This Chicago band doesn't just play punk—they live it, embodying their name with politically fuelled thrashers and socially conscious anthems powered by hardcore's heart-racing riffs and rhythms. Early tracks like "The Art of Losing" prove that faster is more furious, as Tim McIlrath's guttural shouts break through a fiery flurry of guitar and thick bass. But Rise Against also have a knack for melody, boosting their sound with some heavy-metal sizzle on "Re-Education (Through Labor)" and even pulling a Green Day-inspired pop move with the poignant acoustic ballad "Swing Life Away".