The Witzard

Los Angeles Punk/Hardcore stalwarts Bad Religion have returned, as they always do, in our world's time of need with an updated version of one of their old favorites, "Faith Alone." Now, fittingly re-titled "Faith Alone 2020," this is Bad Religion's first sonic offering since their 2019 full-length, Age of Unreason. "Faith Alone" originally appeared within Bad Religion's 1990 full-length, Against The Grain , as well as re-appearing on '92 Epitaph comp. More Songs About Anger, Fear, Sex & Death, along with then-labelmates NOFX, Pennywise, Coffin Break, Dag Nasty, L7, Down By Law, Little Fingers, and Insted. Bad Religion have morphed their once raucous Punk/Melodic Hardcore track into one now complimented by acoustic piano and lush orchestral strings. Bad Religion singer and co-songwriter Greg Graffin explains, "I have always written songs on piano. Some of our earliest songs were written on my mom's piano." "I'...

Fake Names is a Punk/Hardcore super-group consisting of vocalist Dennis Lyxzén (Refused, INVSN, SAMURAI,) guitarist/vocalist Brian Baker (Minor Threat, Bad Religion, Dag Nasty,) second lead guitarist/vocalist Michael Hampton (Embrace, The Faith, S.O.A.) bassist Johnny Temple (Girls Against Boys, Soulside, New Wet Kojak,) and, sometimes, drummer Matt Schulz (SAVAK, Holy F*ck, Enon.) "I'm in a new band with some friends from elementary school(!) and a sharp-dressed revolutionary from Sweden," Brian Baker (@brianbakers) posted on Instagram Wednesday morning; of course, referring to Hampton, Temple, and Lyxzén, respectively. Again, it appears as though Schulz is a part-time members of Fake Names , having played live with the band in their early aughts, although, their newly-launched website adds, " Matt [Schulz] played the drums. No synthesizers," within, what appears to be, digital liner notes. Guitarists Brian Baker & Michael Hampton first started j...