And, as he told K! recently, “What’s happening globally to capitalism, progress, automation and industrialisation knows no boundary, border or years. No matter what year you were born, you can very likely become the victim of growing social inequality, growing income disparity, or climate change – those things know no birth date.”
Musically they stick largely to their well-honed melodic hardcore. That means plenty of galloping bass runs and fast-paced verses, with huge anthemic choruses blooming like mushroom clouds. There’s a melodic sheen with just enough grit to prevent things from sounding too polished and there’s also the odd deviation. The lyrically nihilistic Sudden Urge borrows modern rock chops that could almost be the Foo Fighters, while the title-track sounds like an electrified campfire sing-along. Despite its portentous subject matter, Sooner Or Later preaches its environmental message via a superbly poppy hook that swings with pure, unfettered, rebellious joy. The biggest departure, though, is the string-embellished acoustic ballad Forfeit, which demonstrates unequivocally that they’re not entirely bound by their own established format.
There’s still a lot that will be familiar to longtime fans, but the most impressive thing is how passionate Rise Against remain. Twenty years in, and their revolutionary fire is still as relevant and as sadly needed as ever.
Verdict: 4/5
For fans of: Bad Religion, Anti-Flag, Strike Anywhere