Chicago punk band Rise Against has become an institution in the scene since their arrival in 1999. The act is a political unit, rightfully pushing their music into the ears and inspiring many people along the way. From the harshness of their early records to a more polished output, they have lost none of that pulsating energy. As a guitar band, they do not stick to the rules or follow a template; they do not brandish their art for fame and fortune, but they do so in a conceptual, though-provoking manner.  

Now, in 2021, Rise Against powerfully press on political matters and confess through their new album that they are sick of what the world has become. Dreams seem to dissipate rapidly, and with the impact of a virus sweeping through the planet, it increases tension. And the band has always had that political slant and their first release The Unravelling was the beginning to the riveting story.

Nowhere Generation plays on like a symphony for the disenchanted, the people who may have become desensitised to world problems. These people need a crutch, a musical source to get them out of the rut, and this record is not only entertainment but a message, a note to the bystanders who watch the world fall into the hands of the faithless.

“The Numbers” starts the record off with a commanding riff. Again, it follows political traits, and it will spark debate. Lyrically it reveals all. “Sudden Urge” opens brightly, not calming the surge but increasing the energy and musical urgency. The political lyrics tell stories of scorn and the pitfalls of life. That snappy riff is breakneck. “Forfeit” balances calmness with an urgent portrayal of not giving up on someone. The acoustic flair implements a style we do not always hear on punk records. “Sooner Or Later” takes us on a ride through broken foundations and the realisations of shattered truth. Blood is on the ground; precious times are rare. The chorus becomes an infectious backbeat in the mind.  

Nowhere Generation outdoes nothing Rise Against has released previously. But it is a record that tells interesting stories and is an album that will make us think hard and fast.

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