Rise Against rose from the anarchic ferments of late-90s to early-2000s Chicago; a united front on the no-man's border between punk and post-hardcore, the only salvo survivors today being Joe Principe, Tim McIlrath, Zach Blair and Brandon Barnes. Revolutions Per Minute drew its name from a useful double entendre for any vinyl collector seeking system defection. Tighter and darker than the 2001 debut, its lyrics run from intra-band relationships to status quo negation, and the sound channels a riveting, subtly experimental pop punk energy.