REVIEW: Rise Against - Ricochet

American punk rock band Rise Against - formed in Chicago in 1999 - are known for their social commentary, reaching the hearts of millions worldwide with topics such as politics, animal rights, war and environmentalism. When they have something to say they don’t hesitate, shouting it at the top of their lungs while delivering it in a way that is both beautiful and potent, making the band into something more than just musicians for so many individuals, and helping to make people feel seen and heard.

Now, Rise Against are back with the highly anticipated album Ricochet. Jam-packed with aggressive riffs, catchy hooks, and vocals that are so powerful you'll feel them throughout your body. The album starts off with the track ‘Nod’ that was previously released back in January, and immediately you can tell that Rise Against have stuck to their roots, with Tim Mcllrath’s  iconic vocals and guitar riffs that bring the song to life. ‘I Want It All’ and ‘Ricochet’ were the other two releases prior to the album. ‘I Want It All’ has kind of a grunge feel to it, felt keenly during the chorus as Tim is screaming “Don’t you want it all?”, whilst accompanied by soul-shaking riffs, while ‘Ricochet’ is a bit more mellow - but don’t be fooled, it is packed with driving drums and powerful, melodic vocals.

The fourth song on the album is ‘Damage Is Done’, a beautifully thought out and well written track about how hurt and pain is something that cannot be reversed, but we are left with the choice to learn from it and grow, or let it hurt us forever. The chorus particularly stands out in this song, once it finally hits after an exciting build up it's like you can feel the lyrics and you get taken over by these melodic riffs.

‘Us Against The World’ is about the hard fight for a better world, and a reminder that it always starts with a minority of voices before it grows into something more. “I know you’re scared but you're not alone” - this is a reminder that, no matter how lonely it may feel fighting these issues, there will always be people right there fighting with you and wanting the same things. Rise Against have always been loud about their beliefs and this song feels like a reminder that they are fighting too, just like every one of us. Coming next is the song ‘Black Crown’, which tells an incredibly impactful story about preparing for a doomsday scenario to survive the last days on Earth, instead of putting all that energy into saving what's left of the world. Everyone and everything would be gone, and you would be left alone, ruling a world that nobody would be living in. 

Starting off with a heavy riff before going into the soul touching vocals is ‘Sink Like A Stone’, which touches on the subject of mental health. “You’re gonna sink like a stone, 'cause if you carry this weight on your own you're gonna break down.” This song is a reminder to put your mental health first, because you cannot take on the weight of anyone else's without dealing with your own. Rise Against have talked about many issues thus far, yet this song stands out to us because it is something we often forget. Afterwards is the electric ‘Forty Days’. This song really picks up towards the end, when everything hits ten times harder to really punch the message of the song home, holding onto something you love no matter what and committing to that even during the hard times. 

The guitar almost creeps up on you during ‘State Of Emergency’. Things starts off short and slow, before building up and taking more control. The chanting in this song borders on overpowering as the lyrics talk about the world, and how it always makes us always feel like we are in a state of emergency - “We never understand what the story's about so we all shake our hands, stamp our feet, scream and shout." 

‘Gold Long Gone’ starts off with a beautiful guitar line joining Tim’s raw vocals, and this song takes its time. It's about where we are as a society and where we actually want be, and how there's such a big gap between the two. Nearing the end of the album, we have the song ‘Soldier’, which is a real anthem that makes you want to scream along with “I’m not your soldier anymore!” With the heavy guitar and drumming, these lyrics are repeated throughout, telling the poignant story of a soldier has finally opened their eyes and can no longer defend what they have been defending all this time. They end it off with ‘Prizefighter’ which is ultimately about creating music not only for their fans, but for themselves as well.

Rise Against have outdone themselves with this album, each song has its own important message that tells a microcosm of the story of this album. We love their passion and it's clear to see that they put their everything into every one of their songs. This album not only weaves a poignant story, it also shows just how talented these guys are - they gave us a collection of electrifying riffs and intense drumming and also made a powerful point with each song. Rise Against have done punk rock proud again.

Score: 9/10

Ricochet was released today on August 15th 2025.

Words: Kelsey Mainwaring

Photos: Rise Against