Tim McIlrath has never been one to bite his tongue. The Rise Against frontman has spent over two decades weaving political activism into the fabric of his music, and in today’s climate, his voice is more urgent than ever.
In a recent interview with Eyes Closed and Messed!Up Magazine, McIlrath discussed the role of hope in his songwriting, stating:
“We might take you to a dark place, but before the song is over, there’s a trail of breadcrumbs to lead you out. We want people to see the problems in the world, but also know they are not insurmountable.”
Calling Out the Radical Right
As the world grapples with the rise of far-right ideologies, McIlrath made it clear that Rise Against is not backing down.
“We’ve been speaking out against this since day one. Punk and hardcore have always been anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-homophobic, pro-science, and pro-truth. If a movement harbors hate, it’s not a revolution—it’s regression.”
He believes the current political climate is exposing the true face of the radical right, and he sees it as an opportunity for people to reject those ideologies outright.
“The silver lining? People are waking up to how backward and anti-science these ideologies are. And when given the chance, I believe they will reject them.”
The Role of Punk in Uncertain Times
McIlrath also spoke about the growing sense of urgency among their fans, comparing today’s tensions to the post-9/11 era when Rise Against first emerged.
“People don’t just come to our shows for fun anymore. They come because they need it. They need to be in a room with like-minded people who care about the future of the world.”
New Music and the ‘Rise of the Roach’ Tour
Rise Against recently dropped “Nod,” their first new music in three years, produced by Catherine Marks and mixed by Alan Moulder. The track is expected to appear on their upcoming album, a follow-up to 2021’s Nowhere Generation.
The band is currently on tour in Europe and will hit U.S. arenas later this year alongside Papa Roach for the “Rise of the Roach” co-headlining tour.
“This is the kind of era our band was built for,” McIlrath concluded. “We’ve been having these conversations for 25 years, and we’re not stopping now.”
