Devil's Gate Music
Related Articles
When the world turns into a cataclysmic mess of political tension and objective uncertainty, the citizens who live under a constant, paranoiac fear all need an escape. For some, this escape can come in the form of a good book. For others, it can come in the form of a captivating film. But for most, escape comes in the form of music – an audible relief from the horrors of the real world.
Since 1999, Rise Against have reigned supreme for being melodic hardcore’s go-to political activists. The band that are not afraid to speak the truth, their truth, and fight for what’s right. Whether that be around issues surrounding politics, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and animal rights, Rise will always have something to say. And now, on their 10th studio album Ricochet, they have something to say about the state of today’s society and our “collective inter-connectedness,” as vocalist Tim McIlrath puts it – and they don’t exactly share their thoughts quietly…
Kicking things off with the album’s lead single Nod, the band waste no time in getting straight into things – over a low, heavy, droning chord, Tim takes a deep breath in and asks the listener “Tell me, where does the time really go? / Tell me, what is this moment we’re all waiting for?” The single has all the energy that you would come to expect from the band, smoothly transitioning from a steady rhythm in the verses to double-timed choruses, highlighting how spiky and heavy they have proven themselves to be. This sound and style continues into songs like Damage Is Done, which combines a groovy rhythm with a cruising guitar riff, culminating in a chorus that is practically begging to be sung back to them in arenas far and wide. The bridge was completely unexpected to me – coming in slow and heavy hitting, it sounded like classic tracks such as Prayer of the Refugee, and Savior. Guaranteed, there will NOT be a Rise Against fan that won’t like this track, it’s that good!
It’s obvious to note that the album presents Rise Against in a sound that isn’t necessarily traditional for the Chicago quartet. On the one hand, the record still has the punchiness and grit of their earlier material, but it also feels more mature and more constructed at the same time. It’s a mixture that OG fans of the band may be sceptical of on first listen, but will be easily won over by the time the album starts. The change in their formula is, in part, due to the fact that the band chose a brand new production team, including the recruitment of Boygenius & Frank Turner producer Catherine Marks, to differentiate the sound from their previous album, Nowhere Generation. It’s more evident on songs such as Gold Long Gone, for example – beginning with an acoustic intro that is melodically gentle, which is then joined by some beautiful piano in the background. It’s all calm and nice until drummer Brandon Barnes comes pounding in for the second chorus, all whilst Tim serenades us with “Tell me what the hell is going on / We’re digging in the mines from gold long gone / When everything we thought we always knew turns out wrong / How do we hold on?”
Ricochet is one of Rise Against’s strongest albums to date, and clearly showcases a band that acts as a well-oiled machine, one that refuses to slow down any time soon. Tim McIlrath went as far as to say that, with the band releasing their first double-digit album, they can “sort of do whatever we want to do” – and what they’ve done is create a record that is as fresh, strong, and sorely needed as their 2006 album The Sufferer and the Witness was upon release. Now in 2025, more than ever, the world needs Rise Against to be a voice of reason, a voice of hope, and a voice of rebellion for all of the shit that we see in the world today.
Ricochet is available August 15th on Loma Vista Recordings. More information, HERE.
Review – Joe Richardson
Rise Against Tour Dates
Sep 10 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater*
Sep 11 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater*
Sep 13 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater*
Sep 14 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center*
Sep 16 – Washington, DC – The Anthem*
Sep 17 – Virginia Beach, VA – The Dome*
Sep 19 – Allentown, PA – PPL Center*
Sep 20 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater*
Sep 23 – Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavilion*
Sep 24 – Maryland Heights, MO – Saint Louis Music Park*
Sep 26 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park*
Sep 27 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheater*
Sep 28 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre*
Sep 30 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP*
Oct 1 – Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheater*
Oct 3 – Charlotte, NC – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre*
Oct 4 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre*
Oct 5 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre*
*Rise of The Roach Tour
Connect with Rise Against
Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | X | YouTube
Photo credit: Mynxii White
