Send "Rise Against " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Absolutepunk |
 During the bridge of "Architects," the opening track off Rise Against's latest record, Endgame, frontman Tim McIlrath sings, "Don't you remember when you were young / And you wanted to set the world on fire? / Somewhere deep down / I know you do." One interpretation of this line is that McIlrath is singing about someone who lost a passion or a fire that they had when they were younger.Well, when Rise Against were younger, they played aggressive, desperate and earnest punk music. Beginning with The Unraveling, through Revolutions Per Minute and Siren Song of the Counter Culture, and then with The Sufferer and the Witness, Rise Against was one of the biggest punk bands on the planet. The last-mentioned of those records spawned a couple of big hits and led into Appeal to Reason, which saw the band taking on a more accessible feel. Meanwhile, the band grew bigger than ever, headlining a tour with Rancid, a band that McIlrath called "the best punk band in the world" at a show in Orlando, as support. But with Rise Against's sixth studio album and second for DGC/Interscope, McIlrath and Co. seem as though they might have lost a bit of the passion or fire they had when they had more to prove. The record isn't bad, it's actually enjoyable. But the band has continued in its trend toward becoming more of a hard rock band and less of the punk icon it used to be. The moments where the band's traditional punk sound comes through are fewer and further in between than on any of their other releases. On the opener, McIlrath's undeniably catchy vocals reel you in while lead guitarist Zach Blair shows off several memorable riffs. But the production is heavy, the bridge is predictable, and overall, while the song is good, it seems as though Rise Against could have written this song better a few years ago. After "Architects," listeners are introduced to lead single "Help Is On the Way," which comes across as one of the more bland tracks on Endgame. The intro riff is a bit weak and the verses are somewhat reminiscent of "Re-Education (Through Labor)" from Appeal to Reason. There isn't much to get excited about until the second half of the song, where McIlrath unleashes a few beastly screams in the bridge....full text |
| Bigcheesemagazine |
| The sixth full-length from Chicago’s paradoxical punks who deliver hammer blow after hammer blow with the understated violence of an unseen (but mercifully not unheard) assassin. Rise Against run the gamut of issues from politics through to war, homophobia and bigotry plus a shed-load of personal soul-baring and pummel the lot with a metal fist in a velvet glove. The melodies, vocal delivery and harmonies bob and weave on a torrid undercurrent of aggressive skate punk drumming, punk-shred guitar and an urgent message. Regardless of if it is a chorus of childrens’ voices leading into a thundering drumming onslaught or a metal-esque riff blending to a melodic ode and back again, each and every song on this album is barely controlled fury delivered to perfection with a feeling that almost literally smacks you around the face. If ‘Endgame’ was meant to be anywhere near prophetic in relation to this band it would be little short of a tragedy...full text |
| Bloodtobleed |
| There are bands in this world that can do no wrong. The likes of NoFX, Bad Religion, Dropkick Murphys, Rancid and so on are staples of the age old opinion of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. Now Rise Against can sit alongside these famous names of punk rock royalty and share in the notion that there isn’t any point of messing with a winning formula. There is never any disappointing factor to a Rise Against album and Endgame is no different. All the ingredients are there: the double-time drum beats pounding into the heart and skull, Tim McIlrath’s rage-filled screams tearing through the soul and the guitar wizardry from Zach Blair’s six strings. Endgame is essentially the bastard son of it’s predecessor Appeal To Reason. Rise Against have ditched the ambience acoustic pieces and turned back to the simplistic hardcore punk. Opening track Architects is the Chicago four-piece at their best. Beautifully crafted with the snarl of McIlrath’s voice breaking into a driving choruses designed to tear down the foundations of the biggest stadium or the dingiest punk rock dive. Even though we waved with a V-sign goodbye to George Bush back in 2008 this is a band still aggrieved of what has become of “their America”. Endgame is the story of civilizations doomsday. New single Help Is On The Way, a track inspired ftom the fallout of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, is complimented by guitar stabs for every balled fist pounding in the air where Make It Stop (September’s Children) is a heartfelt tale addressing the gay suicides of September 2010. The haunting undertone of each child’s name being read out as a deranged obituary is an excellent touch. Rise Against are still angry and Endgame touches on every emotional topic that rankles with this band ranging from being disenchanted with the ‘American Dream’ in Satellite and their struggle with the pressure of fame in This Is Letting Go....full text |
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