Release Date: March 15, 2011
In 2005, nearly all of the Gulf of Mexico was covered by a massive hurricane. As the people of New Orleans looked mouths agape to their city officials and federal government for a push in the right direction, Katrina was bearing down and gaining strength as she neared shore fall. The simple answer was “run and get out,” but no one could figure that one out on their own and as catastrophe struck, thousands were left to weather the storm. Once the swirling clouds cleared, New Orleans was submerged and many people’s lives were ultimately destroyed. What could be needed after such a chaotic and tragic event that could give the people a voice once again?
How about a song outlining the entire dilemma, written and performed by melodic Chicago hardcore natives Rise Against? “Help is on the Way” is only one of a dozen songs on their latest album Endgame that speaks in bounds about issues as the band sees them surrounding the world today. As an addition to the song, a video was released that chronicles a family’s recovery from Hurricane Katrina. To say the song is prolific is a gross understatement. The video paints an accurate picture of the struggle during the aftermath of such a grandly terrible event.
Having worked through five other studio albums, Rise Against is still on the books making waves and attempting to kick ass and take names as they spread a large swath of political views and personal feelings.
On their latest record, the band tackles current issues such as suicide in LGBTQ communities with a song called “Make it Stop (September’s Children).” They also continue to ride both the wave of endorsement of President Barack Obama and the damnation of former president Bush in a tune aptly named “A Gentleman’s Coup.”
The album cover reeks of typical Americana showing a blond-haired youngster in fields of grain (no doubt shot somewhere in the Midwest) draped in the Stars and Stripes and looking off to a rustic farmhouse. Rise Against exercises its First Amendment rights to their fullest extent and speaks by and large to create awareness of peoples civil liberties, animal cruelty and political activity. With American politics slammed in a bipartisan stalemate and the rest of the world as it is today, Rise Against will always have a target audience and a deep pool of material to pull from.
That said, there is no real progression in their music. There is no change in their sound and no real direction to their music other than stabbing the mainstream and making issues out of bad Fox News reporting. From start to finish, Rise Against’s latest album has the same flavor as any Nickelback, Finger Eleven or Killswitch Engage album. Their message holds meaning, but their sound is as cookie cutter as it gets. Sing-song hardcore bands are just like being on the high school football team—they’re a dime a dozen and once you’ve graduated, you’re just a name in a yearbook.
Ultimately, Rise Against preaches a solid case on the issues, but their message is draped behind a manufactured sound. The ideas behind these songs are lost in a whirlpool of generic guitar riffs and genre-typical delivery. It’s unfortunate they try to sound different and still manage to fit right in.
Rise Against – Endgame Tracklist:
- “Architects”
- “Help Is On the Way”
- “Make It Stop (September’s Children)”
- “Disparity By Design”
- “Satellite”
- “Midnight Hands”
- “Survivor Guilt”
- “Broken Mirrors”
- “Wait for Me”
- “A Gentlemen’s Coup”
- “This Is Letting Go”
- “Endgame”
