Rise Against's music was initially characterized by its gritty combination of hardcore punk and melodic hardcore.[9] With the release of Appeal to Reason, the band's music shifted toward a more accessible and radio-friendly sound, with greater emphasis on production value.[10] The band members are well known for their outspoken social commentary, which often permeates their lyrics.[11] Songs like "Hero of War" and "Survivor Guilt" question the brutality of modern warfare,[12] while "Prayer of the Refugee" is about forced displacement.[13] Not all Rise Against songs discuss controversial topics, such as "Savior", which is about forgiveness and broken relationships.[14]
Tim McIlrath is Rise Against's primary lyricist, while the band members collectively write the music for their songs.[15] Six out of the band's nine albums have been recorded at The Blasting Room in Fort Collins, Colorado, with producers Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore.[16] Of the band's 142 songs, nineteen have been released as singles, while three have been promotional singles. Rise Against's best charting singles are "Help Is on the Way", which reached number eighty-nine on the Billboard Hot 100;[17] and "Savior", which held the record for the most consecutive weeks spent on both the Hot Rock Songs and Alternative Songs charts, with sixty-three and sixty-five weeks respectively.[18][b] Two singles from Siren Song of the Counter Culture, "Give It All" and "Swing Life Away", helped Rise Against achieve mainstream appeal.[20]
^Rise Against originally signed with DreamWorks Records in 2003,[3] but when DreamWorks Records folded into Geffen Records, the band switched labels.[4]
^"Sail" by Awolnation broke the longevity record on the Hot Rock Songs chart, where it spent ninety-six weeks.[19]
^"Boy's No Good" was included in the Australian tour edition.[34]
^"Broadcast[Signal]Frequency" was included in the Best Buy deluxe edition.[35]
^"Built to Last" was included in the UK edition.[37]
^"But Tonight We Dance" was included in the Australian tour edition.[34]
^"Elective Amnesia" was included in the iTunes edition.[40]
^"Escape Artists" was included in the Japanese edition.[41]
^"Fix Me" was included in the 2005 special edition.[42]
^"Historia Calamitatum" was included in the Australian edition.[51]
^"Kick Out the Jams" was included in the Best Buy edition.[55]
^"Lanterns" was included in the iTunes edition.[56]
^"Megaphone" was included in the Best Buy deluxe edition.[35]
^"Sight Unseen" was included in the Japanese edition.[69]
^Sculley, Alan (November 16, 2006). "Entertainment: Rising Stars / Rise Against Joins Thursday At Showboat's House Of Blues". The Press of Atlantic City. Pleasantville, New Jersey. p. 19.
Yancey, Bryne (May 27, 2013). "Rise Against – RPM10 (2013)". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on September 17, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
^Trust, Gary (October 2, 2010). "Extended Stays". Billboard. Vol. 122, no. 39. p. 42. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
^The Eco-Terrorist In Me 7" (liner notes). Rise Against. Interscope Records. 2015.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ abcdefghijklRevolutions per Minute (liner notes). Rise Against. Fat Wreck Chords. 2003.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ abcdefghijklmThe Sufferer & the Witness (liner notes). Rise Against. Geffen Records. 2007.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ abcdefghijklEndgame (liner notes). Rise Against. DGC Records, Interscope Records. 2011.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ abcdefghijklmAppeal to Reason (liner notes). Rise Against. DGC Records, Interscope Records. 2008.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"Audience of One" (CD single). Rise Against. DGC, Interscope. 2009.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ abcdefghijklThe Black Market (liner notes). Rise Against. Interscope Records. 2014.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ abcdThe Sufferer & the Witness (Australian Tour Edition) (liner notes). Rise Against. Geffen Records. 2007.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ abSiren Song of the Counter Culture (2005 special edition) (liner notes). Rise Against. Geffen Records. 2004.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"Prayer of the Refugee" (CD single). Rise Against. Geffen. 2006.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"Re-Education (Through Labor)" (CD single). Rise Against. DGC, Interscope. 2008.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"Ready to Fall" (CD single). Rise Against. Geffen. 2006.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"Satellite" (CD single). Rise Against. DGC, Interscope. 2011.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"Savior" (CD single). Rise Against. DGC, Interscope. 2009.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^August, Justin (September 28, 2006). "The Falcon / Red Scare". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on September 17, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
^"Swing Life Away" (CD single). Rise Against. Geffen. 2005.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)