I Against I

It is clear to see how this album inspired so many other punk bands

was not expecting bad brains to appear on this list, their self titled is a 10/10 but this is utter dogshite

Very forgettable.

Too much metal rather than punk for my tastes. There were some good songs here though, in particular the title track and the rather funky She's Calling You.

Some cool moments. Interesting progression from their first record which is the high velocity straight forward punk.

Never heard of them. Had no idea what I was in for, but based on the album cover, I assumed some 80s hip hop. I was wrong. I kinda love it.

3.75. Good, better than fine. Some really good moments. I am aware and can appreciate all they pioneered

Interesting mix of styles, great singer, but the thrash metal elements didn't much appeal to me personally.

Not my thing at all but interesting to hear their influences on later bands like Metallica.

I feel like I’d be really into this if I was a skateboarder in the mid 2000s

You know those kids who are like 8 years old who only drink monster energy and cuss at their moms and are constantly running around screaming? I imagine that when they become teenagers this is the album that they would listen to. I’ll be upfront that I’m just not a fan of this genre of sound, at least not the way it was delivered here. I preferred the vocalist when he was singing and not sounding like the Tasmanian devil, and I felt like he had a decent voice. The story behind the production of Sacred Love is cool, and that was also my favorite track on the album. Favorites: Sacred Love, Return to Heaven, maybe House of Suffering

Meh. This album has interesting moments and you can can hear the seeds of speed-ska, hardcore, reggae-hardcore, and American punk being planted. But none of them really come into their own on this album. I enjoyed more of the reggae-inspired tracks (especially Secret 77) and the technical ability of the band is great. It feels just moderately half-baked. Not bad by any means, but I likely won't be back any time soon. Bumped to 2 stars by virtuosity. Favorite Tracks: I Against I, Secret 77.

A perfectly listenable hard rock/hardcore album. I was initially low on this through the first 2-3 songs but it started coming into its own as the album went on. Good on them for escaping what I thought was a pretty surefire 2 star rating. I think the mellower songs (Secret 77 specifically) had a well-done sound and I’d have liked to hear more of that than we got. 5/10 Favorites: - Secret 77 - Let Me Help - Sacred Love

After the first couple songs I figured this would be another 1 star. But as it went on I found myself warming up to it more and more. We get a mix of punk, little bit of funk, and reggae. Definitely feels like a more experimental album as it is all over the place at times. But the guitar solos, hooks, and riffs are surprisingly good in this album. My main complaint is the singing. When he actually sings the verses it is quite enjoyable. But in other songs it songs like he’s just making weird noises and his words are incomprehensible. This wasn’t a great album, but I might go check out some of this bands later work since they seem to be talented. Rating: 5/10 Favorites: - Secret 77 - Sacred Love - Return to Heaven

Some critics speak of a more ‘mature sound‘ or a ‘futuristic sound’ describing the D.C.’s cherished Rasta-Punks transition from hardcore to alternative funk and metal. Big label distributor; Warner Bros., under the guise of indie label, SST, brought in noted producer, Ron Saint Germain. Germain had a history of making lively smaller acts more commercially accessible and lucrative. Do yourself a favor and listen to Bad Brains blistering debut or some of their scorching live sets and avoid this schizophrenic mess.

C’est mon genre de musique hein

Perfectly middle of the road. 2.5 stars.

Mehhh. I wanted to like this one more than I actually did. Some decent portions but overall underwhelming.

What a great album! Runs through so many different genres, Hardcore you can dance to (???) the 80s production isn't the best but is its own thing esp the tone on the guitar solos

if you want to know what American Hardcore on its deathbed was like, look no further. Had to immediately put on ROIR/Self titled afterward to cleanse myself with a real bad brains album that made them iconic. If you’ve never heard bad brains, listen to that instead and skip this one.

4.5/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/bad-brains/i-against-i/ This is gooooood. The only thing about Bad Brains I knew was their legacy. When I checked RYM and saw that this has a considerably lower score than the first two albums, I was surprised why this was included and not (either of) those. From what I understand, this is a bit of a departure from their earlier hardcore stuff, as this is more a bit alt rock/alt metal stuff. I hear quite some influences in stuff I listen to, so I get the placement in the book. The guitar sounds (early nu metal sounds?) are great and the vocalist is a beast, switching from vocal styles all the time like it's nothing. I'll definitely come back to this one!

punk rock and reggae? thats some serious tunes right here with a unique delivery... I feel bad for yall that are not able to enjoy music to the same amount as me sometimes.

consider me let down when I quickly realized this wasnt the smash hit I Against I by Massive Attack and Mos Def but instead a generic mid eighties heavy metal album. They've got the sound down pat, thats for sure, enough distortion to shake a stick at, but I cant point to a single song that made me sit back and appreciate what it is. Just thoroughly middle of the road, and thats not really a bad thing, they just dont separate themselves from their peers too well.

Sounded like any other metal album. Competent and the guitars shreddeded but overall it was just okay

4/10 - not my cup of tea and honestly just melds into one

Hell nah

Why this one and not self titled? This Rob guy is weird. Anyway... Bad Brains rule and this is a belter.

A fun exploration of alternative sounds that I recognize even from music made decades later. I want to rate this higher but it has too many 80s-rock elements that I don't enjoy.

I didn't known this band. A rock too excited for my taste. An OK album.

Admit I only knew Bad Brains by reputation before I put this album on. I was expecting something more...raw? Unhinged? Powerful? There were some glimpses of that here and there, but overall I found this a fairly melodic album. Closer to alternative than hardcore punk. It wasn't bad, just not what I was expecting.

Þetta er allt í lagi. Smá pirrandi á köflum en fín lög þarna inni.

Álbum agressivo, cru, e energético e divertido. Celest Pandamon.

it was very interesting but sometimes I couldn’t take his voice seriously

This is a weird review for me to write because it's rare that I rate an album low that is actually interesting. This one is really interesting! It never bores. Recently, that's been a little rare for the generator. Still, I don't think it's for me. I don't know that I'd turn it off if it came on shuffle, but I'm never going for it. I applaud the musicality and the effort, and it gets some praise for me for being fiercely interesting, if somewhat unenjoyable for me.

spotify said this was punk/reggae fusion but maybe i'm just ignorant because i didn't really hear much reggae. still fun though

What a cool album. This was an odd one for me, as just based on my average enjoyment of each track and the album’s replay-ability I would probably give it a 3-3.5. However, something about it just seemed so authentic. It was clear that they wanted to make their brand and to hell with anyone not down with it.

Been meaning to listen to this for a long time, it did not disappoint.

Takes me back to my 2009 Pandora punk station days

Soul chill un peu r&b, pas trop ma came mais c'est ok

C’était pas deconnant

Pas ma tasse de thé

another I get why these guys are influential but that doesn't mean I like listening to the album kind of album

intriguing. and intense. it's nice listening to something more metallic that's not like "DEAAAAAAAATH" and "BLOOOOOOOOD" and such bs (looking at you, slayer). like... i still don't love the metal singing where it's just a weird scream, but the lyrics here are definitely better. enjoyed the less metal parts more. hired gun has some good haunting harmonies going on. it's intense, but it's brief, and that allows it to be more intense. not less than a 3 and not more than a 4

Nope, I just didn't like that. It wasn't for me.

Always felt like I should enjoy Bad Brains more. This is one where I can see the influence they have on stuff I like and think it is cool how they are blending genre, but it just doesn’t grab me at all.

I like Bad Brains' self-titled debut better

So good!! What can I say? A black band that does hard rock is always gonna sound great to me.

A bad album for bad brains. 2/5

This album was disappointing to me. The self titled Bad Brains album is an incredible blend of hardcore punk and reggae and this… isn’t that. This leans into the hard rock and metal stylings of the 80’s. It’s good for what it is, but comparing it is a letdown. Favorites were I Against I and Re-Ignition.

Markan - 2 Sara - 2

early hardcore the way it was meant to be. great bass tone! Bad Brains never disappoints.

Had quite a lot of time for this album. Would I listen to it often? No. But had a grunge, shoe-gaze, industrial American feel that was insistently interesting.

Soundtrack to a tonne of 90s skate videos, enjoyed the nostalgia.

Proper strange one this, like a post punk megadeath, solidly good though a massive shift in sound from the self titled

I like Secret 77 because it gets more funky than punky. Slows down a bit. I can see (hear) why Chuck Moseley joined the band, albeit briefly. ⭐⭐⭐

See, this is the type of hardcore punk that I can get into. Hardcore where its not just basic-ass hardcore. The blending of genres here while retaining the drive, muscularity, and aggression of hardcore. Similar to Dead Kennedys where they mixed surf rock with hardcore, you're getting funk, soul, reggae, and metal here (particularly glam metal, like Van Halen, which adds an interesting contrast to the punk/darker vibes of the music). Also, the instrumentation is a notch above a lot of other hardcore, and the vocals more interesting than just punk shouts. Definitely feeling their influence on stuff like Faith No More and whatnot. Didn't go into this expecting to like this as much as I do, but happy I do.

Eclectic sound, really enjoyed it. Punk with a twist

Punky

Bad ass

Bad ass

Mal som tušenie, že to nebude až také dobré, ako som si čítal v dobových recenziách...

Holds up pretty well

Not much in the way of invention and an annoying vocal style make this eminently missable

The aesthetic of this album is initially very cool and remains so until the hardcore elements dissipate into generic rockery. Once they lean away from the heavy bits any personality they have goes with it. Even during the front end I am not particularly excited about any of the individual songs, rather just the general sound they come up with.

Solid 3 for Bad Brains, i like hardcore and can see the massive influence and impact of this band but it's not quite my style of hardcore (mostly hardcore emo)

liked it more as it went along (specifically "secret 77" onwards. could not believe this was made in 2019 (but i think bad brains have been around since the 80s).

I don't like it.

Nice and snappy, but nothing I’m likely to listen to again.

Gear: Moondrop Variations Artwork: 😎🪮👁️ Production: 🤷‍♂️🥫🤏 Music: 🇯🇲🧷🧪 Rating: 🧠🧠(🧠)/5

In a nutshell: clusterfuck-core Influential band? Sure. Skilled. Yes. Appealing album? Only if you like slap bass that isn't disco and hardcore punk that has occasional groove to it. Perhaps the self titled album is the way to go? Overall: 3/10

I am not cool enough to listen to this music You live long enough and you become just another poser

Rocked! somehow reminds me most of 80s Rush

this shit was fiiiire

Love this album, have had in my library for a while lol

Just not my moment to listen to this

I was expecting to hate this as anything described as hardcore usually isn't my thing. This was surprisingly melodic and, therefore, surprisingly enjoyable. Really loved She's Calling You.

A band I had totally forgotten about but loved in the mid to late 80s. Going to college near DC they were huge and an incredibly influential band to groups like Faith No More and Living Color. Well deserved inclusion on this list. A great stroll down memory lane for me.

A cross between Deep Purple and Duran-Duran. And not as good as either. A 2, at best.

Interesting? Not sure how this slipped through the cracks but a good rock sound I missed out on the first time.

pretty good, a good mix of punk and metal sounds with enough pop and catching stuff to keep it easy to listen to.

This immediately felt my sort of thing and I was surprised I’d never heard it before. I had heard of them, but looking at the year of release, it looks like they were just a bit too early for me. Definitely one I will be revisiting and exploring their back-catalogue.

2.5 Not terrible or anything but just not for me,

Surprised that this album is included and also their best selling album, would have figured both went to self-titled.

There's such a terrible noise. I didn't get it at all, and after putting up with it for three tracks, I didn't want to waste any more of my time on it. 1/5

I really don't know why this is on the list when Bad Brains' most important record is their debut. This is...fine. Yes it's an influential record but it's also a complete abandonment of the immediacy and power of their hardcore days, where they were far and away the most promising band of that scene. Instead, this is a band looking around the edges of metal and inspiring much, much better work by Fishbone and Living Colour. Just a disappointing listen all around.

What???? A black rock band. Its a 5 just for that ahah

Not my cup of tea. One star…

I overstand, too.

Not a huge punk fan, or rather don't know too much about punk, but I found myself enjoying this more than I thought

Could not get into it. I was not into hard punk when it was a popular genre

I like me some 80s punk, but aside from a few bright moments this was not the best. Bad Brains has flashes of greatness for me, but songs like "Sacred Love" just aren't for me.

Kinda funky, think I quite liked it, but probably won't listen to it again

God, how I hated the vocals

This was a lot more punk then I thought, so after rattling that around I enjoyed it. Secret 77 was my favorite.

I expected a touch more of a reggae/funk/soul feel based on the description but this mostly felt like straight rock music. Not a bad thing, just didn’t match my assumptions. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it, I feel solidly in the middle on it. It had its moments. Maybe I’d find more nuance and layers to it upon further listens, because it sounds like it was highly influential and groundbreaking.

I had friends in high school who were majorly into these guys, but they sort of passed me by. Listening to them now, I get it (the guitar, the rhythms), and I can hear their influence in a zillion other later bands. Glad I finally caught up with them.

Växte rejält på mig under lyssningen, finns mycket jag gillar här. Får bli en stark trea, men kommer nog återbesöka denna och ser potential för att den inom sin tid kan växa till en fyra.

Förväntade mig mer smuts, förvånansvärt slätstruket för hardcorepionjärer? Hade ganska dålig koll på bad brains, så lyssnade på första skivan också. Otrolig blandning av råa hardcorelåtar och rökig reggae! Den är nog en viktigare skiva för formandet av hardcoregenren, så hade kanske varit ett roligare val för den här listan. Med det sagt är bad brains jävligt kul, och jag gillade det här också! Höjdpunkter var ”re-ignition” och det otroliga riffet i ”shes calling you”. Och även om ”sacred love” kanske inte var en toppenlåt är det såklart guldstjärna att den sjungits in via en fängelsetelefon. 3,5!

Rått! Och rätt ball

kul!

Title track is crazy good - sounds like nothing else. So fast and short and takes so many twists and turns. Rest of the album gets a little too Van Halen-y. But pretty cool the guitarist can do Van Halen's style about as good as Van Halen. The super 80s production mostly just makes me sad and angry that the best Bad Brains album of all isn't on this list: my playlist "Bad Brains with all the reggae songs removed".

I feel like I shouldn't like this, but there's kind of an interesting vibe. Almost ska? But like really angry ska. It's loud and discordant but also a head bopper

Very fun sound, favorite so far

Didn't really enjoy anything about this one.

I'm not sure if the reason I don't like this is that I don't like reggae punk or because I don't like the vocals on the album, but I did not like it much

No thanks. im a punk fan but this was too metal for me. Lots of 80's production and sounds like bad hair metal.

I appreciate that this is a departure for them and this record probably did a lot for Hardcore as a genre... I just can't really seem to get my teeth into it. It's totally fine and I could easily listen to it regularly, but I don't have a reason to do that. It's missing a hook for me, it's not enough in any one particular direction for me to develop strong feelings about it.

A DC hardcore classic. Wild, sonically varied, and brave.

Not totally my thing but I am grateful for an opportunity to something I otherwise never would. Had an alright time. Liked the vocals 5.5 / 10 Best track/s: Reignition

Nope. This album didn't work for me.

Omg black punk? Nice to see some diversity, and I really needed a fast and heavy sound to channel my emotions today. Listening further, it sounds more like an 80s heavy metal album, given how hardcore punk helped give it a foundation. It bends the genre by adding a bit of funk to it (She's Calling You, Sacred Love). Would love to hear more metal-influenced funk in the future though! The singer has some interesting vocal flexibility, which adds some character to each track. What I did like was that the riffs at the beginning are so good, but I guess my pop instincts took over and wanted to hear more of that in the song. I was a bit disappointed that they didn't carry through the way I wanted them to. I honestly wish they did more genre bending as advertised on Wikipedia.

7.8.26 liked this well enough -- some solid songs, and i think their general sound is quite good. am i crazy for saying that i think it is often giving oingo boingo or Favorite Song: Re-Ignition Rating: 3.5/5

Fun and fast and punky, very enjoyable. Very clear-headed for the era and genre Highlights: "Secret 77", "Let Me Help", "She's Calling You"

This was a really good one, I think I liked their use of guitar throughout this the most.

Hardcore punk with reggae and heavy metal influences built from lightning-fast guitars, explosive rhythms, and intensely expressive vocals feels like standing beside a race car engine that's constantly revving into the red—thrilling about once, but exhausting from thefe. The album's technical ability and relentless energy are undeniable, yet for me the constant intensity leaves too little room for contrast or lasting interest.

3.4 for I Against I - None of the songs really stood out, but it rocked and I liked the hard rock riffs and metal influences. Just overall a good listen.

Wasn't bad but not for me, unclear why on this list. 2*

Starts off really good and tapers quite a bit by the end.

Too short to be boring. Too long to be good. 3 stars.

Interesante. No diría que me encantó pero sí me pareció algo escuchable.

Tight, intense, urgent Black punk with threads of reggae, dub, metal, and weird experimentalism woven in. Gotta say, pretty ripping.

The sound is an interesting fusion, but I didn’t think the songs were good at all. Maybe just not my thing.

Bad Brains might be benefitting slightly here from the fact that I had The Offspring yesterday. Both albums broadly in the punk realm, The Offspring album suffered from a tragic lack of imagination, ambition and variety, this one does really well on all of those fronts. Having never managed to investigate Bad Brains, but having the gut instinct that I would be into them, this was a great opportunity to get on with it. I have to say I will extend that investigation because I enjoyed ‘I Against I’ a great deal and I’m getting the impression that this may not even be their best album. I love how they never sound like they are putting any restrictions on themselves. Whatever feels right in any particular song, they just do it. Pushing genre boundaries left, right and centre. This is the kind of behaviour I will easily fall for as long as the outcome isn’t dog shit and there isn’t a hint of that here. I’ll definitely call this a 1001 winner for me. There aren’t a great deal of first listens for me on the list so it’s a genuine treat when one of those hits the mark.

definitely not my fave punk

I feel like the potential for me to like this album was there but i just really, really did not vibe with the lead singer's voice unfortunately.

They probably sounded much better live.

Bastante buen album

The songs are well arranged and performed well, especially for the punk genre. Is easily recognized as punk but even more discernible as having its own distinct style from other punk of its time. The Rastafarian disaffected youth, populism message is not to my taste, but it was definitely a unique take among a sea of disaffected youth punk from the era. There is plenty of cryptic to revisit and ponder. Well produced and performed, I can hear why this influenced so many artists, particularly genre smashing punks in the decades to come. I can also hear some of this influence appearing in Living Color's VIVID, three years later, as well as Mr. Bungle and Faith No More. I appreciate Earl Hudson's scaled back, but tight in the pocket approach to his drums on this album. A great of example of when less can be more. His drum parts are driving, but he's kept the drum arrangements open enough to allow the guitars and vocals enough space. I always appreciate they are not going for speed, but rather for tightness and funkiness. I also appreciate that Dr. Know doesn't get overly busy with his riffs. Just enough to keep it interesting, but not enough to distract. The album was better than I was expecting. The gag of recording from prison is a 12 year old's punk dream, but I would have preferred listening to "Sacred Love" straight up. Maybe I should listen to a live version somewhere and see how that sounds. Favorite: "She's Calling You"

3/5

Personally not my style. Very creative and unique with the fusion of hardcore and reggae elements. If you're a hardcore fan I could see this meaning a lot to you.

Bad album for me. Didn’t enjoy this - very non descript.

FUck yeah, DC hardcore punk!! As a child of the 90s/00s and native to the DC area, I learned quickly of the pioneering punk/hardcore bands that came out of DC in the 80s/90s, but admittedly never cared to listen to them. That first changed about a decade ago when I had to learn a ~20 min set of Fugazi, Bad Brains, etc. songs (where I quickly gained appreciation for the sheer endurance required to be a punk drummer); and it changed again today when I sat down to give this record a proper listen. This thing is tight AF and straight up rips. Amazing production quality too, better than I expected for an album in this genre & time period. Love the decision to include the 'over the phone from jail' vocals on "Sacred Love", that's punk as fuck \m/

I liked this album more than I thought I would. The music is a punky metal, with a certain dark undertone of intrigue entering the songs as the album progresses. My favorite songs were "Re-Ignition", "Secret 77", and "Sacred Love". The over-the-phone-from-jail vocals on "Sacred Love" really fit the tone of the song.

Love this.

The first Bad Brains album I ever had, got in on cassette during a trip to NYC on my first time back in the States after a while. I knew them primarily as the catalyst for a lot of Dischord and also as the fastest band alive. So this was a bit of a tough sell as I just didn’t vibe to metal all that much, funk metal even less.

Its fine!

Bad Brains kicks ass. I haven't listened to this one in a while. Took an 8 hour flight to Paris and listened to this on my train ride in. Tough to beat. This list needs more albums by them.

enyojable punk. i find interesting how here are longer songs with a style singing more dramatic and relaxed. feels weirdly cohesive with how the the guitars and lyrics keep that punk vibe

Thursday, 18 June, 2026 Side two is great. Dr. Know picks it up and delivers.

peak

Great stuff

Yup

didn't listen

This is album is like a marshmallow. It’s fluffier and sweeter than I expected. But each song is unique - a rice krispie treat, campfire s'more, or plain. There’s a versatility that I appreciate.

I'm going to hand the mic to the master - Bob Cristgau - for this one... As a reggae band, they were a hardcore band with a change-up; as a metal band, they're a hardcore band with a great windup and no follow-through. The small problem is H.R.'s lyrics, which he's still smart enough to blur with the speed and attitude that make the lead and title cut their strongest song since "Pay to Cum." The big problem is Dr. Know, who's got a hundred Hendrix moves and no killer riffs... Ultimately - I blame the guitar sound and general production. I didn't notice it quite so much back in the day but I can't unhear it now.

Once I was going home to Providence from NYC for Thanksgiving. My friend was going home to Mass. We got tix on the Peter Pan bus. He brought his laptop and we watched Bad Brains: Live at CBGB. We talked hardcore for a big chunk of that trip. That's a great memory. So is this album. No notes.

Have always been a fan but gotta say this is one of the most underrated bands ever. I wonder why is that in the USA

🎧Not at all what I expected Bad Brains to sound like. I do not like this.

a ver tiene buenas guitarras, me gusta lo que hace, pero nada me mata. aunque habla bastante bien que no me irrite de fondo. pero bueno 2.5

To quote the great poet and art critic Montgomery Burns. "I may not know much about art but I know what I hate...and I don't hate this."

Certainly not what I expected. Not bad.

OG DC Hardcore is such a wide variety of sounds. It's crazy this gets the same label as Minor Threat, but here we are. It's a good listen overall.

Eh, wasn't as strong as their other one.

Might be good if totally wasted and in the mood.

- Once again, my love of the mantra underlying punk (particularly with a punk band starring so many POC) clashes with my desire for a more cohesive sound. Some of these tracks just make my finger hover over the "skip" button. - H. R. Hudson's voice is just not doing it for me. It is all over the place. - The slower tracks, often with a more metal or funk vibe (such as "Secret 77," "She's Calling You," and "Sacred Love") are the only ones I would seek out again...and I doubt I would do that? - Having your singer record the vocals for a song over the phone as he serves time is admittedly as punk as something can get.

I know Bad Brains as hardcore punk and was not expecting the genre bending of this album. Henry metal is not my favorite, it lost me a little there. But a fun listen.

Great. More lads shouting.

Rate: 9/10.

4.0/10

On tää silti ⭐️⭐️⭐️ vaikka muutama biisi olikin ihmeellistä huutoa.

Never would have known of this one! Very cool, rocks hard. Definitely hear how they influenced bands I've listened to a ton like Sublime and RATM.

Great music but nasty voice.

I was ready to be done with the album after the first two tracks, since they sounded like the exact same metal-song to me. A metal song i, sadly, don‘t enjoy at all. Thankfully they switched it up for the rest of the album. I thought Re-Ignition and Section 77 are pretty interesting songs. They way they mix several influences into coherent tracks made for a challenging listening at first, but it clicked for me pretty quickly. She‘s Calling You is probably my favorite song on the album, it‘s ever-evolving nature really intrigues me and i like that it doesn‘t actually end in the bombastic chorus it seems to build-up to. Sacred Love is a great mood-piece and felt like the least-challenging song on the album. This is by no means i bad thing, it was simply the one song i could listen to and get completely lost in. Overall an interesting album that works really well in it‘s middle section, but loses me in the beginning and the end - the talk-sing vocals in Return To Heaven killed the song for me.

Four stars because Rock For Light gets the five if it pops up on this list. Legends.

Why is this on here?

First time with a Bad Brains album. There's some excellent stuff in here and also some stuff that's pretty 80's and I just can't get into. The heavy stuff is great. The genre-ignoring wobble between punk and metal is great and, so long as they stick to heavy, all the parts work together. When you get to 'Sacred Love' and 'Hired Gun', things slow down and the incessant guitar modulation (I'm guessing it's a phaser and some kinda delay; there could be a chorus or something) takes the fore, which is terrible. Makes the lead guitar sound small -- which is a shame, because the lead playing is really good. There's a solid bass line throughout and you can tell from the big, round tone that they also play reggae. Drums are serviceable and even quite good in spots. I don't love HR's vocals all the time; he's a bit too loose with the timing. He's remarkably versatile, though, and it often *does* work for him. Definitely worth a listen. If you're into heavy music and/or punk (included? I think that's debated), you'll have bands you love who are influenced by these guys. The talent is obvious, the exploratory nature of their songwriting (or their disregard for genre) means they try stuff I don't love sometimes, but that's an acceptable trade-off for the interesting bits. The prominent elements of 80's production suck but they don't sink this one, unlike, say, a Todd Rundgren album (but he also sinks himself). 3/5 but definitely worth a listen.

This was short, but not sweet. I thought the vocals were particularly underwhelming and while there were a few moments of promise, there wasn’t enough to merit a 3 star rating. Overall, pretty 80s hard rock.

Cool band, probably need to listen to this again

The band's kinda rockin but the vocalist kinda sucks

Beautiful album. Love his song “Fire and Rain”. The rest of the album is just as good. Super calming and definitely a favorite of mine

Bad Brains is such a classic band. They have such a unique sound in the hardcore scene and I love it. Yeah this particular album isn’t my favorite by them. It doesn’t reach the level of their self-title record. But I respect the weirdness they go for with this project. It’s obvious that legendary band Mr. Bungle got heavy inspiration for their vibe from this record. If I could rate half stars I would give this a 3.5/5

This album is very different than what I expected. It’s a mix of rock, metal and punk. From a listener perspective I found it interesting. First pass was with IEM’s , 2nd pass car stereo and impression didn’t change. I rate it a 2 1/2 stars. Middle of the road.

Not at all what I expected when I saw the album cover. These guys are punk royalty as far as I'm concerned. 5/5 no question.

Just nothing special

From Wikipedia: The vocals to "Sacred Love" were recorded over the phone from the prison where H.R. was serving time on a marijuana distribution charge. 100% Punk.

Re-Ignition oli Guitar Herossa, en ees heti bändin nimestä muistanut. Nimestä arvas kyllä että jotain punkkia tää on :D Wiki sanoo HC punkkia, mutta ei tässä niin sitä HC rähinää ole. Ainakaan useimmissa biiseissä. Parhaat: Re-Ignition, I Against I,

Probably one of the most influential bands you've never heard of.

Finally - I am about 130 albums into this project and finally found an album that blew me away. I have hear of Bad Brains of course, and moved to the DC area when Fugazi was doing their thing. But this album wasn't;t just noise or yelling but had tight grooves and a degree of melodicism I never expected. Secret 77 was a banger. Great album!

Two days after G. Love and Special Sauce, an album by guys who look like they'd make hardcore, I've got a hardcore album by guys who look like they'd make bluesy hip-hop. I'll be honest, it passed me by on two listens without making much of an impression but the guitar work is great throughout.

I’m happy that i’m being forced to listen to new albion’s and music. I live how short this album is bc you can really tell that all the songs are bangers. Currently 4/10 songs through the album and its so far has its a 4 star.

Solid blend of genres here. I need to get more into the D.C. hardcore scene.

From the cover I thought this would be a hiphop album, but it is a sort of punk-ish metal album. Anyways, it didn’t do much for me. It is a short album, but it still managed to bore me.

This wasn't my cup of tea, at all. Some of the guitar work was ok; then they started singing, and lost me totally at that irreversible point.

Punk is absolutely not my genre. Why does he say "re-ignition" like that? Nah, I'm done here.

I think I was expecting something a bit more. It was okay, but I didn't love it.

Third punk rock album in a row... Whoa, what an interesting trip. Have never been a big punk rock fan, and this album sounds almost like an others..

Pretty neat rock sounding tunes maybe a little generic at times.

3.5 re-ignition is awesome

Dope

Just sounds confused. It's not hardcore, it's just average metal with a bit of average funk. There must be better albums by this band.

Хардкор с налётом фанка и треша.

Very wierd but no in a good way. Strange singing voice over some ok guitar rhythms. Won’t be returning to this one anytime soon

Ég hafði aldrei heyrt um Bad Brains en varð frekar spenntur að heyra í þeim af því að þeir áttu að blanda rokki og reggí saman. Svo varð ég bara vonsvikinn að heyra að þetta var bara ekkert spes og bara bílskúrsbyrjendarokk

I only knew a little Bad Brains prior to listening to this, was different than I expected in a good way.

This was a pretty good punk album, and I heard a lot of different styles of music in it that I associate with later time periods as well.

Day865 - the title song “i against i” was the highlight. i was expecting more punk rock. this album sounds like mid eighties hair metal.

Cool

I see now how this album, which I can't say I enjoyed, paved the way for a multitude of later music that I enjoy marginally more. However, its academic importance does not make it something I need to revisit.

Not really my style. Had some ok songs in the middle but na. 4/10

There’s some pretty sick guitar work here but that is all.

Had a great time listening to it. Energetic fun.

5 - AVERAGE

Surprisingly slow and melodic, but it's good!

Holy crap, why had I never heard this album before? Added to library immediately, damn.

This is a band I knew to be important & influential in the scene. A little bit before my time tho. & I never made it backwards to check them out. Dig. Good times & i deem the reputation to be accurate & deserved. I’ll give ‘em three & a third

Ok. Didnt hate it but wouldnt listen again.

Forgettable

No.

Okay, but what else?

Punk'd

Solid, but too much mid-tempo metal funk fusion here. Much prefer the ferocious hardcore of their debut

5/10 Best songs: Let Me Help Honestly, what you'd expect from a post-punk act: heavy guitars, bass, and drum; snarling vocals that are frequently so poorly enunciated that I didn't understand what the vocalist was saying; kind of poor production that definitely doesn't stand the test of time. That being said, it's not awful. I'm not a particularly big fan of punk to begin with, but this isn't too bad, so I left the album satisfied (more or less).

hmm.. pretty good. very good, actually, but idk im js not feeling it.

3.5/5

high intensity post punk, great collection of songs, cant really say there are too many weak points on this but at the same time it is lacking that punch and edge that i expect from punk records the vocalist has a good range but i dont think that plays in favor of this record, killer guitar solos tho

Disappointed with this. Really enjoyed it, definitely my kind of music. But when I read up on it, and saw the influences and apparent stylings, it felt lacking. I guess I just wanted and expected more. Will have to look into more of their stuff.

Very solid album, she's calling you is a standout

Punk isn’t a genre I gravitate towards typically, however I’m familiar with Bad Brains due to them being a DC staple. Enjoyed the album and may revisit Bad Brains work in the future. Interesting to me reading about all the ways Bad Brains influenced other artists and the impact this album had on the music scene.

If you ask Len to describe his taste in women, he’d say ‘bad brains’ 2.7 5/10 Secret 77

I hated the first half, and then I enjoyed the second half. But I'm feeling a bit critical today. 2/5

decent album, some good tracks and interesting band

“I Against I” was good. Lyrics had a lot going on for short, fast songs. Enjoy the album but something about production seems off. Still, I cranked it loud and went with it.

Not for me. Not unbearable but pretty annoying overall and very forgettable.

not my favorite, but had some cool moments

not bad - post punk, cleaner sound than old school punk. sounds quite good

No one else sounds like this. This was really fun to come back to.

It was a hardcore album with horrible production

A mixture of hardcore punk, funk, reggae, metal, and probably a few other things. The title track is just an amazing song and Sacred Love with the vocals recorded over the phone when H.R. was in prison is just so f'ing punk. Great album from an amazing band in their prime. One of my favorites.

😪

A band I'd heard about a lot as an influence on some music I loved, and they are great.

5 out of 5. This was my introduction to Bad Brains and remains my favorite of theirs, glad to see it on this list!

2.56

Best Track - "I Against I"

I’ve heard select Bad Brains material over the years and I would say that I don’t think that this might be their best album. There’s a sort of new wave type of sound that’s infused throughout these tracks that doesn’t quite work here. It makes them sound restrained and the best stuff by them are when thay are wild and all over the place. This album is also missing some of their later great dub experiments. Hmm, yeah really not sure why this album was picked. Certainly any of their other albums would have been a better choice.

not as explosive as the self titled but a decent punk rock record

No, thank you.

Was an unexpected treat

No

meh i okladka tez meh

9/10 What a welcome surprise. Loved every bit of this

🤷🏿‍♀️

Well this is blowing my frickin’ mind. This is kinda like when you first listen to Pixies and realize they are the origin point for so many different bands and styles of rock. This album immediately explains the existence of Sublime and Rage Against the Machine, for two. Reading up on the band, it’s crazy to discover that they started as a jazz fusion band — but honestly it makes sense. Guitarist Dr. Know is doing some *insane* shit with his instrument, and the rest of them are locked in. They make the genre blending sound so natural. I love this. Must-listen #331.

Wow I love this record more every time I listen to it

Expected it to be terrible - not like a hyped up black Carnivore! Sick!!!!

I liked quite abit of the guitar work on this album I just didn’t enjoy the vocals which I struggled to get past.

Not sure what this album was trying to be. At times it felt like metal, and other times it was almost pop. Regardless of whatever niche it was trying to fit into, it was never anything more than just mildly interesting.

452/1089 - This was incredible. Kinda sounds like a mix of Fishbone and Megadeth due to the sonic variety and extreme technical proficiency respectively. Amazing musicianship and so exciting to listen to. Can't believe I didn't clock that Re-Ignition was used in Pico's School on my first listen, I was wondering why it sounded familiar! Probably my favorite song on the album. I like that the solo is a tritone away from the accompaniment, I wonder if it was meant for the chorus originally since the verse and chorus key centers are a tritone apart.

Awful

It will always be a fucking awesome sound.

Oohhh. This is cool! I actually really like this album! Bad Brains are a name that I've heard thrown around a bit in music discussions. Apparently they're among the most influential bands in the formation of hardcore punk as a sub-genre, so that's pretty cool. It definitely gives the band justification for having an album on this list. I Against I however was a bit of a turning point for this band though, as this album includes prominent influences from other genres like metal and funk. I actually really liked this, but I think I've seen more praise for the band's first two albums over this, so I'm not sure if this one would stay on my 1001 Albums list that I may or may not make in the future. I guess I should probably listen to those first two albums someday, shouldn't I? I should. If they're anything like this, they'll be awesome. But yeah, back to what I was going to say, this album's extra influences make I Against I feel less like a hardcore punk album and more like a ska/funk-metal type thing. It kinda reminds me of Fishbone, which is awesome because I loved the Fishbone album that I listened to for this project. The production feels pretty similar, especially with the bass tone which I really enjoyed. The music here is super fun and I love it. H.R.'s vocals are solid. Apparently he recorded the vocals for "Sacred Love" from a prison phone because he was locked up on a marijuana charge. That... is punk as hell. Great stuff. The writing on the songs isn't spectacular or anything, but it gets the job done. You've got some cool songs on here. I really liked the title track and "Re-Ignition" in particular. Man, this is sick. I do think I enjoyed the Fishbone album that I compared this to more, but I still had a lot of fun with this. If this isn't even their best album, I would love to see what their best is like. Solid 4/5.

I dunno

You know I was into this more than anticipated—I did not expect Secret 77 to be such a Duran Duran song

2.5 rounded up

No. The most interesting song was ‘Sacred Love’ with the knowledge that the singer recorded the vocals over the phone whilst in prison which actually makes this quite good.

better than i've suspected

126. ok

On I Against I, Bad Brains smash together thrash, metal, and funk with the kind of precision and volatility that made them legends in the hardcore underground—even if the results here feel more like a stylistic tug-of-war than a fully locked-in statement. The band’s chops are undeniable: the guitars lurch and churn with metallic force while the rhythm section slips into rubbery, funk-inflected grooves, giving the record a restless, shape-shifting energy. But the vocals—elastic, unpredictable, and occasionally jarring—can be an acquired taste, cutting against the grain of the music rather than elevating it. Still, when it hits, it hits hard: “Re-Ignition” rides a punishing, chug-heavy riff that barrels forward with purpose, while “She’s Calling You” finds a tighter pocket, its groove hinting at a more cohesive hybrid. Elsewhere, the band’s genre-hopping instincts are both a strength and a liability—“Secret 77” veers from proto-grunge murk into twitchy New Wave rhythms, and “Hired Gun” flirts with hair metal theatrics without the melodic payoff. It’s a restless, energetic record that demands respect, even if it doesn’t always demand a return listen.

This is a real weird one for me. Bad brains self titled first album is on the mt. Rushmore of punk records but ive never really explored beyond it. And its not that it taints that record in any way but im not all that thrilled with what I found. Its so metal or hard rock. It just throws me for a loop. Where did the punk rock go? Or the reggae field that matter. I was so put off i went back to the first record to see if there was any through lines. And i never noticed it but there are. Not alot but enough to see this coming in retrospect at least. Now that I get it better I give it more respect but im still not crazy about it. That type of music isnt my favorite. I dont dislike it but punk is better for me. The only song I knew coming in was th title track and ive always like that one. But after a track or 2 its all the way to the stuff im not crazy about. So I get it and I understand it now but there just isnt much for me. I'll just put in the 1st record 1000 times over this one again.

Schmid. Though it was going to be ass at first but had a sincere come back

First time listen, loved it, one of the best punk records I've ever head. Loved the mix of different style from funk to reggae into punk. Truly an amazing record. 1. I against I 2. Re-Ignition 3. Sacred Love

этот панк мне не интересен, пас)

Some kind of metal? Never heard of it before though. Bit thrashy, bit post-punky. Really interesting sound. Technically proficient but with that punk DIY sound. I guess hard alt rock? Is this a precursor to metalcore?? Secret 77 has some new wave feel to it as well. Some grunge feel in Hired Gun Best track - House of Suffering, Sacred Love 4 stars for a completely new sound/genre for me

Rocks plenty hard.

album rock random

Sympa mais pas marquant

Cool drum sounds. Reminds me of the Urge. Wonder how much Steve Ewing listening to this band.

Coming back to rate this a few days after listening and I honestly can’t remember a single thing about it

Dey dope

Some nice guitar, but the vocals are off-putting, and there's nothing I'd revisit. 2.5

How could I not know this band? I was around when this album came out. It's so good. I love the blend of styles into something unique (esp. for 1986!) - quite metal infused but with a wink to the later hip-hop rock bands such as Beastie Boys, RATM etc. I'll definitely look into other albums and H.R. (the singer). Some real, authentic stunners on this album and no weak songs. Great guitars too.

Truly underrated band

Curious as to why the self-titled or Rock For Light wasn’t selected over this. Quickness is a great record too. My initial thoughts, having had this album for years, was that it is a 4. Revisiting it today though, it’s a 5 for me. Plenty (mostly) bangers here. Sacred Love never resonated with me, but as an album it’s great. An album worthy of anyone’s time from a seminal band. Second 5 rating in a row too, so here’s hoping for a third tomorrow.

Punk as a very wide umbrella for a genre is really hit or miss for me. Even more so sub-genres like hardcore and post hardcore. I've always heard about Bad Brains and was curious about them but I've never really listened to them. Initially I was thinking that this is not the type of punk for me, and the fact that it's from the '80s and pretty much sounds like it is, gave me all the more reason to think I wouldn't really enjoy it. I can't say I loved it, but the fact that I listen to the whole thing without it really bothering me, even enjoying some of the tracks and guitar riffs, says a lot about this album. I think overall it's pretty good.

Really unimaginative song writing, and the vocal delivery is so bad. It really annoyed me how he pronounced his words to try and make them fit the music! The way he says ‘Re-ignition’ was just plain irritating. I bet he makes silly faces when he sings too.

This was pretty standard U.S. punk fare. I wonder why America carried the torch for this genre for so long. This does not bring anything new either. The vocals o. Some songs were ok and on others, I wondered if he was having a fight with a steroid ridden cat. Not ideal.

I against this album

Had Tickets for them in 2026 but they sadly had to cancel :( Love it....OG Punk

Highlights: Re-Ignition, She’s Calling You

Utter shite. 1/5.

Raw and definitely needed to be hashed out further. Also the concept of having the singer do a verse from a prison phone isn't interesting enough to actually do.

I wanted to like it, but just not into it. Not terrible, just didn’t excite me.

I Against I blends hardcore, metal, and other styles in a way that feels ahead of its time, and it’s easy to see it as a precursor to later crossover or alternative rock. Many of the tracks lean heavily into metal, with tight riffs and even guitar solos, making it feel far beyond straightforward punk. Knowing that this came from an all-Black band in that era makes it even more striking. Personally, I still prefer the rawer energy of their earlier album Bad Brains, but this one stands out for its ambition and genre-blurring approach.

Pretty good. I enjoyed getting to hear a completely new to me album. It helps that this was a solid rock album, and it managed to be interesting the whole way.

A punk rock album I disliked less than plenty of others. The music here, particularly the guitar, is too 80s "rockin'" and the vocals were sort of atonal and annoying for me.

Hate it SO much.

I actually rlly liked it

I was wrong when I told you I was listening to this the other day. I was listening to the first Bad Brains album. What a step up from that this record is! The debut's mix of dub and hardcore felt like a cut'n'shunt, lacking the finessed blend of reggae and punk found in many a British post-punk band. But, while I Against I may never be elegant, there is real mastery over the gearstick; the dub bass and the metallic chugging feel natural together, the switches from thrashing hardcore to danceable new wave is well under control. When Billy Corgan says that Bad Brains was the only American punk band that he cared about, I understand what he means - those are genuine guitar solos, not one-note spatter patterns. However, having just listened to Bad Brains, the real revelation is H.R.'s voice, so much more expressive and dynamic. The lyrics might be political, religious, or conspiratorial - I'm not sure, I haven't taken them in yet - but he sings them with such a wide range of tics and traits. Oddly compelling. 3 This was a puzzler. Head thoroughly scratched and beard stroked almost to orderliness. Certainly there is an unexpectedly convincing stitching of disparate genres yet there is no sense of the exploitation of novelty in that aspect. I Against I does not seem to depend on it. I think there is a sustaining element however. There is an air of contradiction in many of these tracks - often when the singer intones the titles, but sometimes also in the bass or guitar riffs - a sense that the writers were convinced that this was an irresistible hook, bound to catch a listener’s attention when delivered just so, and simultaneously a sense that they just made this shit up on the spot. It’s strangely compelling without ever being pleasing. The result is a music that is never awful but always teetering on the brink - a high-wire act over an abyss where the wire is mere tolerability. Bad Brains: “How long do you think I can sustain that, your majesty?” Emperor Joseph II: “I have no idea.” Bad Brains: “Guess! Guess your majesty - Imagine the longest time such a thing could be sustained and then double it!” Emperor Joseph II: “Well…six..seven minutes. [Bad Brains gesture for bolder guesses] Emperor Joseph II: “8 minutes?” Bad Brains: “31 minutes! 31 minutes of continuously tolerable music - nothing definitively pleasant or unpleasant!” Well done Bad Brains. You have been touched by God. 2.5/5

Expected more of a punk screamy vibe but it’s way more melodic. Kind of dull but certainly listenable and not annoying.

Bad brain stopped the album halfway through. Not their best. Too subpar metal.

Get in the pit! This was a fun listen.

Bad voice for the music type

Best Song: I Against I. I would have rated the whole album higher had the whole thing sounded like this. Punk needs a tempo like this. Worst Song: Sacred Love. Too slow, didn't like the muffled vocals. Overall: It was decently fun, although I really expected it to be punkier than it was. I think for this specific genre, I find it difficult to appreciate older music because it lacks some of the intensity and punchiness of the modern derivatives.

El disco después de su primera separaciòn. Hardcore punk, funk, metal, de todo, y sobre todo pioneros (como los olvidados ARKane) I Against I, incluye todo esto y mucoo más en apenas media hora. Re-Ignition la conocemos por Matrix, que no es poco.

Erg tof in wat het voor de hardcore scene heeft betekend, maar afgezet tegen alles is het album zelf niet extreem boeiend, maar wel een leuke listen

Het was best alright.

Met de relatief veel matige (overwegend Britse) punkplaten in deze lijst steekt dit er met kop en schouders bovenuit. Wat een feest om te luisteren. Echt weer zo'n groep waar de legacy doordreunt in de meest succesvolle en interessante acts van dit moment.

pretty cool

I want to like this more just because it's the Bad Brains

а прикольно. даже хз пять поставить и пусть в профиле будет ??? я каторая металист нипоооон хдхд

Ass