May 18, 2001 9:28

THE THEOLOGICAL SONGS

Frontman Greg Graffin promises the follow-up to 'The New America' will be "real fast, nothing fancy"...

BAD RELIGION have said fans can expect a return to their roots for the follow-up to last year's 'THE NEW AMERICA' album.

Speaking in a video interview on the Epitaph record label's website, the band said that they have been working on around 12 songs and hope to record them in July, producing them themselves at a studio in Los Angeles.

Frontman Greg Graffin said: "We're making it down and dirty, real fast, nothing fancy, and it's gonna be Bad Religion punk rock in the spirit of our best stuff." He added that it will be reminiscent of albums such as 'No Control'. "You can never go back and do those records again, but you can use some of those stylistic points on those albums."

He continued: "It's important to note that some of Bad Religion's best work has come from long priods of absence, when Brett [Gurewitz, guitarist] and I have been apart for a while.

"'Suffer' was a case in point. We came back together and it was a reunion of sorts. This feels very similar with that period where there was a lot of stored-up creativity... I have not felt this way in many years, that's how I know it's going to be a real special project."

To watch the interview, click here.

The band head to Europe for dates in Germany, Spain and Italy in June. The dates are:
Freiburg, Germany, Zeltfest Festival (June 1)
Bremen, Germany, Aladin (16)
Kiel, Germany, Kieler Woche Festival (17)
Stuttgart, Germany, Longhorn (19)
Munich, Germany, Babylon (20)
Leipzig, Germany, With Full Force Festival (22)
Bonn, Germany (with Sisters Of Mercy) (23)
Belgium, Graspop Festival (23)
Madrid, Spain, Sala Macumba (25)
Barcelona, Spain, Sala Razzmataz (26)
Bilbao, Spain, Pavellon De La Casilla (27)
St. Gallen, Spain, St. Gallen Festival (29)
Milan, Italy, Idroscalo (30)