How Could Hell Be Any Worse?

How Could Hell Be Any Worse?
Studio album by Bad Religion
Released	1982 (Re-releases: 1988, 1991, 2004)
Recorded	1981
Genre	Hardcore punk
Length	29:40 (original) 54:04 (2004 reissue)
Label	Epitaph
Producer	Bad Religion
Professional reviews
Allmusic (original) link Allmusic (2004 remaster) link Robert Christgau (B) link
Bad Religion chronology
Bad Religion (EP) (1981) How Could Hell Be Any Worse? (1982) Into the Unknown (1983)

How Could Hell Be Any Worse? is the first full-length album released by influential punk band Bad Religion. It was financed by a $1,000 loan by guitarist Brett Gurewitz's father. Its success surprised the band when it sold 10,000 copies in under a year. The sound of the record was vastly improved from their first release, 1981's self-titled EP. The record was originally released as an LP in 1982 and again in 1988^[1] with a different catalogue number and Epitaph's current address. It was released on CD as part of the 1991 compilation, '80-'85, and was remastered for the 2004 re-issue of this album.

How Could Hell Be Any Worse? is the band's first album recorded with Pete Finestone on drums and also their only full-length album to date with original member Jay Ziskrout, who played drums on each track not recorded with Finestone. Though not yet credited as a member of the band, future guitarist Greg Hetson, who was in Circle Jerks during this time, also did a guitar solo on "Part III".

"We're Only Gonna Die," and "Fuck Armageddon... This Is Hell," became fan favorites and are staples of the band's live show to this day.^{[citation needed]} Many later punk groups such cite this album as their main influence.^{[citation needed]} On the back of the cover there is a picture inspired by Dante's Divine Comedy.^{[citation needed]}

Track listing

Side one

1. "We're Only Gonna Die" (Graffin) – 2:12
2. "Latch Key Kids" (Graffin) – 1:38
3. "Part III" (Bentley) – 1:48
4. "Faith in God" (Graffin) – 1:50
5. "Fuck Armageddon... This is Hell" (Graffin) – 2:48
6. "Pity" (Graffin) – 2:00
7. "In the Night" (Gurewitz) – 3:25

Side two

1. "Damned to Be Free" (Graffin) – 1:58
2. "White Trash (2nd Generation)" (Gurewitz) – 2:21
3. "American Dream" (Gurewitz) – 1:41
4. "Eat Your Dog" (Graffin) – 1:04
5. "Voice of God is Government" (Bentley) – 2:54
6. "Oligarchy" (Gurewitz) – 1:01
7. "Doing Time" (Gurewitz) – 3:00

Re-release

The track list to the 2004 remastered version of How Could Hell Be Any Worse? is exactly the same as track listing to the band's long-out of print compilation album, 1991's 80–85. It is believed that Bad Religion only made 80–85 to cash in on their success, or because some members of the band were disappointed that their pre-Suffer releases were out of print during this time.

Reissues of their post-1985 releases – Suffer, No Control, Against the Grain and Generator – were released on the same day as the 2004 remastered version of this album.

Personnel

• Greg Graffin - vocals
• Brett Gurewitz - guitars
• Jay Bentley - bass
• Pete Finestone - drums on tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 13
• Jay Ziskrout - drums on tracks 2, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 14
• Greg Hetson - guitar solo on Part III

References

1. ^ How Could Hell Be Any Worse?'s entry at Discogs.com