Appeal to Reason
Rise Against sound more certain than their songs always justify on Appeal to Reason. The guitars are full, the rhythms are firm, and Tim McIlrath delivers the words with a familiar rough edge. There are excellent moments here, but the band's broad statements sometimes arrive with more authority than detail.
Collapse (Post-Amerika) makes a strong opening because its pace and sharp guitar attack supply a clear purpose. Re-Education (Through Labor) is just as effective at turning anger into a memorable song. Its central riff gives the words something concrete to work against, and the chorus feels connected to the physical effort of the performance.
The middle of the album is less compelling. Audience of One has a clear melody, yet its slower movement and general sense of loss do not reveal much beyond the initial feeling. The Dirt Whispered is similarly competent without finding a particularly distinct emotional shape. McIlrath remains recognisable, but the arrangements too often lead him towards the same kind of emphatic finish.
Hero of War makes a more ambitious attempt to step outside that pattern. The acoustic setting exposes a soldier's account of violence and moral damage, giving the album a necessary change of scale. The narrative can be blunt, with the lesson becoming clear before the song is over, but the decision to leave so much space around the voice is effective. Savior then shows how well the band can still combine speed, melody and personal uncertainty when every part has a clear job.
Whereabouts Unknown provides one of the strongest finishes, building patiently before allowing the guitar and voice greater force. It makes the album's emotional commitment easier to believe. Appeal to Reason is uneven because similar levels of conviction are attached to songs of quite different quality. The best material has a distinct musical argument behind the message; the weaker passages mainly repeat the band's determination. There is enough of the former to make the record worthwhile, although its confidence can hide the difference for only so long.
