“You can ask me to leave, but I will stay.”
The youthfully invigorating spirit of America’s rebellious underground has been one of the few constants through periods of fluctuating cultural variance. No matter the state of localized or global affairs, there is always something worth fighting for. Chicago punk rock legends Rise Against have been the modern sonic poster children of this movement for quite a while. With over twenty years removed from The Unraveling, Revolutions per Minute, and Siren Song of the Counter Culture, their productivity hasn’t slowed. On their latest showing with Ricochet, Rise Against proves, if even to a noticeably lesser extent, that they still have plenty to say.
Conceptually, Ricochet coincides with the lyrical track record of Tim McIlrath with a much larger impact radius. Their prior work, specifically Appeal to Reason, focused on the most pressing issues facing the United States. Whether it has more to do with increasing geopolitical tensions or frustration with world governments, McIlrath has thematically designated Ricochet to the ethos of mass unity against apathetic and nefarious leadership. If any aspect of Ricochet stands to be more ambitious than Rise Against’s usual style of punk, it’s undoubtedly ingrained in the album’s messaging.
Ricochet, as many will realize very quickly, doesn’t quite pack the forceful sensory punch that Rise Against has become renowned for. McIlrath, along with stringers Zach Blair and Joe Principe, has defaulted to a much more anthematic means of delivery in this instance. “I Want It All” and “Prizefighter” exhibit chant-worthy characteristics, whilst “Forty Days”, “State of Emergency”, and “Sink Like A Stone” are slow-burning in structure. Although irregular for a band that has historically prided itself on derivative heaviness and fast-paced aggression, this isn’t to say a move to arena rock-adjacent ideals doesn’t suit Rise Against. Ricochet contains plenty of familiar riff work, buildups, and crisp drumming courtesy of Brandon Barnes, mainstream compositional qualities notwithstanding.
Just as apparent as the decrease in classic punk rock elements is Rise Against’s shift to a higher standard of production. Normally, this goes a long way in terms of maximizing the euphonious mass of a record. Yet with Ricochet, it often feels rather ostentatious and detracts from the potential weight each song could have otherwise had. McIlrath’s signature vocals are regrettably muzzled over with radio effects and distortion in too many cases. Combined with layers of engineering that result in the majority of Ricochet sounding too perfect, Rise Against’s raw sensibilities are few and far between. This essentially acts as a double-edged sword on the basis that a decidedly shinier brand of mixing fits well for what is a more reserved iteration, but will be justifiably anathematic for those who have been accustomed to Rise Against’s sustained approach up to this point.
Rise Against are not old by any means, but neither are they young anymore. Despite the prevailing embers of Father Time continuing to encroach, Ricochet nonetheless displays plenty of signs that the Chicago punk quintet has a lot left in the tank. Had the production been more “flawed” and the music a bit more driven, there would be grounds for yet another quintessential Rise Against record. Whatever the case, it is damn clear that Rise Against have no intention of leaving us anytime soon, as the themes of Ricochet demonstrate that beyond any doubt. While venturing outside of their comfort zone is to be commended, here’s hoping that whenever punk’s revolutionary sweethearts return, it’s back to being the anarchists so many of us have come to love.
6/10
Ricochet releases on August 15 via Loma Vista and can be pre-ordered here.