RISE AGAINST, those purveyors of whiny sing-alongs disguised as ‘punk rock,’ have graced us with a new single, “Ricochet,” from their upcoming album, also titled “Ricochet,” dropping this Friday on Loma Vista Recordings. Yes, folks, it’s been four long years since we were last subjected to their brand of faux-woke anthems, but fear not, they’re back to tell us how bad the world is in the most cliché way possible. Apparently, this 12-track masterpiece (lol) will “reaffirm” their role as beacons of artistic… something. Because, you know, the world needed more angst from a band that peaked in the early 2000s. They promise us it’s visceral and urgent, which probably means Tim McIlrath screams a lot and there are some generic guitar riffs. Buckle up, buttercups, because the revolution will be televised… and set to a mediocre soundtrack. 😴
Apparently, amidst all this “nationalist aggression and isolationism” (buzzwords, anyone?), “Ricochet”, the album, is going to deliver a profound message of… wait for it… “interconnectivity.” Groundbreaking. 🙄
According to RISE AGAINST‘s fearless leader, Tim McIlrath, who apparently moonlights as a profound philosopher, “We rely on each other, whether we like it or not.” Wow, deep. “Everything that you do will affect somebody.” Mind. Blown. 🤯 “We’re connected to other countries and other economies; we’re connected to undocumented immigrants.” Thanks, Tim, for that insightful observation. I thought we were all living on separate planets. “We are not as isolated as we think. What we do, good or bad, creates one big ricochet effect.” So, basically, the album title is a metaphor. Genius! Someone give this man a Nobel Prize… in Obviousness. 🏆
“Ricochet”, the song, apparently starts with “an undulating pattern of drum machine and acoustic guitar” before exploding into “another sky-rattling anthem.” Sky-rattling? Is that like when you accidentally set off car alarms in your neighborhood? Sounds about as exciting. It’s also accompanied by a “explosive performance video, juxtaposing self-absorption and self-destruction.” So… basically, a standard music video then? 🤔
Our lyrical genius, McIlrath, explains that while writing “Ricochet”, he envisioned “people dancing while bombs and bullets careened overhead.” Oh, the humanity! 😱 “That contrast – the obliviousness of joy against the backdrop of destruction – felt like the world we’re living in.” Someone get this man a thesaurus! He is using a lot of words to say absolutely nothing. The video, he adds, is about “how even our silence, even our detachment, carries weight.” So, if I don’t buy this album, I’m basically contributing to the apocalypse? Got it. 💯
Produced by Grammy winner Catherine Marks and mixed by Alan Moulder, “Ricochet” promises to balance “introspection with the incendiary” (whatever that means) and offer “righteousness without sanctimony” (good luck with that). Apparently, it chronicles our “collective unravelling.” Maybe they should just call it “2024: The Album.” 🤣 The title track follows the already-released gems like “I Want It All” (because who doesn’t?), “Prizefighter” (because boxing metaphors are always relevant), and “Nod”, which Rolling Stone hailed as “a particularly potent rallying cry for the moment.” Riiiiiight. Vice called it “the anthem we need right now.” I think we need a nap more than anything.😴 The rest of the album will tackle such original topics as apocalyptic scenarios, false promises, resisting blind allegiance, mental health, and the sensationalism of the algorithmic entertainment-industrial complex. So, you know, light and fluffy stuff.🌈
Taking “inspiration” from one of their “favorite literary works” (probably a fortune cookie), Tim McIlrath and his bandmates have apparently absorbed the maxim that “in a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” Because, you know, singing about generic angst is totally on par with, like, actual revolutionaries.🙄 This mantra has apparently “permeated” RISE AGAINST‘s “growing body of multi-gold and platinum hits.” Multi-gold? Platinum? Who are these people kidding? 😂
Fresh off their “triumphant return” to Vans Warped Tour (which is still a thing?), and after playing some arenas and headlining some festivals, RISE AGAINST is hitting the road again this fall. Get ready to mosh to the sound of recycled teenage rebellion!🤘
In the four years since their last attempt at relevance, “Nowhere Generation”, RISE AGAINST‘s “outspoken messages” and “bulletproof melodies” have apparently reached “more fans than ever.” Sure, Jan. Whether they’re singing about “injustice, instability, environmentalism, animal rights, or the way the social and economic decks have been stacked against the youth,” RISE AGAINST is still trying to convince us they’re not just another generic rock band. Good luck with that. 🙏
Here’s the track list for “Ricochet”, in case you want to avoid it:
01. Nod
02. I Want It All
03. Ricochet
04. Damage Is Done
05. Us Against The World
06. Black Crown
07. Sink Like A Stone
08. Forty Days
09. State Of Emergency
10. Gold Long Gone
11. Soldier
12. Prizefighter
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
