Nowhere Generation | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 4, 2021 | |||
Studio | The Blasting Room, Fort Collins, Colorado | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 41:36 | |||
Label | Loma Vista | |||
Producer |
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Rise Against chronology | ||||
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Rise Against studio album chronology | ||||
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Singles from Nowhere Generation | ||||
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Nowhere Generation is the ninth studio album by American punk rock band Rise Against,released on June 4,2021,on Loma Vista Recordings. It is the band's first album in four years,serving as the follow-up to 2017's Wolves. Four singles were released for the album:"Broken Dreams,Inc","Nowhere Generation","The Numbers",and "Talking to Ourselves". The album was produced by Bill Stevenson,Jason Livermore,Andrew Berlin,and Chris Beeble. The album's single of the same name was released on March 18,2021,and the album was announced that day.
After the completion of the touring cycle for 2017's Wolves and the release of their acoustic album The Ghost Note Symphonies,Vol. 1 ,frontman Tim McIlrath revealed in a May 2019 interview with Kerrang! that the band was writing new music,but that they would be employing a more relaxed approach to the writing process. "Yes,we are writing," McIlrath stated in the interview. "We're getting together and playing ideas,but I wouldn't hold your breath. The one thing that we have decided is that we don't want to feel rushed,we'll put out the record when it's done,not to try and meet some deadline." [5] This was further reinforced in a July 2020 interview with Danny Wimmer Presents with McIlrath confirming (in relation to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic) that the band was "not going anywhere," and further clarifying "we have new music,we have it all –this isn't the end,this is just a new beginning." [6] By the end of the recording sessions for Nowhere Generation,the band had recorded sixteen songs,but five of them were ultimately used for the band's 2022 EP, Nowhere Generation II ,so as to not have too many songs on the album. [7]
Following the album's announcement in March 2021,the band outlined the themes and messaging behind the record in a press release,stating that "today there is the promise of the American Dream,and then there is the reality of the American Dream. America's 'historical norm' that the next generation will be better off than the one that came before has been diminished by an era of mass social,economic and political instability and a sell-out of the middle class. The brass ring that was promised by hard work and dedication no longer exists for everyone. When the privileged climb the ladder of success and then burn it from the top,disruption becomes the only answer." [1]
Nowhere Generation saw the band once again working with long-time producers Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore at the Blasting Room,with bassist Joe Principe referring to Stevenson as their "not-so-secret weapon",who had "helped shape the band;he gets what we want to do and will go with us when we think outside the box. He's the perfect producer for the style of music we play because he has an insane pop sensibility and the hardcore side to him as well." In addition to Stevenson and Livermore,the album also saw the band work with fellow Blasting Room producers Andrew Berlin and Chris Beeble. [1]
On February 23,2021, [8] the band began posting cryptic videos across their social media accounts encouraging their audience to head over to their website,which had been updated with a new aesthetic. They continued to post up until March 18,2021,when they announced the new album with a June 4 release date,alongside the eponymous lead single and its music video. It was also confirmed that "Broken Dreams,Inc",a track originally released as part of the Dark Nights:Death Metal soundtrack on September 16,2020,would also feature on the album. Tim McIlrath discussed the band's inclusion on the soundtrack with Wall of Sound comparing his songwriting to that of the comic's storytelling publishers and authors. [9] The album was supported by a further two singles prior to release;"The Numbers" and "Talking to Ourselves",which were released on May 6,2021, [10] and June 1,2021, [11] respectively.
The album and its physical releases feature artwork and design created in collaboration with Brian Roettinger,a Grammy-nominated creative director. [12]
Nowhere Generation was released on June 4,2021. [13] In support of the album,the band embarked on a US tour that summer with the Descendents and The Menzingers opening for them. [14] The band also went on additional tours in 2022 with Billy Talent,The Used,Senses Fail,Pennywise,and Stick To Your Guns. [15] [16]
Nowhere Generation received generally positive reviews upon release,with Metacritic awarding the album an aggregated score of 74 out of 100 based on 6 reviews,5 of which were positive. [17]
Wall of Sound scored the album 9/10,stating that the band's "goal of riling people up,and making them realise the inequality of the world in which we live in,has been achieved". [18]
Paul Travers of Kerrang! would rate the record 4/5,praising the band's consistency stating,"There's still a lot that will be familiar to longtime fans,but the most impressive thing is how passionate Rise Against remain. Twenty years in,and their revolutionary fire is still as relevant and as sadly needed as ever." [4]
It was elected by Loudwire as the 42nd best rock/metal album of 2021. [19]
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 74/100 [20] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [21] |
Kerrang! | [22] |
Punktuationmag | [23] |
Nowhere Generation was the first Rise Against album to not debut in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 since Siren Song of the Counter Culture . [24]
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "The Numbers" | 4:59 |
2. | "Sudden Urge" | 3:46 |
3. | "Nowhere Generation" | 3:52 |
4. | "Talking to Ourselves" | 3:24 |
5. | "Broken Dreams, Inc" | 3:53 |
6. | "Forfeit" | 3:44 |
7. | "Monarch" | 3:32 |
8. | "Sounds Like" | 3:25 |
9. | "Sooner or Later" | 3:34 |
10. | "Middle of a Dream" | 3:44 |
11. | "Rules of Play" | 3:43 |
Total length: | 41:36 |
Credits adapted from AllMusic. [27]
Rise Against
Production
Additional personnel
Additional musicians
Chart (2021) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (ARIA) [28] | 4 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [29] | 3 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [30] | 36 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [31] | 184 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [32] | 30 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [33] | 2 |
Scottish Albums (OCC) [34] | 10 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [35] | 4 |
UK Albums (OCC) [36] | 19 |
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [37] | 2 |
US Billboard 200 [38] | 39 |
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard) [39] | 4 |
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard) [40] | 2 |
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [41] | 4 |
Rise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, formed in 1999. The group's current line-up comprises vocalist/rhythm guitarist Tim McIlrath, lead guitarist Zach Blair, bassist Joe Principe and drummer Brandon Barnes. Rooted in hardcore punk and melodic hardcore, Rise Against's music emphasizes melody, catchy hooks, an aggressive sound and playstyle, and rapid tempos. Lyrically, the band is known for their outspoken social commentary, covering a wide range of topics such as political injustice, animal rights, humanitarianism, and environmentalism.
The Sufferer & the Witness is the fourth studio album by American punk rock band Rise Against, released on July 4, 2006. A melodic hardcore album, it comprises thirteen tracks that focus on melody, catchy hooks, and rapid-paced tempo. Social and political issues as well as the concept of self-reflection constitute the majority of the lyrical content.
"Swing Life Away" is a song by American punk rock band Rise Against. It is an acoustic ballad, with a sharp guitar sound and optimistic lyrics about daily life and the working class. The song was first included in the 2003 compilation album Punk Goes Acoustic, and was later expanded upon in the band's 2004 album Siren Song of the Counter Culture.
Appeal to Reason is the fifth studio album by American punk rock band Rise Against. It was released on October 7, 2008. A melodic hardcore album, Appeal to Reason marked a musical shift from the gritty hardcore punk sound that had previously defined the band's career to what some have viewed as a more radio-friendly sound, with greater emphasis on production and bigger, more anthemic choruses. The album's lyrics primarily focus on political issues in the United States, such as the Iraq War and the Bush administration.
Endgame is the sixth studio album by American punk rock band Rise Against. It was released on March 15, 2011, by DGC Records and Interscope Records. A melodic hardcore album, Endgame continues the trend by Rise Against towards more crisp, polished production, which began with the band's previous album Appeal to Reason. Social and political commentary constitute the majority of the lyrical content on Endgame, and a major theme revolves around the end of humanity.
"Satellite" is a song by American punk rock band Rise Against, featured on their sixth studio album Endgame (2011). Written by lead vocalist Tim McIlrath, "Satellite" is a melodic hardcore song expressing the idea that the band stood by their social and political beliefs, and that they would not conform to mainstream media. The song first premiered on March 4, 2011 in a webisode series detailing the recording process of Endgame, but was not released as the album's third single until November 1, 2011. The song impacted radio on the same day.
Awakened is the sixth studio album by American metalcore band As I Lay Dying. It is the final album released by the band before their hiatus in 2014. The album was released on September 25, 2012, through Metal Blade Records. The album was produced by Bill Stevenson and recorded at The Blasting Room in Fort Collins, Colorado and Lambesis Studios in San Diego, California. On June 22, 2012, the album title, release date, and first single were announced. On June 25, the first single "Cauterize" was released for free download and became available online for purchase the following day. On June 27, a lyric video for "Cauterize" was released along with album artwork, also the band created an event on Facebook inviting fans to participate in a music video shoot for "A Greater Foundation". Fans were able to pre-order a copy on the Rockstar Mayhem Festival tour of 2012.
"Wait for Me" is a song by American rock band Rise Against, featured on their sixth studio album Endgame (2011). The song impacted radio on June 12, 2012. Written by lead vocalist Tim McIlrath, the track is notable for being one of the slower songs off the album. It was released as a promotional single in 2012, and was the final single released for Endgame. The song received positive reviews, with praise for its slower and methodical nature. It reached number 14 on the US Rock Songs chart, and was featured on the "Best Songs of the year" lists by KROQ-FM and WSUN-FM.
My Shame Is True is the eighth studio album by Chicago-based rock band Alkaline Trio, released on April 2, 2013 on Heart & Skull and Epitaph Records. Produced by both Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore, the album was preceded by the single, "I Wanna Be a Warhol", and was released with an accompanying EP, Broken Wing, featuring four additional songs recorded during the same sessions.
Long Forgotten Songs: B-Sides & Covers 2000–2013 is a compilation album by American punk rock band Rise Against, released on September 10, 2013. The album comprises twenty-six lesser known Rise Against songs, primarily B-sides, covers and different versions of already existing songs by the band. The idea for the album came about when the members of Rise Against attempted to catalog their lesser known material, but came to the conclusion that there were some songs that they did not own copies of. Long Forgotten Songs peaked at number nineteen on the Billboard 200, and charted in several other countries. The album received generally favorable reviews; several critics said the covers were the best aspect of the album, and noted how many of the songs felt fully fleshed out despite being relegated to B-sides.
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"The Violence" is a song by American rock band Rise Against. The song was released on April 20, 2017 as the lead single from their eighth studio album, Wolves. Inspired by the 2016 United States presidential election cycle, "The Violence" contains lyrics described by vocalist Tim McIlrath as being about "whether violence is an inevitability of the human condition, or whether it's a choice we make, and therefore, can reject." The song has charted on both Billboard's Alternative Songs chart and Mainstream Rock Songs chart.
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"Broken Dreams, Inc" is a song by American punk rock band Rise Against. It was released on September 16, 2020 as the lead single for the soundtrack of the DC Comics series Dark Nights: Death Metal, and eventually became the first single for the band's ninth studio album, Nowhere Generation.
Nowhere Generation II is the eleventh extended play by American punk rock band Rise Against. It was released as a continuation to their ninth studio album, Nowhere Generation, on June 10, 2022; just over a year after the release of Nowhere Generation. The EP was produced by the band's longtime producers, Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore, with the addition of Andrew Berlin and Chris Beeble. It was promoted by the single "Last Man Standing".
Musically they stick largely to their well-honed melodic hardcore.