guitar
Greg Graffin   Piano,Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Jay Bentley   Bass
Brett Gurewitz   Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Tim Gallegos   Bass
Pete Finestone   Drums
Jay B. Ziskrout   Drums

Technical Credits

Stan Ross   Mastering
Bad Religion   Arranger,Composer,Producer
James Mankey   Engineer
Greg Hetson   Composer
Greg Graffin   Composer,Producer,Group Member
Jay Bentley   Group Member
Brett Gurewitz   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Group Member
Jay Bently   Composer
Pete Finestone   Group Member
Big Dick   Producer
Ed Colver   Photography
Gary Leonard   Photography