Nowhere Generation-Rise Against Album Review:

 

Rise Against is back with their ninth album “Nowhere Generation” their first original album in four years as their last release was a compilation album of previous works done differently.  This album’s theme was summed up by lead singer Tim Mcllarth who said “Today there is the promise of the American Dream, and then there is the reality of the American Dream. America’s ‘historical norm’ that the next generation will be better off than the one that came before has been diminished by an era of mass social, economic and political instability and a sell-out of the middle class. The brass ring that was promised by hard work and dedication no longer exists for everyone. When the privileged climb the ladder of success and then burn it from the top, disruption becomes the only answer.”

The opening track “Numbers” has an odd opening of a war time video promoting the war efforts, but then it has it familiar rocking out sound with lyrics talking about we  have the numbers to protest the wrongs in the world but we don’t have the real power that’s an illusion. While “Sudden Urge” rocks out with an interesting life question “Is anything reformable or should we just burn it down”? The track title “Nowhere Generation” deals with the politics/social economics how big business/politicians have stacked the cards against millennials/gen z’s pursuit of the American dream.

Tracks “Talking to ourselves”, “Sounds like”, “Middle of a dream” and “Rules of play” all are in their wheelhouse of songs that really rock out but have catchy or meaningful lyrics that are sang well by Mcllrath. The track “Broken dreams, Inc” was released for a DC Comics soundtrack for the comic “Dark Knights: Death Metal(Batman)" and it really rocks out but talks about how hard the middle class/poor work for their dreams that don’t end up happening. There are two other songs that rock like the rest does but they are like some of their older work that ventures on the heavy metal side with really fast paced lyrics like “Monarch” or “Sooner or later”, which is a great but very emotional song with a little screaming in it. The remaining track “Forfeit” is unlike the rest as it’s strictly an acoustic/quiet really good emotional track, they have done acoustic songs but it’s not their forte.

This Chicago rock band has at times been a little too heavy metal but most of the time they have great lyrics that make a point while rocking out like always. This album does a great job at rocking out and achieving the goal of riling people up, and making them realize the inequality of the world in which we live in. They are right we are living in a “Nowhere Generation” and despite being twenty years in they still have fire in them to start a revolution which we all need now.