The Process of Belief
Encyclopedia
The Process of Belief is the twelfth studio album
by the American punk rock
band Bad Religion
. It was produced by its leaders Greg Graffin
and Brett Gurewitz
, and was released on January 22, 2002 through Epitaph Records
. After touring in support of its previous full-length studio album, The New America
(2000), Gurewitz rejoined Bad Religion in 2001 after a seven year hiatus. The band resigned with Epitaph, and then began work on its first album for the label in over eight years. The album also marked the first album to feature Brooks Wackerman
, who replaced former drummer Bobby Schayer
.
The Process of Belief was another huge success (debuting at #49 on the Billboard 200
chart) and it was well received by both critics and fans. The album has sold more than 220,000 units worldwide. The Process of Belief features one of Bad Religion's well-known songs "Sorrow
", the band's first to chart in the US in six years, since "A Walk
" (from 1996's The Gray Race
). "Broken", "The Defense" and "Supersonic" also received radio airplay, but all failed to make any national chart (although "Broken" reached #125 on the UK Singles Chart
).
The album marked the return to the faster and more energetic songwriting style of Bad Religion's earlier albums, and many have compared it favorably to their past releases, including their 1989 classic No Control
and 1992 album Generator
.
reunited with Greg Graffin
in 1999 to write and record the song "Believe It" for the next Bad Religion album, The New America
(2000). After embarking on multiple worldwide tours in support of The New America during 2000 and 2001, Gurewitz decided to rejoin Bad Religion permanently, and after fulfilling their contract with Atlantic Records
, the band decided to resign with Epitaph. In June 2001, it was announced that former drummer Bobby Schayer
had "experienced a most unfortunate career-ending injury" and could no longer drum, which forced him to leave the band. Without a new drummer, Bad Religion had booked a few weeks of rehearsal studio time in Los Angeles
to record their next album, with an October 2001 release planned. However, instead of booking studio time for rehearsals, it became an audition session. Five people tried out for auditions including Brooks Wackerman
, formerly of Suicidal Tendencies
and The Vandals
. Graffin said that Wackerman was a good drummer, they only had to hear him play one or two songs before they knew that he was "the best drummer we had ever heard". Graffin informed Wackerman that Bad Religion was without a drummer and asked him if he wanted to be in the band for touring and for recording, and Wackerman's answer was "a big YES".
In June 2001, Punkbands.com reported that Bad Religion's twelfth studio album would be titled The Process of Belief and was scheduled for an October 23 release. However, bassist Jay Bentley
told fan site The Bad Religion Page's chat room that the album would not be released until January 2002, as the band was running behind schedule. In August, it was reported that The Process of Belief would be released on February 5, 2002, but then the Epitaph newsletter reported that the release date for the album had been pushed back to January 22.
since 1993's Recipe for Hate
. It peaked at number 49 on the Billboard 200
album chart, and also number 1 on Top Independent Albums, making it Bad Religion's highest U.S. chart position to date. The album sold very well, due to success of its radio hit "Sorrow
", and yielded many concert favorites like "Kyoto Now!
", "Epiphany" and "Supersonic." The Process of Belief also became the first Bad Religion album to chart on the Irish Charts, spanning two top twenty singles.
The Allmusic review by Jack Rabid awards the album 3 out of 5 stars and states: "It's like a batch of outtakes from their 1988 comeback LP, Suffer
, or the amazing juggernauts that followed, No Control
and Against the Grain
. But successive immersions into the new LP's brute, lashing power and wild honey melodies disarms such critical impulses as efficiently as a martial arts master."
" was released as a downloadable song for Rock Band
and Rock Band 2
on September 23, 2008 and for Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
on March 7, 2011.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by the American punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Bad Religion
Bad Religion
Bad Religion is a punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1979. Their current line-up consists of Greg Graffin , Brett Gurewitz , Jay Bentley , Greg Hetson , Brian Baker and Brooks Wackerman . Gurewitz is also the founder of the label Epitaph Records, which has released almost all of the...
. It was produced by its leaders Greg Graffin
Greg Graffin
Gregory 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...
and Brett Gurewitz
Brett Gurewitz
Brett 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...
, and was released on January 22, 2002 through Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
. After touring in support of its previous full-length studio album, The New America
The New America
The New America is an album by punk band Bad Religion. It was released in 2000 and is their last album on Atlantic Records.The New America is also Bad Religion's last album with Bobby Schayer on drums. Though not yet credited as a member of the band, then-former and now-current guitarist Brett...
(2000), Gurewitz rejoined Bad Religion in 2001 after a seven year hiatus. The band resigned with Epitaph, and then began work on its first album for the label in over eight years. The album also marked the first album to feature Brooks Wackerman
Brooks Wackerman
Brooks 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:...
, who replaced former drummer Bobby Schayer
Bobby Schayer
Bobby Schayer was born on December 23, 1966 in Los Angeles, California. He was the drummer for Bad Religion from 1991 to 2001. He was a resident of Encino, a suburb in the San Fernando Valley...
.
The Process of Belief was another huge success (debuting at #49 on the 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...
chart) and it was well received by both critics and fans. The album has sold more than 220,000 units worldwide. The Process of Belief features one of Bad Religion's well-known songs "Sorrow
Sorrow (Bad Religion song)
"Sorrow" is a song written by Brett Gurewitz and performed by Bad Religion. It was the first single to be released from their twelfth studio album, The Process of Belief, which was released in 2002, although the single was first played in the fall of 2001 by the L.A. radio station KROQ.-Charts:...
", the band's first to chart in the US in six years, since "A Walk
A Walk
"A Walk" is a song written by Greg Graffin from the punk rock group Bad Religion. It was the first single from their 1996 album The Gray Race. It was the album's only single to chart in the United States.-Chart positions:...
" (from 1996's The Gray Race
The Gray Race
The Gray Race is the ninth full-length album of the punk rock band Bad Religion, which was released in 1996. It was the follow-up to the band's highly successful 1994 album Stranger Than Fiction...
). "Broken", "The Defense" and "Supersonic" also received radio airplay, but all failed to make any national chart (although "Broken" reached #125 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
).
The album marked the return to the faster and more energetic songwriting style of Bad Religion's earlier albums, and many have compared it favorably to their past releases, including their 1989 classic No Control
No Control (Bad Religion album)
- Release history :- Notes/Trivia :* Track 2, "Big Bang" was featured on video game Tony Hawk's Underground.* Track 3, "No Control" quotes Scottish natural historian James Hutton, "no vestige of a beginning, no prospect of an end."...
and 1992 album Generator
Generator (Bad Religion album)
In October 2011, the album was ranked number three on Guitar World magazine's top ten list of guitar albums of 1992.-Track listing:#"Generator" - 3:21#"Too Much to Ask" - 2:45#"No Direction" - 3:14#"Tomorrow" - 1:56...
.
Background and recording
After a five-year hiatus, Brett GurewitzBrett Gurewitz
Brett 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...
reunited with Greg Graffin
Greg Graffin
Gregory 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...
in 1999 to write and record the song "Believe It" for the next Bad Religion album, The New America
The New America
The New America is an album by punk band Bad Religion. It was released in 2000 and is their last album on Atlantic Records.The New America is also Bad Religion's last album with Bobby Schayer on drums. Though not yet credited as a member of the band, then-former and now-current guitarist Brett...
(2000). After embarking on multiple worldwide tours in support of The New America during 2000 and 2001, Gurewitz decided to rejoin Bad Religion permanently, and after fulfilling their contract with Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, the band decided to resign with Epitaph. In June 2001, it was announced that former drummer Bobby Schayer
Bobby Schayer
Bobby Schayer was born on December 23, 1966 in Los Angeles, California. He was the drummer for Bad Religion from 1991 to 2001. He was a resident of Encino, a suburb in the San Fernando Valley...
had "experienced a most unfortunate career-ending injury" and could no longer drum, which forced him to leave the band. Without a new drummer, Bad Religion had booked a few weeks of rehearsal studio time in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to record their next album, with an October 2001 release planned. However, instead of booking studio time for rehearsals, it became an audition session. Five people tried out for auditions including Brooks Wackerman
Brooks Wackerman
Brooks 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:...
, formerly of Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
and The Vandals
The Vandals
The Vandals are an American rock band established in 1980 in Huntington Beach, California. They have released ten full-length studio albums and two live albums and have toured the world extensively, including performances on the Vans Warped Tour...
. Graffin said that Wackerman was a good drummer, they only had to hear him play one or two songs before they knew that he was "the best drummer we had ever heard". Graffin informed Wackerman that Bad Religion was without a drummer and asked him if he wanted to be in the band for touring and for recording, and Wackerman's answer was "a big YES".
In June 2001, Punkbands.com reported that Bad Religion's twelfth studio album would be titled The Process of Belief and was scheduled for an October 23 release. However, bassist Jay Bentley
Jay Bentley
Jay 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:...
told fan site The Bad Religion Page's chat room that the album would not be released until January 2002, as the band was running behind schedule. In August, it was reported that The Process of Belief would be released on February 5, 2002, but then the Epitaph newsletter reported that the release date for the album had been pushed back to January 22.
Reception
The Process of Belief was released on January 22, 2002 and is the first Bad Religion album distributed via Epitaph RecordsEpitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
since 1993's Recipe for Hate
Recipe for Hate
Recipe for Hate is Bad Religion's seventh full-length album, released on September 21, 1993. This was their last album on Epitaph Records and the band switched to Atlantic Records before its release....
. It peaked at number 49 on the 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...
album chart, and also number 1 on Top Independent Albums, making it Bad Religion's highest U.S. chart position to date. The album sold very well, due to success of its radio hit "Sorrow
Sorrow (Bad Religion song)
"Sorrow" is a song written by Brett Gurewitz and performed by Bad Religion. It was the first single to be released from their twelfth studio album, The Process of Belief, which was released in 2002, although the single was first played in the fall of 2001 by the L.A. radio station KROQ.-Charts:...
", and yielded many concert favorites like "Kyoto Now!
Kyoto Now!
Kyoto Now! is a student-led movement at colleges and universities across the USA , through which students hope to make American universities commit to reducing carbon dioxide emissions...
", "Epiphany" and "Supersonic." The Process of Belief also became the first Bad Religion album to chart on the Irish Charts, spanning two top twenty singles.
The Allmusic review by Jack Rabid awards the album 3 out of 5 stars and states: "It's like a batch of outtakes from their 1988 comeback LP, Suffer
Suffer (album)
Suffer is the third album by American punk rock band Bad Religion, released on the Californian independent record label Epitaph Records on September 8, 1988. It was the first album that was both released and distributed by the label...
, or the amazing juggernauts that followed, No Control
No Control (Bad Religion album)
- Release history :- Notes/Trivia :* Track 2, "Big Bang" was featured on video game Tony Hawk's Underground.* Track 3, "No Control" quotes Scottish natural historian James Hutton, "no vestige of a beginning, no prospect of an end."...
and Against the Grain
Against the Grain (Bad Religion album)
-Release history:-Personnel:* Greg Graffin – vocals* Brett Gurewitz – guitar, backing vocals* Greg Hetson – guitar* Jay Bentley – bass guitar, backing vocals* Pete Finestone – drums* The Legendary Starbolt – mixing...
. But successive immersions into the new LP's brute, lashing power and wild honey melodies disarms such critical impulses as efficiently as a martial arts master."
Track listing
- "Supersonic" (Gurewitz) – 1:47
- "Prove It" (Graffin) – 1:15
- "Can't Stop It" (Gurewitz) – 1:10
- "Broken" (Gurewitz) – 2:55
- "Destined For Nothing" (Graffin) – 2:35
- "Materialist" (Graffin) – 1:53
- "Kyoto Now!Kyoto Now!Kyoto Now! is a student-led movement at colleges and universities across the USA , through which students hope to make American universities commit to reducing carbon dioxide emissions...
" (Graffin) – 3:20 - "SorrowSorrow (Bad Religion song)"Sorrow" is a song written by Brett Gurewitz and performed by Bad Religion. It was the first single to be released from their twelfth studio album, The Process of Belief, which was released in 2002, although the single was first played in the fall of 2001 by the L.A. radio station KROQ.-Charts:...
" (Gurewitz) – 3:21 - "Epiphany" (Graffin) – 4:00
- "Evangeline" (Gurewitz) – 2:11
- "The Defense" (Gurewitz) – 3:53
- "The Lie" (Graffin) – 2:19
- "You Don't Belong" (Gurewitz) – 2:50
- "Bored and Extremely Dangerous" (Graffin) – 3:25
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...
– lead vocals, producer - 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, producer, mixing - 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 - 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, backing vocals - 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 guitar, 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, percussion
- Jerry FinnJerry FinnJerry Finn was an American record producer. He was perhaps best known for his work with Blink-182, as well as Morrissey, AFI, Bad Religion, Alkaline Trio, MxPx, Rancid, Green Day, Sum 41 and The Offspring.-Death:...
– mixing - Bob LudwigBob LudwigBob Ludwig is an American mastering engineer.He is a well known and respected figure within the music industry. His name is credited on the covers of albums released across the world, and he has won numerous awards....
– mastering - Billy Joe Bowers – engineer
- Jeff Moses – assistant engineer
- Mackie OsborneMackie OsborneMackie Osborne is an artist, responsible for design and illustrations of many music albums since the 1980s. She is a member of the band Fleabag and has contributed to many albums on packaging artwork, layout design and art direction....
– art direction, design
Release history
| Country | Release Date |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | |
| Worldwide | |
| United States |
In pop culture
The song "SorrowSorrow (Bad Religion song)
"Sorrow" is a song written by Brett Gurewitz and performed by Bad Religion. It was the first single to be released from their twelfth studio album, The Process of Belief, which was released in 2002, although the single was first played in the fall of 2001 by the L.A. radio station KROQ.-Charts:...
" was released as a downloadable song for Rock Band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
and Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2 is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems. It is the sequel to Rock Band and is the second title in the series. The game allows up to four players to simulate the performance of popular songs by playing with controllers modeled after musical instruments...
on September 23, 2008 and for Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock is a music video game and the sixth main entry in the Guitar Hero series for the PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 consoles. The game was released September 24, 2010 in Europe, September 28, 2010 in North America and September 29, 2010 in Australia...
on March 7, 2011.