Bad Brains haven’t been out of commission for the entire past 20 years; it just feels that way to most of the world after a span that has seen the on-and-off D.C. Rastafari punk pioneers abandon their prototypical hardcore/reggae blend for funk-metal (1989’s Quickness), record without longtime vocalist H.R. (1993’s Rise) and release a disc entirely devoted to dub music (2002’s I & I Survived).
Understandably, new album Build a Nation brings with it considerable hope that the quartet—full classic lineup this time: H.R., guitarist Dr. Know, bassist Darryl Jenifer and drummer Earl Hudson—can finally recapture the fervency of its early work. Add producer Adam Yauch, aka Beastie Boy MCA, a longtime associate of the band, into the mix, and anticipation for an all-out Bad Brains revival has built to an all-time high.
In spots, Build a Nation fulfills the dream, proving that even as the four men hover near age 50, they can rock righteously. “Let There Be Angels (Just Like You)” and “Send You No Flowers” thrash almost as hard as primal faves “Pay to Cum” and “Banned in D.C.,” while leadoff cut “Give Thanks and Praise” slickly unites thick hardcore with the band’s seemingly incongruous message of unity and light.
On the downside, Bad Brains’ relatively uninteresting detours into straight reggae (“Jah Love,” “Universal Peace,” “Peace Be Unto Thee”) slow the flow considerably, while the heavy funk of “Pure Love” and the title track sound too much like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and not enough like the punks who inspired that band, and countless others, to make music in the first place.