True North
Bad Religion · 2013
35 min · 16 tracks · punk rock
A rapid-fire collection of incisive punk anthems confronting societal issues with relentless energy and sharp wit.
Top tracks — play these first
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True North Start here — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of searching for direction amid chaos, featuring a catchy chorus that reinforces its urgency.
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Past Is Dead — This track's brisk tempo and biting lyrics challenge nostalgia, urging listeners to confront the present instead of clinging to past ideals.
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Land of Endless Greed — With its sharp critique of consumerism, this song stands out for its lyrical wit and succinct delivery, capturing the band's signature style.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album delivers concise punk anthems with incisive lyrics but lacks some cohesion in its pacing.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a title track that sets a brisk pace, maintaining high energy through the first half before introducing more varied tempos in the latter half.
- Most tracks are under three minutes long, creating a rapid-fire delivery that emphasizes urgency and conciseness.
- Lyrically, the songs tackle societal issues directly, often employing clever wordplay and sharp wit to convey their messages.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- short energetic bursts throughout
- raw urgent critiques of society
- for quick adrenaline boosts
- front-loaded intensity demands attention
Maybe skip if you
- prefer longer, immersive experiences
- seek calm, reflective soundscapes
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality with a return to straightforward punk sound in later career.
- Themes
- consumerism critique· present over nostalgia· societal chaos
- Career context
- By the time 'True North' was released in 2013, Bad Religion had already established themselves as a prominent force in punk rock, having formed in 1980. This album marked their sixteenth studio release and continued their legacy of politically charged lyrics, following the moderately successful 'The Dissent of Man' from 2010.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Descendents· NOFX· Pennywise
Tracklist
- 1 True North Start here 1:55
- 2 Past Is Dead 2:38
- 3 Robin Hood in Reverse 2:53
- 4 Land of Endless Greed 1:53
- 5 Fuck You 2:13
- 6 Dharma and the Bomb 2:00
- 7 Hello Cruel World 3:49
- 8 Vanity 1:01
- 9 In Their Hearts Is Right 1:59
- 10 Crisis Time 2:39
- 11 Dept. of False Hope 2:40
- 12 Nothing to Dismay 2:06
- 13 Popular Consensus 1:52
- 14 My Head Is Full of Ghosts 1:46
- 15 The Island 1:28
- 16 Changing Tide 2:17
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Endgame
Rise Against
Shares incisive lyrics on societal issues with a similar melodic hardcore energy.
The Bright Lights of America
Anti-Flag
Combines punk fervor with sharp political critique, echoing themes of chaos and consumerism.
All or Nothing
Pennywise
Delivers high-energy punk anthems that confront social issues, resonating with 'True North's' urgency.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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