August 10, 2004 - Siren Song Of The Counter Culture

On the same day as my last release and just 16 months since their last album "Revolutions Per Minute", Rise Against released their third album "Siren Song Of The Counter Culture" on August 10, 2004. With their third album comes their third lead guitarist as well as Todd Mohney isn't around for long and is replaced by Chris Chasse. This was Rise Against's major label debut and with that comes a slightly more pop-y and radio-friendly vibe, but these guys are still largely punk rockers. Let's check out their latest!

The album kicks off with "State Of The Union" and it just might be my favourite song by Rise Against! They jump right into a hard-hitting and heavy main riff with Chasse playing some cool guitar and Tim McIlrath screams this whole song, and he sounds great doing it! Tim usually keeps the screaming to shorter bursts, but he sounds super heavy and awesome screaming the whole verse and chorus! After a couple fantastic rounds they even break things down to a slower but still plenty heavy new riff and McIlrath holds a couple long screams overtop as everything sounds phenomenal! Rise Against are usually punk-rock, but this opener was pretty fucking metal! I love it! Up next is "The First Drop" and it's got a more typical punk-rock main riff that is speedy and slightly repetitive and McIlrath is back to his usual singing, which is still good for sure, but after that taste I wish he would scream more! Joe Principe adds some punk-y backing vocals in the chorus and combined with McIlrath's quick singing there's always something going on to keep your toe tapping. This pretty much sums up this decently catchy tune. Track 3 is "Life Less Frightening" and the rhythm section does a good job of setting up the backdrop before Chasse comes in to complete this loud and solid main riff. McIlrath leads another solid punk-y verse overtop and it flows right into a pretty catchy chorus with him holding some decent long notes. After a couple rounds things quiet down as Joe Principe plays some cool bass to take the spotlight. Chasse enters with some solid guitar and McIlrath sings and screams in this next part, with the screams sounding awesome once again! They close it our with a final chorus and this was a pretty solid tune! The next track is one of their big singles "Paper Wings" and McIlrath sets the stage nicely on rhythm guitar before Chasse comes flying in with a speedy, cool and super catchy lead guitar riff that drives this song! McIlrath sings a slightly pop-y but undeniably catchy verse to match the mood and even though this kind of radio-friendly vibe may annoy some punk purists, I think they're doing a great job of balancing the pop with the punk. The chorus super catchy and fun to sing along to and after a couple rounds Brandon Barnes nicely sets the stage for our first solo time! Chasse delivers with a speedy and pretty sweet guitar solo, then it moves smoothly into an acoustic guitar break, before ramping perfectly into the choru to ham things out. It's a perfectly executed pop-punk single! Track 5 is called "Blood To Bleed" and Principe keeps the pace with a really cool bass riff that everyone else nicely builds around for a slow, slightly offbeat and groovy main riff that is pretty cool, especially with McIlrath half-singing, half-screaming overtop! The chorus is a little simpler and radio-friendly, but it's decently catchy and solid and it flows smoothly back into another cool verse. After another chorus Chasse plays a "solo" that is super simple and pop-y, but that is immediately followed by McIlrath belting out some great long screams! He sounds amazing just leaving it all out there and they perfectly segue back for a final chorus before Tim closes it out with some more great screams! A unique and pretty cool song! Up next is "To Them These Streets Belong" and they jump right into the chorus with a catchy drumbeat by Barnes, some solid singing by McIlrath and some typical guitars. The verse is a nice headbanging punk one with some cool guitar by Chasse and McIlrath nicely mixes in a few screams amongst his fast singing. It's a "typical punk-rock song" one could say, but that would be an injustice to this catchy and cool little tune! Track 7 is "Tip The Scales" and Chasse opens things with a catchy guitar riff by himself before the rest of the band comes thundering in to back him with a loud and solid rhythm section. McIlrath is half screaming the nice heavy verse and there's some cool guitar as well in this toe-tapping and pretty sweet main riff that flows right into a similar chorus. Principe adds some cool bass as well and this is a heavier but still nice and punk-y song! The next track is "Anywhere But Here" and it starts with the catchy, simpler chorus riff that is easy to follow along with, before they settle into a more typical punk-y verse with some speedy drums and guitars and quick singing by McIlrath. The chorus is pretty radio-friendly and not their most exciting, but it's still upbeat and still a good tune overall. Track 9 is the big hit single that catapulted Rise Against into the mainstream and it's called "Give It All". It's got a decently heavy and also decently catchy main riff that drives the whole song and McIlrath sings a nice, slightly harsh verse that definitely isn't screaming but has a heavier vibe to it still. Things roll right into the uber-catchy chorus with a repetitive but decent guitar riff and some nice long-held notes by McIlrath. It's no wonder this song was so popular, it's still very much some hard-hitting Rise Against, but also super accessible and catchy, it's really a perfect single! They quiet things down a tad for a pop-y new part, but bring it nicely back for a final chorus. Up next is "Dancing For Rain" and it opens with a cool acoustic guitar part, then they slam nicely into a more typical main riff that is fast, punk-y and led by some fast and solid guitars. McIlrath sings quickly to match the mood in a solid verse, then they nicely break things down to a slow, heavy chorus with McIlrath sounding great holding lots of long notes overtop. After another solid round they return to the acoustic opening riff and add a touch of cello which makes things sound quite epic! Then they slam wonderfully into a heavy new riff that perfectly leads back into the chorus. This is a superbly done song and it's definitely one of my favourites on the album, especially with Tim screaming "this drought, bleeds on!" at the end! Track 11 is "Swing Life Away", which they previously released on an album called "Punk Goes Acoustic" last year, but while this version has the same song structure and lyrics, and is also still acoustic, it sounds louder and more full than the other version since I believe there are two guitars. There's also a backing vocals track as well as Tim's smooth lead vocals and while this is certainly unlike any other Rise Against song in it's complete lack of punk-rock, they do a fantastic job with this acoustic, easy going song and it's no wonder it would.grow to become a fan favourite. Not my favourite by any means, but a worthy inclusion on the album for sure. The final song on the album is "Rumors Of My Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated" and it starts with a pretty groovy and sweet riff by Chasse leading the way. McIlrath sings a great verse overtop and Principe's bass is pretty cool as well with everything sounding pretty great! They roll right into a hard-hitting chorus with some more great guitar by Chasse and McIlrath leads a super catchy chorus as everything sounds great here as well! After another great round things get even heavier with McIlrath letting loose some great long screams overtop some cool heavy music! This leads seamlessly back into the awesome main riff and this is one hell of a way to close things out, a pretty fantastic song!

That is the end of "Siren Song of the Counter Culture" and I thought it was a pretty awesome album by Rise Against! They were full of catchy riffs and blended their typical punk-rock with a bit more pop very nicely! Not only were the singles and lighter stuff quite good, but there was entry of heavier stuff that was really sweet as well! I think it blows away their first two albums and I can't wait to see where Rise Against go from here!