Up next on the chopping block is a band that is one that I’ve seen open for a few other bands and on festivals like Warped Tour and Aftershock. The band on the chopping block is Rise Against and while they are a good band live, I’ve never gone to one of their headlining shows. So with that, let’s take a look………….
The Unraveling- I know that these guys are classified as a punk band but this album doesn’t really feel like a punk album. Sure there are punk elements but this is more of an alternative punk album. The problem I have is that this album has a lot of songs and a lot of them are filler. After a while, they all start to sound the same. It’s not a bad album but it could be shorter. I’ll give it a 7/10
Standouts: Great Awakening, Everchanging, The Art Of Losing
Revolutions Per Minute- again I feel like this one is like the last album. Too long with a lot of filler and actually it feels like a continuation of the previous album. I don’t know this is one of those albums that you could put on in the background and you wouldn’t really miss anything. Another 7/10
Standouts: Heaven Knows, Last Chance Blueprint, Torches
Siren Song Of The Counter Culture- I remember when this album came out because I saw these guys on a tiny little stage at like 10 in the morning at a Warped Tour and remember thinking they were pretty good. After that, I feel like the song Swing Life Away was always on KROQ. Anyway, this album is definitely a huge step up from the previous two. They are definitely more dialed in and tighter. I’ll give this album a 9/10
Standouts: Life Less Frightening, State Of The Union, Tip The Scales
The Sufferer & The Witness- ok so this is one of those albums where they are in top form. Like this is absolutely them bringing their A game. This is such a great album the faster songs are great and even the slower songs are pretty damn good. If you are gonna pick a quintessential Rise Against album, this might be the one. I’m gonna give this one 10/10
Standouts: Injection, Behind Closed Doors, Ready To Fall
Appeal To Reason- I don’t want to say that this is a B-Sides album from the last one but it sort of feels like it in parts. Yes this does feel like a continuation of the last album and there are moments where it almost feels like a companion album. I don’t know it’s kinda hard to describe. I guess what I’m trying to say is that it’s a good album just not as strong as Sufferer or Siren Song. I’ll give this one 8/10
Standouts: Long Forgotten Sons, From Heads Unworthy, The Dirt Whispered
Endgame- I do remember the song Help Is On The Way always being played on the radio and I remember thinking that in a sea of crappy songs this was a nice change of pace. As far as the rest of the album goes, it’s just ok. It’s not bad but kind of forgettable. I’ll give it 6/10
Standouts: Architects
Long Forgotten Songs B: Sides and Covers- just as the title describes, this is just a collection of B Sides and covers from 2000-2013. The covers are pretty good. There’s a Black Flag cover, and a pretty good cover of Nirvana’s Sliver as well as songs from Soundtracks. Overall, pretty good compilation album and I’ll give it 8/10
Standouts: Sliver, Death Blossoms, Obstructed View
The Black Market- again like with some of their earlier albums, this one is just ok. It’s good not great, it’s kinda slower compared to an album like Siren Song. Overall, it’s average. There are some great moments and some forgettable ones. I’ll give it 7/10
Standouts: Tragedy+Time, Zero Visibility, The Great Die-Off
Wolves- I can tell that they’re maybe trying to go back to more of their hardcore sound but it’s just not the same. This one I feel like again is just an ok album. It’s good but not great. Not much else to say about this one. Didn’t really care for it that much. I’ll give it a 6/10
Standouts: Wolves, House On Fire
Nowhere Generation- this one is definitely their slowest album yet and I gotta say I’m not a huge fan of the slower albums. The songs are just forgettable and average. Overall, just an album that kinda falls flat. I’ll give this one 5/10
Standouts:
This is a band that if they are on a festival like Aftershock are a nice addition. I actually forgot that they were playing when I went and it was nice seeing them play a lot of songs off of Sufferer. Other than that, I’m not so sure if I would see them headline their own show. If you haven’t seen them yet I would recommend it but they really are a better opener. Now as far as the albums are concerned, there are some really good ones but as a whole, their albums are just ok.
Final Grade: C+
Album Rankings:
- The Sufferer & The Witness
- Siren Song Of The Counter Culture
- Appeal To Reason
- Long Forgotten Songs B: Sides and Covers
- The Black Market
- Revolutions Per Minute
- The Unraveling
- Wolves
- Endgame
- Nowhere Generation
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