Rise Against
Appeal to Reason

THE REVIEW

After a beginning that barely does justice to the word "beautiful" with "Revolution Per Minute" and two masterpieces "Siren Song Of The Counter Culture" and "The Sufferer And The Witness," Rise Against had the bright idea of changing their style, more or less... the album is less hard and angry than their earlier works, a softening of tones, but this takes a backseat if the CD is well-made. The only problem is that Tim no longer screams like he used to, and this is the major issue with the album.

Although I have to say that the opener "Collapse (Post-Amerika)" misled me into believing nothing had changed from the past, indeed it is the song that most calls back to "The Sufferer And The Witness." Another track that recalls the previous work, albeit slightly differently, is "Kotov Syndrome," which is very beautiful and fast.

Even though the album could be summarized in two songs "Re-education (Through Labor)" and "Audience of One" which, not by coincidence, are two singles, there are tracks that offer something new, above all "Entertainment," one of the best tracks on the album, and the less successful "Whereabouts Unknown." It is not a bad song, but it lacks something, perhaps an extra push, beautiful the ending of the latter, a mix of speed and at times screamed, which is always a pleasure to hear.

There are moments where they know how to move you "Hero of War" even if we are far from others of this genre like "Swing Life Away," for instance, and other moments that make you jump to your feet like the aforementioned "Entertainment" and "Savior."

Unfortunately, there are also negative notes in the album "Long Forgotten Sons," which the first time I heard it, made my arms drop, and indeed "Whereabouts Unknown." In my opinion, the album could have ended with the beautiful and fitting "Hairline Fracture," a song rich with choruses.

The album gives us 13 tracks + bonus track, in my opinion, very beautiful and in my opinion, would not have looked out of place in the main setlist of the album, instead of more obvious songs. Nonetheless, the album has brilliant moments, but they are too few, and the absence of the screamed parts, for those like me, who got to know them with albums like "Siren Song Of The Counter Culture" or "The Sufferer And The Witness," cannot help but complain about this choice.

Passed despite not being comparable to the three previous works.