 The album was released May 15 , 2009 through Reprise Records . Armstrong has described the album as a " snapshot of the era in which we live as we question and try to make sense of the selfish manipulation going on around us , whether it be the government , religion , media or frankly any form of authority " . The singles " Know Your Enemy " and " 21 Guns " exemplify the themes of alienation and politically motivated anger present in the record . 
