Rise Against

The jewel case of Rise Against’s “Appeal to Reason” is adorned with the post-apocalyptic silhouettes of ruined cities, a few left-wing movie recommendations, and a quote from Pablo Picasso—“No, painting is not done to decorate apartments. It is an instrument of war.” Rise Against is at war. They have drawn the lines of battle, chosen the side of the downtrodden, selected their weapon of choice, and illustrated the stakes—namely, everything.

Even from the packaging, it’s apparent that Rise Against has no qualms about mixing their two passions, music and politics. The beginning of the selected Picasso quote reads, “What do you think an artist is? An imbecile who only has eyes, if he is a painter, or ears if he is a musician…” Rise Against feels that in order to be responsible, the artist must be socially aware. But in the case of a band this fiercely progressive, one wonders whether the music is revolutionary enough to be an adequate vehicle for the message.

Rise Against is a four-piece punk rock band from Chicago consisting of singer Tim McIlrath, guitarist Zach Blair, bassist Joe Principe, and drummer Brandon Barnes. Over the course of five albums, they have successfully moved from indie to major label while gaining fame and acclaim along the way.

On “Appeal to Reason,” Rise Against is in a constant state of urgency. The single “Re-Education (Through Labor)” makes a promise to those in charge: “We sweat all day long for you / But we sow seeds to see us through… / We wait to reap what we are due.” On “Hero of War,” Rise Against goes acoustic with a first-person account of a remorseful soldier who asks his son, “Son / Have you seen the world? / Well, what would you say / If I said that you could.” Even on infectious track “Savior,” a song about soured relationships, Tim McIlrath’s lyrics are a swirl of desperation, uncertainty, and dissatisfaction.

Throughout “Appeal to Reason,” Rise Against wield their instruments as weapons against those who are squandering tomorrow for their selfish desires today. Particularly of note is McIlrath, who rides the band’s layered guitar melodies with confident vocals and throat-shredding screams when their energy crests.

However, the production on “Appeal to Reason” serves to undermine not only the intensity with which Rise Against performs but also the spirited anthems they have to deliver. They play resistance rock for the picket line and protest march. “Appeal to Reason” should have a sound that frays around the edges, bursts with power, and inspires. Unfortunately, the production is too clean, too compressed, and too lifeless. It is akin to a protest where everyone marches in strict formation and chants in unison.

Sadly, the music is also lacking. The punk rock sound on “Appeal to Reason” has been worn out by many a band before, including Rise Against themselves. Economical three-chord punk with infectious vocal melodies is growing old and boring. On their seminal 1998 album, “The Shape of Punk to Come,” Swedish hardcore punk band Refused asked of punk rock, “How can we expect anyone to listen, if we’re using the same old voice?”

On “Appeal to Reason,” Rise Against is genuine. Whether they take the side of the downtrodden worker, the jilted lover, or the regretful soldier, their sincerity is never in question. The music just doesn’t sound vibrant or innovative enough to fully express what they have to tell us. It is a shame that a band earnest enough to issue biodegradable CD cases made of 100% recycled material must play recycled music as well.