Chicago’s RISE AGAINST have followed the path of so many before them. Born from the break-up of older punk rock bands, they recorded and self-released their debut EP, released a few albums still lauded in the scene on a well respected punk label and eventually signed to a major, alienating a few fans in the process with a ‘change in sound’.
Still, with everything between 2001’s ‘The Unravelling’ and 2008’s ‘Appeal To Reason’, Rise Against have been nothing but one of the most interesting punk bands on the planet. Even those a little lost in the wilderness with respect to their last output might just want to give ‘Endgame’ a go.
Tim McIlrath’s vocals are, of course, signatory of the band and throughout the record, he’s on the best of forms. Musically, it reaches much further back into ‘old’ Rise Against than the band have done for a while and that may just do enough to quieten the harshest sceptics.
Much of ‘Endgame’ feels like the band have taken nods from Bad Religion and Propagandhi‘s recent output and anyone who tells you that’s a bad thing probably isn’t entitled to an opinion anyway. ‘Help Is On The Way’ is incredible, as are tracks like ‘Survivor Guilt’ and ‘Satellite’, and for a band that gets the stick Rise Against do for changing their sound, they’re still much, much better than 99% of the dirge out there at the moment. ‘Endgame’ is built on fine credentials and having songs that are actually about something never did anyone any harm either.
TOM AYLOTT