25. September 2025
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Media Review

Rise Against – Ricochet

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Rise Against - Ricochet

Rise Against - Ricochet
4.1

Rating

 4.1/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Solid and versatile album
  • Nice range of songs

Flyctory.com Cons

  • A few weaker tracks

Rise Against is one of the bigger names in the harder rock music business. On 15th August 2025, Joe Principe and his bandmates share their tenth album. I already had a listen to Ricochet.

 

Rise Against – About The Artists

Rise Against are a US-American punk rock and melodic hardcore band. They have been founded in 1999 in Chicago. Since 2007, the band is playing in the same lineup. Namely, that is Tim McIlrath (vocals, guitar), Joe Principe (bass), Brandon Barnes (drums, percussion) and Zach Blair (guitar). Principe is also a founding member, McIlrath joined during 1999.

The band had their international break-through with the 2006 album The Sufferer & the Witness. It was not only a Top 10 album in the USA, but also peaked fifth in Canada and later became a golden record in Australia and Germany. Thereafter, several Rise Against albums topped the charts in Canada and Germany. Ricochet is the band’s the tenth Rise Against studio album overall.

 

Rise Against – Ricochet – Track by Track

The twelve song album lasts 42 minutes.

1. Nod

Three of the four songs shared before album release are the openers for Ricochet. Thereby, Nod feels like the friendly concierge, who is opening the door to the world of Rise Against’s 2025 album. Rocking, hard, but also not disturbing. It feels familiar, you feel welcome – if you don’t know the song already anyway.

2. I Want It All

I Want It All is not a Queen Cover. The US-Americans present a fast, brute song. I could imagine this one being the right song if the police is chasing you through town in a chase or when you have a lot of action in another way. The song has a really cool touch, even though its style might be a bit surprising for fans of the band.

3. Ricochet

The title track has been released just a few days before the song. The vocals lean toward a recitative style, but also has a slight Americana touch. Rise Against are showing surprising elements in this 2025 record. However, they feel enjoyable and coherent.

4. Damage Is Done

Now down on our knees
We bought every lie
Then started to see
Now my stomachs turning
I can’t see straight
There has got to be a better way now
Why can’t you just let me break down?

Damage Is Done comes a nice leverage of different elements. On the one hand, the instruments majorly drive the song and underline the band’s origin in the punk rock scene. On the other hand, especially Tim McIlrath adds an emotional, struggling, melancholic flavor to this. This leads to a modern, very relatable listen. A really good one – don’t be scared about the scream in the bridge.

5. Us Against The World

Look around it’s always been us against the world – the song asks to unite and fight issues together. What would be better than having a melody and style which stays in your mind? That’s exactly what Rise Against is delivering in the fifth track. Fans will love it anyway – it is quite close to the Rise Against comfort zone in previous albums.

6. Black Crown

Black Crown starts rather gentle and goes back to that style in later stanzas. The more, the aggressive chorus feels to be a bit too much for this setting. A bit of sad, as the hymnic and catching style of that part of the song does have some potential.

And now you know what I’ve always known
I know, I know
I’ve always known
The worst is on its way

7. Sink Like A Stone

I would have put Sink Like A Stone more towards the end of Ricochet. The simple reason for it is that it feels like an essay – not only of this album, but also of Rise Against’s career. If you are a long time fan, you will feel embraced by the song, even though the breaks between the different moods in the song feel a bit too radical here and there.

8. Forty Days

Forty Days welcomes the listener with stomping drums. Later, quite some bass power is added, while the guitars stay rather thin. The chorus has a nice touch. However, the song is simply lacking a striking elements, which makes you keep it in your mind. This does not mean that it is a bad listen.

9. State Of Emergency

The ninth track of Ricochet heads back to a rather typical and characteristic sound of the band. The chorus works well and has a strong touch of punk music. The song has a good flow, as well as some really nice sing along elements. A nice one.

10. Gold Long Gone

Rockers and ballads – the never-ending success story. Just in line with that, Gold Long Gone delivers a beautiful emotional element. Enjoy the warmth in your heart and raise the cell phone light (or, for traditionalists: your lighter) during this listen. Rise Against did it really nicely.

Tell me what the hell is going on
We’re digging in the mines for gold long gone
When everything we thought we always knew
Turns out wrong
How do we hold on?

11. Soldier

But I’m not, I’m not your soldier anymore – the song could indeed continue with some ballad style sounds. Soldier in fact really takes a slower start, but the chorus reveals its rocking heart. The song feels very straight and relatable. Despite other songs are more present with volume and aggressiveness, this one is definitely one of the finest songs on Ricochet. 

12. Prizefighter

I am not a prize that you compete for
Or a horse that you can break
I am not something to be fenced in
In case I run away
I am not a sideshow in your circus
Or a trophy on your shelf
Because I don’t belong to you
No I don’t belong to you
Or anyone else

I’m not sure whether I would love listening to this chorus at the end of an album as a Rise Against fan. The band demands for respect with that very clear message. This one the one hand leads to a clear message – on the other hand you hope for a better future of this broken relationship.

 

Rise Against – Ricochet – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

Rise Against – Ricochet – Track by Track

Ricochet is a good album – but it also has some weaker spots. Some of the track simply do not reach the level Rise Against is overall delivering in the 2025 recording. However, there are not weak spots, just slightly weaker ones – and this leads to very solid rating. Rise Against fans will definitely love it.

Favorite Song: Soldier

 

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