Rise Against has unveiled the title track from their upcoming album Ricochet, which also serves as the final preview before the record’s release this Friday, August 15, via Loma Vista Recordings. The new album marks the band’s first in four years and arrives in an era where misinformation runs rampant, greed is on full display, and cruelty has become disturbingly common. This 12-song collection reinforces Rise Against’s standing as a guiding voice for socially conscious rock, blending their most visceral and high-stakes music yet with raw emotion, sharp insight, and a sense of global urgency. The songs channel the chaos of today while expressing uncomfortable truths with an awareness of their potential repercussions.
In an era dominated by nationalism and isolationism, Ricochet delivers a clear message about human interconnection. Lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and lyricist Tim McIlrath explains: “We rely on each other, whether we like it or not. Everything you do will affect somebody. We’re connected to other countries and other economies; we’re connected to undocumented immigrants. We’re connected to every decision our leaders make. We are not as isolated as we think. What we do, good or bad, creates one big ricochet effect.”
The title track begins with a subtle mix of drum machine beats and acoustic guitar before escalating into a soaring rock anthem. Its release is paired with a dynamic performance video contrasting self-absorption with destruction. McIlrath says: “When I was writing Ricochet, I couldn’t shake this image: people dancing while bombs and bullets careened overhead. That contrast — the obliviousness of joy against the backdrop of destruction — felt like the world we’re living in. The video brings that to life. It’s about more than action and reaction. It’s about how even our silence, even our detachment, carries weight. Every choice, every shrug, every shot fired — they all ricochet.”
Produced by Grammy winner Catherine Marks (known for work with Boygenius, Foals, Manchester Orchestra, St. Vincent) and mixed by Alan Moulder (Nine Inch Nails, Paramore, Queens of the Stone Age, The Killers), Ricochet merges introspective moments with fiery political energy. The record avoids moral superiority while tackling urgent social topics. The title track follows the singles “I Want It All”, “Prizefighter”, and “Nod”, which outlets like Rolling Stone have called “a particularly potent rallying cry for the moment” and Vice described as “the anthem we need right now.”
Elsewhere on the album, Rise Against explores apocalyptic themes in “Black Crown”, challenges false promises made to younger generations in “Gold Long Gone”, warns against blind loyalty in “Soldier”, addresses mental health struggles in “Sink Like A Stone”, and critiques media sensationalism in “State Of Emergency”. Throughout, the band maintains a thread of optimism for lasting change.
Drawing inspiration from one of their favorite literary quotes — “in a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act” — McIlrath, along with bandmates Joe Principe (bass/vocals), Zach Blair (guitar/vocals), and Brandon Barnes (drums), has woven that philosophy into their growing catalog of multi-gold and platinum hits. Their music has filled arenas, topped charts, broken records, and amassed billions of streams while rallying millions of fans around progressive causes.
Recently returning to the Vans Warped Tour, performing at Los Angeles’s Kia Forum, headlining festivals, and touring across three continents, Rise Against is set to embark on another run of arena and amphitheater shows across the U.S. this fall. Since the release of 2021’s Nowhere Generation, their anthems addressing injustice, instability, environmental concerns, animal rights, and systemic inequality have resonated with more listeners than ever — cementing their role as one of rock’s most enduring voices for change.
