Rise Against
The Black Market

Once upon a time...

What can we expect from Rise Against in 2014 after a history of 6 albums and various minor releases? It depends on one's point of view, one might say.
To put it better: just change the observatory and perspective from which you look at the world, and the conclusions can only take on shades that are sometimes cold, sometimes warm.

If you prefer a half-full glass perspective, one might note that in the end, it's a catchy album, the melodies are in the right place, it's an album for spending a good half-hour easily and without complications and that the group members have now firmly reached the age of maturity.

But this perspective was already valid for "Appeal To Reason" and "Endgame", not today resulting in a mere argumentum ab auctoritate as one of my professors would say, only meant to mask the refusal to think for oneself or to provide valid reasons in support.

Therefore, rejecting this somewhat diplomatic firefighter approach, it is time to change tune by adopting a different approach that starts from a critical observation.

Reason dictates that for a musician after decent but by no means exceptional work, it is legitimate to expect a change in strategy. This specifically does not necessarily mean a return to the primordial and simplistic form, but translated into syllables means to avoid, first of all, another work made with the stencil one would use to construct a utility vehicle or the last two albums of the magician Timothy.
They needed to prove they still had something to say on an album and not settle for crumbs, committed lyrics, and live shows.

We were talking about strategy. Marketing is strategy and they are smart and well aware of the moods of the "hawks" and so they serve as an appetizer a snake-charming lullaby such as "The Eco-terrorist in Me".

Luminous sign that attracts the gullible?
Unfortunately, yes and there's no trace left of heart, passion, or healthy anger. There is not even the desire to dare, not even to make mistakes, but only a lot of normalcy and dangerous mass conformity can be seen.
Structures almost always identical (not enough are "The Eco-terrorist in Me" and "Awake Too Long" to make the bomb explode connected to the headphones), long and predictable songs (by chance, the salvageable things are those with the shortest duration), willingly never truly inspired and bland riffs. Not to mention the pre-choruses that should be repealed by decree-law.

The shore returns the carcass of a group, while a few meters away, mannequins smelling of plastic are ready to clap their hands, convinced by the goodness of the show. In the background, in the distance, you can see a star-spangled banner lowered and stained with blood, and this time it might be forever.

The tales of Rise Against's rise and fall.