As with most punk bands, Rise Against has always strived to have their music make a statement about the world we live in. But where most artists struggle to make their voices loud and clear, Rise Against has continued to come out on top with their catchy hooks, melodies, and aggressive movements with fast-paced tempos. It’s very evident why they’ve managed to continually defy the odds of your typical punk band over the last 20 years, landing them 5 consecutive albums in the top 10 of Billboard’s 200 albums charts.
The band’s 9th studio album, Nowhere Generation, shines light on the social and economical hurdles stacked against the younger generations as they attempt to chase after the idea of The American Dream. A topic that seems to be brushed off by many, while in reality it’s going to have an even bigger effect on the generations to come. An example of this is in the song, Sooner or Later. You can feel the urgency the band is trying to convey with lyrics like ‘And soon we’ll feel the panic/ In our breath and in our veins / When you know there’s no tomorrow / And you’ve realized it’s too late’ and ‘Sooner or later/ Comes a time when we will reap what we have sown’. It really drives the message home that if we don’t address the situation at hand, it will spirals to the point where nothing can be done.
Musically, it’s very clear that the band has mastered the craft of blurring the lines between punk-rock and pop throughout their career, and it definitely shines through on this album. Between the catchy hooks, energetic guitar riffs and thunderous drums, this album is very refreshing and compelling.
In a time where everything is dark & gloomy due to the pandemic and live music has been put on hold for the last year and a half, Nowhere Generation is the breath of fresh air that everyone needs. I honestly can’t remember the last time an album has made me feel the feelings that Nowhere Generation has. It’s an album that needs to be played to the masses in an arena, and is filled with anthems that will likely become a powerful voice for the generations to come.
Nowhere Generation will be available on June 4th via Loma Vista Recordings. Pre-order your copy here
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