After four years away from the studio, Rise Against return this month with Ricochet – a lean, punchy 12 track album that blends fury with reflection. This one drops August 15 via Loma Vista, the record confronts modern division while looking inward at personal responsibility and how our actions ripple outward.
When we caught up with frontman Tim McIlrath, he spoke about balancing global unrest with the personal drive to keep making urgent music. The conversation touched on the roots of Ricochet, how it connects to their 2001 debut The Unraveling, and how touring continues to energise the band after two decades.
The band’s reputation as the “sensible” voice in punk came up too, a label McIlrath doesn’t resist, even if he’s wary of how neat that framing can sound. Ricochet might be one of the band’s most direct albums yet, but it still leaves room for nuance, contradiction and growth.
From production by Catherine Marks (boygenius, St. Vincent) to mixing by Alan Moulder (Paramore, QOTSA), the record hits hard but lingers with weight. Tracks like ‘I Want It All’ and ‘Prizefighter’ build on Rise Against’s legacy without retreading it, a rare feat for any band this deep in.
We also find out how many video games Rise Against have featured on (It will blow your mind), what his favorite feature is, life outside of music, and of course we found time to talk about Chicago Deep Dish pizza. The verdict? Well, you’ll have to check it out!
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RICOCHET TRACK LISTING:
01. Nod
02. I Want It All
03. Ricochet
04. Damage Is Done
05. Us Against The World
06. Black Crown
07. Sink Like A Stone
08. Forty Days
09. State Of Emergency
10. Gold Long Gone
11. Soldier
12. Prizefighter
Rise Against ‘Prizefighter’ Lyric Video
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