As a certified Warped Tour kid I’ve always had a deep appreciation for some of the more veteran punk rock acts that are still going strong and cranking out meaningful music. Much like their contemporaries Bad Religion and Hot Water Music, the Chicago-based hardcore punk outfit Rise Against has carved out a really nice career for themselves as a respected veteran outfit who can headline a tour or take part in a multi-band festival and still draw. Appeal to Reason was probably their most commercially successful release and represented somewhat of a turning point for the band where they adopted a higher production sound that still remained heavy and true to their roots. Put another way, this is a band who perfected the songwriting craft that sounded like anthems for the underground– Tim McIlrath’s distinctive vocal timbre and socially conscious lyrics, the double stacked guitars, Zach Blair’s borrowing of classic rock lead hooks and solos, and the rock steady rhythm section of bassist Joe Principe and drummer Brandon Barnes. Come for the soaring melodies of “Savior” but stay for some of their deep cuts like “The Strength To Go On” which have aged flawlessly.
Standout Songs: “Collapse (Post-Amerika)”, “Re-Education Through Labor”, “From Heads Unworthy”, “Savior”, “The Strength To Go On”
