New Maps of Hell
Encyclopedia
In January 2007, it was announced that the album would be called New Maps of Hell and the band started working with producer Joe Barresi
to finish it. On April 1, 2007, Bentley posted an update on the MySpace
bulletin board, stating that the band was finally finished recording the album and would soon begin mixing it. He had this to say:
The song "Heroes and Martyrs" was introduced to the public on April 6 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium during an encore as a small preview of "New Maps of Hell". At least two recordings of this song can be found on the Internet.
On April 19, 2007, "Honest Goodbye" was played on KROQ
at 3:40PM. Verified on KROQ's website, where they said that was "Jed's Catch of the Day" for today. A rip of the track circulated online, and was released as a digital single on June 12, 2007. The song is currently available for listening on Bad Religion's MySpace page.
On April 25, 2007, the track listing was rearranged and the track "New Chapter" was dropped. When asked why "New Chapter" would not appear on the album, Bentley recently stated that it "ran into insurmountable issues" that the band "couldn't rectify", hinting that it will probably appear on the next Bad Religion album.
Following the album's release, it debuted at number 35 on the U.S. Billboard 200
, selling about 21,000 copies in its first week.
A video for "New Dark Ages" can be viewed on Bad Religion's myspace. The video for "Honest Goodbye" was planned, but "never made it out of the office" according to Bentley.
On February 27, 2008, Punknews.org reported that Epitaph
will be releasing a deluxe edition of New Maps of Hell on July 8. On May 9, 2008, Punknews.org released the artwork for the reissue and more details, including the track list and the bonus DVD.
. The other poster has on one side Bad Religion performing from back in the early 80's with a few autographs on it and on the other side it has the cover of 80-85. It comes with a DVD with features an hour of a live performance, music videos for New Dark Ages and Honest Goodbye, a showing of Bad Religion making New Maps of Hell and Graffin and Gurewitz recording the acoustic bonus tracks. It also has seven bonus tracks which are performed acoustically.
Joe Barresi
Joe Barresi is an American record engineer and producer who has worked with bands such as Kyuss, The Melvins, Tool, Queens of the Stone Age, Coheed and Cambria, Tomahawk, L7, The Jesus Lizard, Parkway Drive and Bad Religion.-Biography:...
to finish it. On April 1, 2007, Bentley posted an update on the MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
bulletin board, stating that the band was finally finished recording the album and would soon begin mixing it. He had this to say:
The song "Heroes and Martyrs" was introduced to the public on April 6 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium during an encore as a small preview of "New Maps of Hell". At least two recordings of this song can be found on the Internet.
On April 19, 2007, "Honest Goodbye" was played on KROQ
KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM — branded 106.7 KROQ — is a commercial modern rock radio station licensed to Pasadena, California serving the Greater Los Angeles. The call sign is pronounced "kay rock." It is the flagship station of Loveline hosted by Dr...
at 3:40PM. Verified on KROQ's website, where they said that was "Jed's Catch of the Day" for today. A rip of the track circulated online, and was released as a digital single on June 12, 2007. The song is currently available for listening on Bad Religion's MySpace page.
On April 25, 2007, the track listing was rearranged and the track "New Chapter" was dropped. When asked why "New Chapter" would not appear on the album, Bentley recently stated that it "ran into insurmountable issues" that the band "couldn't rectify", hinting that it will probably appear on the next Bad Religion album.
Following the album's release, it debuted at number 35 on the U.S. Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, selling about 21,000 copies in its first week.
A video for "New Dark Ages" can be viewed on Bad Religion's myspace. The video for "Honest Goodbye" was planned, but "never made it out of the office" according to Bentley.
On February 27, 2008, Punknews.org reported that Epitaph
Epitaph
An epitaph is a short text honoring a deceased person, strictly speaking that is inscribed on their tombstone or plaque, but also used figuratively. Some are specified by the dead person beforehand, others chosen by those responsible for the burial...
will be releasing a deluxe edition of New Maps of Hell on July 8. On May 9, 2008, Punknews.org released the artwork for the reissue and more details, including the track list and the bonus DVD.
Track listing
Deluxe Edition
On July 7 (or 8th depending on where you live) 2008, a deluxe edition of New Maps of Hell was released. It has two double-sided posters. One poster has a Crossbuster with the words "BAD RELIGION" above it and on the other side it has the band standing at Sunset BoulevardSunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard is a street in the western part of Los Angeles County, California, that stretches from Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Coast Highway at the Pacific Ocean in the Pacific Palisades...
. The other poster has on one side Bad Religion performing from back in the early 80's with a few autographs on it and on the other side it has the cover of 80-85. It comes with a DVD with features an hour of a live performance, music videos for New Dark Ages and Honest Goodbye, a showing of Bad Religion making New Maps of Hell and Graffin and Gurewitz recording the acoustic bonus tracks. It also has seven bonus tracks which are performed acoustically.
Personnel
- Greg GraffinGreg GraffinGregory Walter Graffin, Ph.D. is an American punk rock musician, college professor, and author. He is most recognized as the lead vocalist and songwriter of the noted Los Angeles band Bad Religion, which he co-founded in 1979 and is the band's only constant member, even though it now features two...
- vocals, piano - Brett GurewitzBrett GurewitzBrett W. Gurewitz , nicknamed Mr. Brett, is the guitarist and a songwriter of Bad Religion. He is also the owner of the music label Epitaph Records and sister-labels ANTI-, Burning Heart Records, Fat Possum Records, and Hellcat Records...
- guitar, backing vocals - Brian BakerBrian Baker (musician)Brian Baker is an American punk rock musician. He is best known as one of the founding members of the hardcore punk band Minor Threat, and as a guitarist in Bad Religion since 1994 alongside Greg Hetson...
- guitar - Greg HetsonGreg HetsonGreg Hetson is an American guitarist. He was born in Brooklyn, New York and has lived in Los Angeles, California since he was 2 years old...
- guitar - Jay BentleyJay BentleyJay Dee Bentley is the bassist and co-founding member of the punk rock group Bad Religion. He has played with the band through its whole existence with a small break between 1983 and 1985.-Bad Religion:...
- bass, backing vocals - Brooks WackermanBrooks WackermanBrooks Wackerman is the current drummer for the American punk band Bad Religion and the younger brother of Chad Wackerman, formerly a member of Frank Zappa's band.-Career:...
- drums
- Joe BarresiJoe BarresiJoe Barresi is an American record engineer and producer who has worked with bands such as Kyuss, The Melvins, Tool, Queens of the Stone Age, Coheed and Cambria, Tomahawk, L7, The Jesus Lizard, Parkway Drive and Bad Religion.-Biography:...
- producer - Mike FasanoMike FasanoMike "The Sack" Fasano is a drummer who has toured and recorded for several bands, including Warrant, former Eagles guitarist Don Felder, Tiger Army, Gilby Clarke, Shameless...
- drum technician - Andrew Alekel - assistant engineer
- Nick Pritchard - art direction, design
- Bryan Sheffield - photography