''Back to the Known'' is the second EP released by American punk rock band

Bad Religion Bad Religion is an American punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1980. The band's lyrics cover topics related to religion, politics, society, the media and science. Musically, they are noted for their melodic sensibilitie ...

. The name of the EP is a reference to the band abandoning the

progressive rock Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog; sometimes conflated with art rock) is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early 1970s. Init ...

influences of its previous album, 1983's '' Into the Unknown'', and returning to its punk roots. The album features the fan favorite, "Along The Way", which is a staple of their live shows today. During a live show in the mid 1980s, they played the song twice in a row at a sped-up pace the second time.

History

Frontman

Greg Graffin Gregory Walter Graffin (born November 6, 1964) is an American singer and evolutionary biologist. He is most recognized as the lead vocalist and only constant member of punk rock band Bad Religion, which he co-founded in 1980. He embarked on a s ...

partially brought Bad Religion back together in 1984 and hired two new members,

Circle Jerks Circle Jerks (stylized as Ciʀcle JƎʀᴋs) are an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, California. The group was founded by former Black Flag vocalist Keith Morris and Redd Kross guitarist Greg Hetson. To date, Circle ...

guitarist

Greg Hetson Greg Hetson (born June 29, 1961) is an American guitarist. He was born in Brooklyn, New York and has lived in the Los Angeles area since he was 2 years old. Active since 1979, Hetson is best known as the guitarist for the influential hardcore pu ...

(who would remain with the band until 2013) and bassist Tim Gallegos. Drummer Pete Finestone (who left in 1982) also rejoined during this time. The new line-up recorded a new EP, which had only five songs, and was just over ten minutes long. It was originally released in a 12" format, with only one side of the vinyl containing all five tracks. The A side contained no music or sound of any kind and was mirror-smooth. It was re-released as part of the 1991 compilation '' '80-'85'', and again remastered for the 2004 reissue, ''

How Could Hell Be Any Worse? ''How Could Hell Be Any Worse?'' is the debut studio album by American punk rock band Bad Religion, released on January 19, 1982 by Epitaph Records. Released almost a year after their self-titled EP, it was financed by a $3,000 loan by guitarist ...

''. There has been some confusion over when ''Back to the Known'' was released. Due to a typo on a number of internet sources and the back cover of the vinyl, many believe that the EP was released in 1984, but this appears to be false. According to a Bad Religion fan site, the EP was recorded in 1985 with then-former and now-current guitarist

Brett Gurewitz Brett W. Gurewitz (born May 12, 1962), nicknamed Mr. Brett, is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist of Bad Religion. He is also the owner of the music label Epitaph Records and a number of sister labels. He has produced albums f ...

producing it. No songs from this EP made it on to the band's 1995 compilation album ''

All Ages ''All Ages'' is a compilation album by the American punk rock band Bad Religion. It was released on July 26, 1995, through Epitaph Records. The compilation contains songs from ''How Could Hell Be Any Worse?'' to ''Generator'', and two live track ...

''.

Track listing

Trivia

* Track 3, "Bad Religion", is a remake of the song from their 1981

self-titled An eponym is a person, a place, or a thing after whom or which someone or something is, or is believed to be, named. The adjectives which are derived from the word eponym include ''eponymous'' and ''eponymic''. Usage of the word The term ''epon ...

EP. * In 2009, a fan poll cited "Along the Way" as one of the band's best songs.

Credits

– vocals, production *

– electric guitar * Tim Gallegos – bass * Pete Finestone – drums *

– production

References

{{Authority control 1985 EPs Bad Religion EPs Epitaph Records EPs