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RISE AGAINST
‘Nowhere Generation’
Album Review

(3rd June, 2021)

Reviewer – Brandon Valentine

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Photo – Wyatt Troll

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Social commentary and political provocation is at the heart and soul of every punk band and RISE AGAINST do not shy away from this in their new album NOWHERE GENERATION.

Drawing on the turmoil ridden landscape of the past 4 years for influence has yielded a set of anthemic tracks that carry a youthfully and aggravated spirit, filtered through a mature lens.

RISE AGAINST have long been a potent voice in the halls of punk, with a strong aggressive sound that calls on a broad breadth of influences both new and old. A sound that definitely has a place in the current zeitgeist.

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This is immediately exemplified in the opening cut ‘The Numbers’, stating its thematic purpose with a dark and dusty sample of nationalistic music. Once the song ramps into existence we are met with a relationship between vocals and instrumentation that reminds me of AFI.

All of this is centered around the core ideal; “They have the power; we have the numbers!” A call to action, to remind a populace that the power for change resides in their hands.

‘Sudden Urge’ changes thing up with a gritty 90’s attitude with some sweet major lifts and siren like whammy guitars that flow into a big melodic chorus the evokes memories of The Offspring’s ‘Gone Away’.

Humble clean guitars set the tone for the title track ‘Nowhere Generation’, acting as a bed for harmonized anthem like vocals that are begging to be chanted by a live audience. You can truly see this is the thematic lynch pin of the album. A tune that speaks on the bleak circumstances that are brutally and forcefully heaved upon the shoulders of the young, no chance of achieving stability due to the way in which our system is rigged. It’s a prominent and important issue that needs to be addressed and seeing it represented in art always warms my heart.

Though I do have to say, that the instrumentation and overall sonic nature of this track doesn’t fully match the intensity of the issues brought forth by the lyrics, but it still nicely acts as a communal chant that brings levity to a grim reality.

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‘Broken Dreams Inc’ is a solid window into the production values of the album; the bass is gritty and round with a throaty EQ and the guitars, whilst seeming distorted and aggressive, are actually rather clean with just the right amount of dust. This gives the sound it’s size without compromising the integrity of the mix. Tight, clean and mean is the only way I can describe the drum tone. For a band like RISE AGAINST, with many swifter passages, the dry mix works in the bands favour, keeping the sound tight. The flip side is that it can leave a hollow amount of air when the song slows down to a sweeter more intimate moment.

The opening of ‘Forfeit’ is an example of this… but with all honesty this is a music reviewer splitting hairs. The storytelling of this track still shines through and has a earnest maturity, complimented by subtle strings that build throughout the song, allowing vocalist Tim McIlrath to hammer home the mantra ‘I will not give up’.

‘Monarch’ bursts into existence in such stark contrast to Forfeit’s gentle refrain that I damn near got whiplash and that’s not a band thing… well whiplash is, avoid that if you can help it. Wear a seatbelt kids!

BUT! Sonic contrast is a brilliant tool used to convey immediacy and it is well employed here, highlighting a solid, punk energy that brings Propagandi to mind.

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Buy/Stream NOWHERE GENERATION HERE

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This raw energy continues through ‘Sounds Like’. Mixing melodiously singable vocals with some thrashier picking patterns (particularly in the bridge) and culminating in a girthy tom driven chorus.

The vibe takes a little bit of a back seat with ‘Sooner or Later’. It fails to rocket off or state its purpose as vehemently as the other tracks, until the heavy and cathartic bridge tears its way into existence, albeit briefly. This tone is very much continued through ‘Middle of a Dream’.

As the album draws to it’s finale we are hit with ‘Rules of Play’. This is a track for the old heads that grew up with these tones in their ears. It’s more chaotic, has a darker harmony structure and harnesses the aggression of the genre. It’s a brilliant bit of nastiness to end on, particularly for an album so doused in political fury.

If you are sucker for the significantly socially spirited sonic landscapes of the mid – late 00’s, this album is gloriously imbued with them. It also has the added bonus of being thematically relevant and focusing on the here and now.

This album is a killer listen that plays the paces well, ebbing and flowing with dynamics yet still keeping a youthful angst with a mature viewpoint.

I give this 7 raised fists out 10.

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Follow RISE AGAINST

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AMNPLIFY – DB