Bad Religion has been around — in one form or another — for 27 years.

Members have exited and come back to the fold. The band has experimented with pharmaceuticals (individually) and Todd Rundgren (collectively).

One member, Greg Graffin, is a UCLA life-science professor with a Cornell University Ph.D. in evolutionary paleontology. Another, Brad Gurewitz, owns and runs the band's legendary indie-punk label, Epitaph.

But before you call the SoCal godfathers of hard-core punk "geezers," consider this: They know it, don't care and could probably stomp you silly for saying it.

Bad Religion is the thinking headbanger's angry, uncompromising militant punk band. And — bonus! — you can sort of sing along to their music.

Young skate punks still love 'em. And rather than rest on the love the underground still gives its 14-album catalog of tunes, Bad Religion released one of its finest CDs this year, "New Maps of Hell."

"Bad Religion is still dope," said 19-year-old Ellie Martinez, a Honolulu fan and regular at local indie band shows. "They've had some tough times and some seriously crappy albums. But with (members) all fully in again, the music is as relevant as ever."

Consider yourself a Religion zealot? Here are five discs no fan should be without, and two to avoid.

'SUFFER' (1988)

Bad Religion's first great album happened only after guitarist Gurewitz and bassist Jay Bentley briefly split, then returned inspired. It's one of the underground SoCal punk scene's most revered recordings.

Essential track: "Do What You Want" '80-85' (1990)

Collects all the essentials — "We're Only Gonna Die" and three versions of "Bad Religion" — from discs recorded before "Suffer." It's a great introduction to the band — out of print, but available on iTunes.

Essential track: "(Expletive) Armageddon ... This is Hell"

'STRANGER THAN FICTION' (1994)

Still the band's top seller — moving more than a half-million in the U.S. — and most "hit" filled. At the peak of grunge, Bad Religion defiantly sticks to its hard-core roots and creates a landmark modern punk manifesto.

Essential track: "21st Century" (Digital Boy)

'THE EMPIRE STRIKES FIRST' (2004)

The Bush administration's deepening quagmire in Iraq inspires an unhinged rage in Graffin's vocals and lyrics that was largely absent or unfocused during the band's post-"Stranger" years on Atlantic. Back on Epitaph, Bad Religion is at its modern melodiously indignant best.

Essential track: "Los Angeles is Burning"

'NEW MAPS OF HELL' (2007)

Though busting out guns blazing with even more rage against the current political machine, the band keeps its attack remarkably intelligent and focused as always. Three decades after it began, hard-core punk's best still makes all that thrash sound fresh.

Essential track: "New Dark Ages"

'NO SUBSTANCE' (1998)

The worst of the band's discs for Atlantic sounds rambling and uninspired. Bad Religion's usually tight sociopolitical lyricism is mind-numbingly pointless and bloated. The title speaks for itself.

'THE NEW AMERICA' (2000)

Graffin hero/'70s pop genius Todd Rundgren produced it but didn't get along with the band. If someone "saw the light," this would've gone unreleased.

Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com.