You would think given such song-writing talents for the politically-charged hard rock group Rise Against, their newest studio album should be more then only their fifth.
Endgame, released follows the pattern of most of their other work, taking current events, and turning them into meaningful songs. However, this is where the similarities end. Their previous work had a drive to every song, the vocals of lead singer Tim McIlrath coming at you like a freight train. Endgame brings to you the same drive, however, the album follows a storyline, making use of the idea Peter Gabriel and his, then, Genesis band mates utilized in their 1974 album, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. Rise Against adds a technical element to this album, focusing a little more on the instruments and the placement to add another dimension to the impact every song gives. A typical Rise Against album was figured out within three songs, and you instantly knew whether you liked it, or hated it. Endgame changes that course.
The story line of this album begins with Architects, illustrating how important it is to build our lives carefully, and, in political terms, could be warning the United States of how important being an architect can be. Such strong lyrics regarding the death and destruction of New Orleans with Hurricane Katrina (Help Is On The Way), homosexuality (Make It Stop), and the Iraq war (A Gentleman's Coup) resonate throughout the album, striking a cord with the listener.
Others, however, such as This Is Letting Go and Satellite may indeed hold political motives, but the true meanings are also personal. The former is the only song to not really have a political motive driving its lyrics, but more sends a message there are many things that need to be let go in life.
Satellite, on the other hand, can be related to a big wire tapping scandal about two years ago within the borders of our neighbour. The song can also be attributed to how a few people in your life follow you like a satellite, and are there for you if you fall.
The end of the album is the title track, Endgame. The lyrics explain how life is not a game, but how it is reality, and we simply cannot hit "rewind" and start from the beginning.
Overall, to the average music fan, the complexity and length of Endgame can be a little daunting to tackle (45 minutes), however, this is one of those albums where you need to listen to the full-length feature three or four times before the meanings begin to show themselves.
Rise Against is also one of the few hard rock bands who do not have screaming as part of the repertoire, and the lyrics are the main part of the song, as opposed to the AC/DC/Ozzy Osbourne break your guitar on stage and be a side-show attraction instead of being a musical entertainer.
The Heilman Rating: 7.5/10
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