The past couple years have seen a multitude of high profile band reunions: Gorilla Biscuits, Texas Is The Reason, Small Brown Bike, Lifetime, Rage Against The Machine, Dinosaur Jr., Mission Of Burma...the list goes on and on. Among these bands is the Bad Brains, legendary in the 80's DC hardcore scene. By pioneering hardcore and proving punk rock to be a creative outlet for black musicians, the four piece has more than left their mark on music forever. The band broke up and reunited numerous times over the span of nearly three decades, (notably in 1999 as "Soul Brains") and again several times in the 2000's, culminating recently with the original line-up coming together at CBGB's in 2006.

With new album rumors circulating since 2005, the band faced two giant obstacles in releasing new material. First, that Build A Nation was two years in the making, would it be able to live up to the hype? Second, would the new album be able to hold a candle to their beloved back catalog and please long time fans?

These questions can be answered with a resounding "yes".

The album opens with "Give Thanks and Praises," more an introduction to the album more than a lead-off track, with the band engaging in a creepy chant that leads into a crushing metallic riff. From there it speeds into a more typical Bad Brains fast tempo before breaking down again, all the while the band chanting to Jah.

From there the album blasts into one of the best songs the band has written since their landmark album I Against I, "Jah People Make The World Go Round." A more straight forward punk song than the metal-tinged opener, it showcases the band doing what they do best: fast, loud, hard hardcore punk. "Jah People" transitions into the brief "Pure Love" with a face melting solo before slowing down a bit and allowing HR's vocals to carry the track out.

It's around here that the album's pace really changes. "Natty Dreadlocks 'Pon The Mountain Top" marks the first reggae song of the album. The first thing you'll notice is that HR's voice has with age become much better suited to the laid-back style of reggae the play. The album then kicks back into gear with the mostly instrumental title track (The only lyrics being the occasional chant of "Build A Nation!").

Build A Nation carries on like this for the remainder of the album. Much like their revolutionary self-titled debut, there is a duality of genre. For every few blazing hardcore songs the band will do a complete 180 and play some of the smoothest reggae you'll ever hear. Somehow this is pulled off without seeming like the band lacks focus, the tracks working together to create an album like you've never heard before.

Other highlights include "Let There Be Angels (Just Like You)", "In The Beginning", and the reggae track "Jah Love."

Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys goes through great lengths to make the production of the album similar to I Against I and the metallic quality some of the hardcore tracks carry is undeniable proof of that. The bass is loud and punishing, taxing most of the speakers I've tried to play the album on, yet it does not obscure any other elements of the recording; percussion, guitar, and HR's vocals still are heard with remarkable clarity.

After breaking up and reforming numerous times, after releasing a number of albums to a mixed reception, and after more than 25 years in the music business, the Bad Brains have shown that their musicianship has not waned, but improved. And while HR's caustic energy seems to have dissipated from his on-stage presence and his voice, it is his new spiritual focus and croon that gives the album that special charm that you won't find in other Bad Brains releases.

Does Build A Nation surpass classic releases like Rock For Light, I Against I, and their self-titled? Simply put, no. However, in its own right it is a fantastic album and more than worthy to take its place among those records. Fans of the band could not ask for a better comeback, and if you're looking to check out the Bad Brains this is a great album to start with.

-Tim King