Regardless of what type you listen to – from pop-punk to hardcore – there is one thing every punk rock fan can agree on: punk music is best experienced live.

From the pounding drums to being pounded in the pit, there’s nothing like the blood, sweat and beers of a live performance.

“They’ve Actually Gotten Worse Live” is NOFX latest attempt at capturing that magic. Culminated from three drunken nights at Slim’s in San Francisco earlier this year, the band melodically rocks through songs from seven of their 10 studio albums, some rarities and some alternate versions, all while making sure not to repeat any songs from their last live album, 1995’s “I Heard They Suck Live.”

NOFX has managed, once again, to perfectly document their fast-paced live act, or what their record label has dubbed “talking mixed with the occasional song.” Anyone who has been to a NOFX show knows its equal parts music and amateur comedy hour; this album is no different. From naming an ice cream after lead singer/bassist Fat Mike (Chunky Drunky) to making fun of an audience member’s hair color (“It looks like your mom had an affair with Ronald McDonald”), it’s all there.

The jokes, however, aren’t the reason this group has been a band for nearly 25 years.

“They’ve Actually Gotten Worse Live” has a great mix of songs reaching as far back as “The Longest Line” EP on up to their latest studio album “Wolves in Wolves Clothing.”

Stand-out cuts include a mash-up version of “Scavenger Type” with “The War on Errorism” album track “Medio-core,” a dubbed-out version of “We March to the Beat of Indifferent Drum” and a fast version of “You’re Wrong.” The last has been a live staple for some time now, but had only been recorded as a slowed-down, acoustic version on the band’s “Never Trust a Hippy” EP until this point.

About mid-way into the album, the foursome kicks out the slow reggae jam “Eat the Meek.” I love the energy of a fast NOFX song as much as the next guy (maybe even more), but there’s something about this bands’ uncanny ability to rock it Jamaican style. Hearing this song made me want to grab a Red Stripe, bounce to the beat and periodically yell out “Shabba!” I guarantee the crowd had its lighters out for this one.

Next, the punkers crank through a medley of nine songs in six minutes. Starting with “Murder the Government,” Fat Mike changes the opening lyrics to “I want to see Dick Cheney have a heart attack, I want to see Jen and Barbara go to Iraq, I want to see our President do time,” cementing his distaste for the current administration once again. The rest of the arrangement consists mainly of b-side and EP cuts, including the rarity “I Wanna Be an Alcoholic.” It’s punk rock music at its finest, and fastest.

Fat Mike and the crew also blasted through a break-neck version of “Whoops, I OD’d.” This was already one of my favorite tracks as a slow song on “The War on Errorism” album, but the fast version packs an extra punch.

The only disappointing aspect of “They’ve Actually Gotten Worse Live” comes at the very end. For the band’s encore, Fat Mike makes his way back out on stage to play one last song, announcing, “I hope you enjoy it, ’cause it’s long.” With that, the band launches into their 18 minute opus “The Decline,” but fades to silence after two minutes; end of CD. Calling it a tease is an understatement.

All in all, NOFX has produced another classic live gem for the punk rock masses, proving for the umpteenth time they are the masters of their domain.

Jake Corbin can be reached at [email protected]