*** Bad Religion

THE NEW AMERICA

(Atlantic)

Arch intelli-punks Bad Religion are back with their gazillionth album (it's their fifth for Atlantic Records) and, well, it doesn't pack any real surprises unless you count Todd Rundgren's production credit. Rundgren's involvement is reported to have fulfilled a lifelong dream of founding Bad Religion vocalist Greg Graffin, but the band have been fusing choirlike background vocal harmonies and little prog-rock touches to their brand of punk for years, so it's not as if they really needed Rundgren.

The return of their founding guitarist, Epitaph honcho Brett Gurewitz, to collaborate with Graffin on the emotional, loosely autobiographical "Believe It" is good news. Other than that, the band continue to deliver their trademark stalwart anthemic riffs, buoyant harmonies, and churning rhythms. Evolutionist Graffin remains an engaging, thought-provoking lyricist, whether he's delivering playful warnings ("I Love My Computer") and life-affirming wordplay ("A Streetkid Named Desire") or just being his usual incitefully earnest self ("Let It Burn," "It's a Long Way to the Promised Land," "There Will Be a Way"). Fortunately, Bad Religion's consistency isn't a sign of stagnation or lack of passion. Groups like Nirvana may have exploded through the glass ceiling of the underground in the early '90s and disappeared almost as quickly. But Bad Religion, with their enduring style and passion, have remained behind to continue to fight the good fight.

(Bad Religion open for Blink-182 on Monday May 29 at the Worcester Centrum. Call 931-2000.)

-- Mark Woodlief