CD Review: Rise Against's "Appeal To Reason

Chicago, Ill.'s political punk rock kings of Rise Against are back with their fifth studio album "Appeal To Reason," the follow- up to the hugely successful 2006 release "The Sufferer and The Witness."Combining the punk street cred of bands like Bad Religion with the hardcore elements of older bands like Minor Threat and Black Flag, Rise Against creates a sound that is not only enjoyable, but intelligent and engaging. It's this second factor that sets Rise Against apart from so many punk bands and their radio counterparts - the ability to create music that is both sonically pleasing and socially conscious.

"Appeal To Reason" is a natural progression for a band that has been straying from its heavier roots for a few albums. Instead of focusing on fast-paced songs and angst, Rise Against often turns to mid-paced songs to flesh out "Appeal," and while these songs are not bad, they leave something to be desired at some points.

The album kicks off with the biting, punk-beat backed "Collapse (Post-Amerika)." A ringing, distorted guitar leads to a quick spun opening riff and brief guitar solo by new lead guitarist Zach Blair before blasting in to the full song. Lead singer/ guitarist Tim McIlrath keeps pace with the fast drumbeat before slowing down a bit for the infectious chorus singing, "This is not a test/ Oh no, this is cardiac arrest." The opener is very similar to Rise Against's punk-inspired past work and sets the album off on a strong point.

Much in the same vein of the first single from "The Sufferer And The Witness," "Ready To Fall," comes the third track, "Re-Education (Through Labor)," the lead single of this album. A slow, driving verse leads to a chorus backed by excellent riffs and a simple drumbeat. The song climaxes with a powerful bridge that couples McIlrath's rough vocals with a subtle building drum and guitar combination until it blasts into its roaring conclusion.

"The Dirt Whispered" does the best job showing that Rise Against is OK with letting the faster riffs and screamed vocals of its past take a back seat in favor of simpler song arrangements that do not sacrifice any of the sophistication that the band is known for.

Despite this, at times it does seem like Rise Against holds back a bit of its aggression that helped to create the unique sound that the band is known for. In particular, the middle section of "Appeal" drags on a bit too long, muddled with slower paced songs that begin to blend in to one another. Tracks like "From Heads Unworthy," "The Strength To Go On," and "Audience Of One" all leave something to be desired after completion.

Not helping this situation is the fairly basic instrumentation on these tracks. Previous lead guitarist Chris Chasse had used clean sections of guitar playing and interesting riffs to great effect on the bands last album, but his replacement, Blair, fails to continue this progression, often opting to stick with more basic lead parts than seen on earlier Rise Against work. McIlrath, however, is a bright spot throughout the album. His lyrics are as intelligent and poignant as ever, and though he does not have an incredible vocal range, his vocals are still impressive throughout.

Thankfully, Rise Against shakes up the formula with a few of the ending tracks. The most telling song on the album is the appropriately titled "Entertainment," discussing the dilemma faced by a political band that has hit the spotlight. McIlrath struggles with the idea that his radical ideas have been commercialized and worries that the importance of the message will be lost. "Hero of War" suddenly strips the album down to its core, with an acoustic driven song that beautifully tells the stories of several soldiers in the Iraq War.

"Savior" finally kicks the pace of "Appeal" into full gear. A slow talking vocal piece and palm muted guitar open the song before it begins to fire on all cylinders, implementing Blair's slickest guitar work to date and drummer Brandon Barnes' best work on the album. McIlrath breaks the pace for a bridge to give the listener time to breath before hammering out a fast paced ending.

The closing tracks "Hairline Fracture" and "Whereabouts Unknown" finish the album on strong notes.

Tip-toeing the line between underground and mainstream for its last several albums, Rise Against have slightly toned down the punk influences on this record, making it more accessible. This formula is hit or miss throughout the album. At some points, Rise Against is able to craft a stunning melodic hardcore/ punk album that is heavy at the right times and soft when it needs to be. Unfortunately the record is also plagued by songs that sound too similar and drag on especially in the middle of the album.

Ultimately, "Appeal To Reason" is an enjoyable listen, with many noteworthy songs, but considered as a whole it fails to match the extremely high level of promise that Rise Against showed on "The Sufferer And The Witness." Though the progression towards a more rock influenced sound that the band is making is not bad, some of Rise Against's energy and originality is lost in the translation.