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If ever there was a year to release a political punk album it was 2008, when the U.S. was consumed by the wildest presidential campaign in modern history. It seems like the perfect backdrop for Rise Against to release Appeal to Reason, their third major-label record, and in a way it is -- certainly, the group rages against the moral decay rotting the core of the U.S. on the opening "Collapse (Post-Amerika)," just as they strike out against the slow dumbing down of America on "Re-Education (Of Labor)" and tell Iraqi soldier stories on "Hero of War." The latter showcases the acoustic guitars that helped goose 2006's The Sufferer & the Witness into the Billboard Top Ten but the rest boast the manic rapid-fire hardcore delivery that hearkens back to Rise Against's politically minded forefathers Bad Religion. This balance of plaintive modern folk and carefully traditional protest punk is offset by Rise Against's increasingly strong fondness for heavy, slick production, the kind where the rhythms are too tight and the guitars overdriven and clean, the kind where it sounds more like '80s metal than '80s punk. Rise Against is hardly the only modern punk band to be weighed down by this contradiction -- it's entirely too devoted on chops and gear, Guitar Center punk -- but it stings a little more with them as their ambitions, smarts, and skills are higher than their peers. They seem like they shouldn't have such a beefy, big sound, particularly as it obscures their message, giving the group a weird dichotomy: they are clean, accomplished musicians and sincere, socially conscious rockers but those two halves don't complement each other well, at least not on the well-intentioned Appeal to Reason. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
more albums by this artist
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- The Sufferer & The Witness (Parental Advisory)
- Released 2006
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- Siren Song Of The Counter-Culture
- Released 2004
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- Revolutions Per Minute
- Released 2003
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- The Unraveling (Re-Issue)
- Released 2005
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listener reviews
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Hero of War
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- By Unlocking Me
- 10/9/2009 02:42:46
- Hero of War should be on top of the charts for all military people and all listeners to Rise Against. This song has the picture of what is like to be in military, but it should get a award for being the most emotionally impacting song to those that have a person in or out of duty. i Give a Solute to all military out there.
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Great Album
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- By EqualCircle
- 8/11/2009 13:02:22
- Got the album a couple weeks ago and its quite good. Hero of War really hits home being that it does a good job capturing the military life.
- 1 out of 1 people
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great new singer!
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- By PacificKooLAID
- 8/3/2009 17:02:35
- that's it
- 0 out of 4 people
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Great Band Great Music
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- By bustEDjynx
- 7/24/2009 23:45:21
- Just about every song can make you push down that gas peddel a little more and the lyrics are so driven that you can't help but pay attention. As with thier other albums they have fantastic transistions in the guitar rythms as well as a pop vocal harmony, understandably they don't fall under the tradition of what most consider punk but the soul of punk still exists in thier music and within thier sound.
- 2 out of 2 people
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One of the Best Albums i know
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- By ATL Baird
- 7/12/2009 16:53:56
- these songs are emotionally packed songs that have feeling even if its bad they aren't afraid ti piss people off witch is a great trait to have if your an entertainer
- 1 out of 2 people
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Hero of War
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- By Crowder B
- 3/6/2009 11:35:19
- This is definitely one of the best songs on this album.
- 2 out of 4 people
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Hero Of War
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- By GhoulishBlade
- 1/9/2009 05:37:38
- I love this song. Very touching. love the beat, lyrics, and vocals.
- 2 out of 3 people
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Razr Review
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- By xxxRazrAdventxx
- 12/10/2008 02:24:54
- Great album I just got it today and I've alrady listened to it about ten times on my stereo. Best songs have to be Re-Education (Through Labor), Entertainment, Savior, The Dirt Whispered, and Collapse (Post-Amerika).
- 6 out of 6 people
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bullshit!!!
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- By Xz ViTaLiTY zX
- 12/6/2008 02:09:10
- i downloaded hero of war and tried to play it and it says i didnt get it from zune marketplace but i did thats shit
- 0 out of 15 people
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KICK ASS
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- By IMakeItRain1992
- 11/24/2008 00:26:58
- this is probably my fav album, The dirt hispered is such a badass song!
- 4 out of 6 people
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