Rise Against - 'Ricochet' Album Review

Sean Friswell
Jun 11
3 min read

Tracklist:

Nod
I Want It All
Ricochet
Damage Is Done
Us Against The World
Black Crown
Sink Like A Stone
Forty Days
State Of Emergency
Gold Long Gone
Soldier
Prizefighter

American punk rock band, Rise Against, are about to release their new album, 'Ricochet', on July 18th on Lorna Vista records. As a band who have always been very clear about their beliefs and who have never shied away from challenges. The current political and economic upheaval in their native country and around the world makes this a perfect time for them to release their new album.

For me this album is more towards the rockier end of their sound, less punk, more anthemic at times. The songs make use of sweeping chords, the percussion sounds like it could be taken from some great rock albums and the lyrics and singing feel like they are striving to both lift us up while at the same time trying its best to make us think about everything that’s going on in this mixed up world we live in and encouraging us, where we feel we should, to resist some of the changes.

I think it’s an album full of expressions of frustration, of passion and of the need to express generally. It’s the kind of album that could very well find the band a much wider audience, it’s pushing some boundaries, and will sound amazing live.

This album has been produced by Catherine Marks and mixed by Alan Moulder, and I do wonder if they may have brought some of their experience from other bands they have worked with in the past as there are hints of unexpected influences in these songs.

One thing you can say about each song here is that this is a band 100% committed to what they’ve produced, they really aren’t pulling punches but at the same time there are some hints of despair, there are some musings on whether it’s already too late to resist some of the changes in the world.

The album looks out at what’s happening in the world while retaining a very introspective side to it. It wants the listener to resist, to fight, to push for what’s right in this world while recognising that this is a time when we really need to look after ourselves, to make sure we are aware of the toll that fighting for what we believe in can take on you. The overall theme for me is of fatigue mixed with defiance, I get the impression that the band feel some battles had been won and are now needing to be fought again, that can be very draining for all involved. 'Gold Long Gone' sums this feeling very well.

There are a number of stand out tracks on the album, but it is a tremendous, consistent, body of work. It almost feels wrong to focus on individual tracks but I’m going to anyway. 'Nod', 'I Want It All', 'Damage is Done', 'State of Emergency', the afore mentioned 'Gold Long Gone' and 'Prizefighter' are my personal favourites, each different, each insistent in their own way, each totally relevant to different feelings and thoughts I’ve had. This is, quite possibly the best album Rise Against have released because it is a call to action while understanding that call does not come without a price, a level of maturity and self-awareness that means this is consistently, arguably, their best body of work.

It's not until July but there are singles leading up then, this is going to quickly become one of those albums you wear out playing if you have a physical copy. If you stream expect this to appear in your end of year wrap up. If you haven’t preordered it already, what are you waiting for, go, now and get ready to hear how good it will be live!