Chicago, IL · melodic hardcore · punk · punk rock

Rise Against

3 upcoming festivals

Chicago's melodic-hardcore conscience — two decades of fists-up anthems delivered with undimmed conviction, 'Savior' still closing rooms.

Rise Against formed in Chicago in 1999 and became one of the more widely heard American bands to come out of melodic hardcore. Fronted by singer and guitarist Tim McIlrath, the group pairs fast, distorted punk arrangements with sung choruses, and lyrics that return often to political and social subjects, animal rights and personal conviction.

The band began on the independent punk label Fat Wreck Chords before moving to a major, a shift that brought songs such as "Swing Life Away," "Prayer of the Refugee" and "Savior" to rock radio without much change in approach. Live, they play at a consistently high tempo, with McIlrath's hoarse delivery and audience singalongs central to how the sets are built.

melodic hardcorepunkpunk rock