Artist of the Week: Rise Against

Here's the deal, just like last week, this week's artist has just released a new album. Besides them being two of my favorite bands, that's pretty much where the similarities end. But just to make sure, let's get to know them a little better, and who knows. We might just find something else they have in common. The band came together in Chicago back in 1999. Although the band has seen a couple of line-up changes, Tim McIlrath (Vocals, Guitar) and Joe Principe (Bass) have always been the norm. The current line-up includes Brandon Barnes (Drums) and Zach Blair (Guitar). In 2000, they signed with a label and started recording their first album. They released The Unraveling in 2001 and Revolutions per Minute in 2003. Although the band toured extensively to promote both albums, they did not get the success they wanted. What they did get was the attention of some major labels. In 2003, the band signed with Dreamworks records and started recording their next album. At this time, Dreamworks was bought by Universal Music Group and the band's contract was taken over by Geffen Records. Then in August of 2004, the band released Siren Song of the Counter Culture. The album was a huge success thanks to singles like "Give it All", "Life Less Frightening" and "Swing Life Away" which made it to #12 in The Billboard top 200. The band would help promote the album by touring all over the world during the Taste of Chaos and Warped Tour, with bands like Story of the Year, The Used and Alkaline Trio. In 2005, the band went back into the studio to record their next album. Then in July of 2006, the band released The Sufferer & the Witness. The album would jump to #10 on the Billboard top 200 thanks to singles like "Prayer of the Refugee", "Ready to Fall", and "The Good Left Undone". The band would go on tour with My Chemical Romance as well as their own headlining tour in support of the album. During the tour, they announced that they would begin working on a new album in early 2008 and try for a summer release. Well it wasn't a summer release, but they still got it to us and that's all that matters. Last week, the band released their new album Appeal to Reason.

I haven't heard every song yet, but from what I have, I can tell that this is gonna be another great album. That being said, this week's artist is Rise Against with their video and first single Re-Education (Through Labor), enjoy.