Rise Against's ferocious set on last year's Taste of Chaos Tour thrilled thousands, whipping fans into a frenzy nationwide. In November this year, Rise Against will head downunder to do it all over again, but this time, they'll be headlining their own shows in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. New Zealander's will also be treated to Rise Against's impressive live shows, when the band perform in Auckland.
With a career spanning six years, four albums and over half a million album sales, Rise Against exemplify punk-rock at its finest. Best described as a barrage of unhinged power, attention-seeking melodies and rousing lyrics, Rise Against have managed to capture the attention of both the underground and mainstream music circles throughout the course of their career.
Anything but a single-minded musical outfit, Rise Against are continually pushing the boundaries of the punk-rock genre. "We're a band that's done everything from hardcore songs to poppy songs to acoustic ballads that get played on the radio," says singer Tim McIlrath.
Their most recent release The Sufferer and The Witness (out now through Universal Music) has been described as their best effort to date.
"The Sufferer and The Witness borrows from each of Rise Against's previous releases, taking the most promising parts - the ones you rewound several times to revel in the resulting goose bump - and combines them into 13 new tracks with a fresh edge. Definite frontrunner for album of the year..." Beat Magazine, July 2006
"The Sufferer and The Witness beefs up the Chicago quartet's ass-kicking thwack: With even more shout-along moments and topsy-turvy action, it's rousing, tightly wound and could be the album of the summer for anybody who needs a good yowl in their lives." Rolling Stone, June 2006
A large part of Rise Against's success is owed to their explosive live shows. In the early days, extensive touring set them up to become the hugely popular band they now are, and it is onstage that Rise Against are at their best.
So make sure you get along to see Rise Against this November/ December and be a part of what will no doubt be one of the hardest rocking shows this summer.
