Search - Rise Against :: Revolutions Per Minute

A perfect blend of hardcore and melodic punk

Punknews.org | Toronto, Canada | 11/21/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Rise Against's 2001 release The Unraveling seemed to literally come out of nowhere. I had some interest, primarily because I heard that a significant proportion of the band were from 88 Fingers Louie. But in all honesty, I wasn't looking forward to it as much as some other records coming out that year.However, The Unraveling was a completely surprising debut. It was a strong, original melodic hardcore record, puctuated by a uniquely heavy rhythm section, and Tim's standout vocals. Well, Revolutions Per Minute easily tops The Unraveling.To begin, it's a lot darker than their debut; lyrically and melodically. While their previous record had more upbeat and nearly poppy passages, Revolutions... seems to spend much of it's 37 minutes in a simultaneously furious and reflective place. It feels more honest, and personal, and achieves a real catharsis. It certainly comes from a familiar place; double-tempo guitars, those heavy Fat-produced guitars, speedy vocals, but it ends up somewhere different altogether. Tracks like "Black Masks & Gasoline" and "Amber Changing" play off a emotional punk sense, while other songs like "Dead Ringer" and "To the Core" are almost pure raging hardcore. It's apparent that the band is writing more as a unit now, and it comes through in the seamless bridges between vocals and instrumentation.While the band is clearly coming from a hardcore and punk background, it genuinely doesn't sound like anything I've heard. Many people have tried to blend punk and hardcore like this, but mostly we end up with the weakest bits of hardcore, and the weakest bits of punk, kind of mashed together. Instead, on "Revolutions..." we get an impressive sense of melody with a really visceral hardcore edge. I can say this: Revolutions Per Minute is easily among the best records you'll hear this year. A perfect blend of hardcore and melodic punk, without any of the usual trappings of the genre."

Brains And Brawn

sst101 | Chi Town, Illinois | 06/01/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rise Against's Revolutions Per Minute moves from your speakers to your heart in quick succsession. With fists raised high, these four boys from Chicago deliver an album that's downright visceral. Rise Against are making music that matters and they know it. Their strength lies in their ability to write melodies as raw as their words, hooks without the sugar coating. Lines like "Would God bless a murder of the innocents" breathe, tremble, and sink under your skin as you hum them, leaving you one with Rise Against's vision of America. Like The Clash and Rage Against The Machine before them, Rise Against are more than a band with a message: They are a group of musicians who chose to sing with two voices. Their political brains and musical brawn fuse as one, leaving a Journey cover, twelve timeless tunes, and a barrage of weak, corporate listeners in their wake. This is punk as man should know it. Dangerous. Powerful. Uncomprimising. And, best of all, uplifting in that way that only a politcally charged free for all can be.
Buy this album now. Rise."

Revolutions per Minute moves fast and furiously

J. L Owens | San Luis Obispo, CA United States | 05/09/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rise Against's sophomore album, RPM is, simply put, amazing. I was really interested to see how this one would turn out, and it blows me away. While not mere punk rookies (Rise Against even has a previous member of 88 Fingers Louie), this album shows that they can create a distinct, heartfelt sound. I am continually amazed by the singer's voice. I have never heard a singer who truly sounds like when he screams, it comes from necessity and is completely heartfelt, rather than just trying to sound hardcore. There are a few slower songs on this album, and many melodic songs. There is not a song on this album that you will want to skip over. "Heaven Knows," "Like the Angel", "Last Chance Blueprint" and "Blood Red White and Blue" are the songs that blew me away, especially the last one. The lyrics are some of the most genuine I've ever heard in a punk CD. Anybody who enjoys well written punk music should love these guys."