It is one of the definitive albums to come out within its genre… and within in its decade. Yet, it’s the more melodic and hardcore elements that allow it to take off and become far more memorable. It captures you immediately with its energy, passion, and pace. Delivered with Tim McIlrath’s lead vocals, which sway from super aggressive to soothingly melodic throughout, the words definitely stick with you.įrom the album’s first line - “This… is noise” - The Sufferer & The Witness never loses its core identity as a hardcore punk album. But the content as a whole is emotional, thought-provoking, and directly relatable. The one true break in the action, “Roadside,” even features string elements and gorgeous guest vocals from Emily Schambra. It makes the bigger picture absolutely mesmerizing. You get some traditionally short rebellious ass-kickers like “Bricks” and “Behind Closed Doors,” which make you want to burn down your local government building in search of “change.” But the album also shows an extremely uplifting personality on the likes of “Drones” and the closer, “Survive.” They supplement familiar crunching guitars and relentless percussion with far more melodic leads and slower interludes. This album, start to finish, just exemplifies how incredibly diverse Rise Against’s take on punk actually is. Tim McIlrath kicking ass live in San Diego, 2012īut the real gold lies deeper. And finally we have “The Good Left Undone,” which peaked at No. 6 on Billboard‘s Modern Rock chart. The second such track is “Prayer of the Refugee” which is probably most recognized from its inclusion in Guitar Hero 3. In fact, a version exists that was banned from TV. One is “Ready to Fall.” It’s catchy chorus is memorable enough, but what defines it is the music video, which defends animal protection through the depiction of animals being killed by man’s actions. We are all familiar with this album on some level, even if it’s just the hits.
And this album defines that genre as far as I’m concerned. So what makes it so great? Rise Against is a brilliant blend of punk rock and melodic hardcore. But nothing they have ever written has had the lasting impression that Rise Against gave me with The Sufferer & The Witness. But you would probably be wrong in assuming who I’m there to see. Now, if I were to tell you I was seeing Killswitch Engage play with Rise Against, I’m sure you’d quickly assume my only reason for attendance would be to reminisce. And I absolutely can’t wait to see what they bring to a live set. So why bring it up now? Quite simply, the same Rise Against will be playing my hometown in a few short months with Killswitch Engage. It practically defined a year of my life. I remember picking it up and blasting it over and over back in high school. I say that because I cannot comprehend how this album is almost a decade old.
The Sufferer & The Witness, amazingly, came out July 4th, 2006. It’s an album I’m very familiar with, for good reason. And that album, of course, is 2006’s The Sufferer & The Witness. One that I haven’t discussed before is the quintessential release from melodic hardcore masterminds, Rise Against. I’m referring to a collection of tracks you become addicted to for years. I’m not talking about an earworm that lasts for a few weeks. Every great while an album comes around that just sticks with you that maybe - or probably - shouldn’t, either because it falls into a genre you don’t typically appreciate, or, well…it just isn’t that good.