Rise Against – The Sufferer & The Witness: Album Retrospective
Political albums tend to split rooms and divide opinion. Take Green Day's American Idiot for example, which in truth was a commercial success, but it did ruffle a few feathers and made people hate a band that revolutionised modern punk. Yeah, it was them, a trio of snotty-nosed latch-key kids, who tailored their songs in the 90s to fit the mainstream circuit while still sticking to their guns and an independent ethos. This, sure, was a step forward for the act, and it paved the way for an instant rise.
And American Idiot wasn't classed as punk; it was deemed too commercialised to be in that frame. It broke records though, and people with youthful faces did connect to it more than the old school faithful. But, even so, Green Day received unnecessary backlash from the punk onslaught, proving that the diehards didn't want the band to be labelled as a punk outfit.
“It centred on political strife, media, human exploitation, and war.”
But, since the colossal success of American Idiot, there has been an influx of albums which are punk in craft and scope. One such album, in a sense, was almighty for an act that was fledgling in the underground and had released a few records before their ultimate ascent to the top. And in terms of elevation, Chicago band Rise Against had become a blockbuster name with their record The Sufferer & The Witness in 2006.
That was two years after the political juggernaut American Idiot landed, so Rise Against carried on the tradition of putting out a more commercialised opus. They didn't receive the same backlash as Green Day, however, and The Sufferer & The Witness bloomed into something completely massive without the added tension.
In essence, it centred on political strife, media, human exploitation in the workplace, and war. The melting pot was mixed in, and the band didn't care about scrutiny - they just wanted their voices heard. Frontman Tim McIlrath wrote the lyrics, which were no-nonsense and unapologetic. His stance was clear too, as he sang through scepticism and mistrust.
The album didn't have any downsized songs either, as they all intertwined, therefore creating a story-driven masterclass with political grievances in mind. And McIlrath blossomed as a songwriter, a carriage of creativity, and a true performer, while speaking the truth.
In time, the record truly flourished into a phenomenon. People were talking about it, fans were ecstatic by the new direction, and the band knew they had pieced together a collection of bombastic, loud, and pleasing songs. And these tracks purposefully pulled at the punk name and gave it a new lease of life. On top of that, the band did grow out of their underground moniker and ascended upwards towards the summit of their dreams. This rise was instantly welcomed, and the polished sound didn't fail.
Fourteen songs made up The Sufferer & The Witness. "Injection" instantly threw the fans into a frenzy, with those chord progressions and message. The track described life flashing before the eyes, the meaning of the light and the travelling darkness. "Prayer of the Refugee" also took snippets from the darkness, as the song depicted the terrible working conditions of workers overseas. It was a political standout, and the riff was memorable, gifting the fans a well-rounded sound.
"The Approaching Curve" served up a monologue and a commanding chorus, which was layered and inspirational. At one point, the people in this story were happy in life, but it all fell to pieces, proving not everything is impenetrable. A contrasting song, "Roadside" was a soft and melodic heart-puller, showing the band in a different state. The harmonies were elegant even though the theme was cut-throat and dark.
"The Good Left Undone" made the album bloom even further. It epitomised punk and it drew the crowd, offering a chance for them to vent. The band also showed their anger, their full rage. The melodies again were decisive, leaving a lasting impression.
The Sufferer & The Witness was a commercial success and had given Rise Against a real push into the limelight without them losing their appeal or humbleness. The band threw down the gauntlet too and showed their political standpoint, breaking the chains of conformity.
Mark's debut poetry collection, This World is Broken, is available now from Anxiety Press.