The Unraveling by Rise Against (CD, Apr-2001, Fat Wreck Chords)

Before starting the review, please note that this review is for the 2001 version of The Unraveling. This is NOT a review of the 2005 remix/remaster, which is a far better album version both in quality and fidelity. Please remember to take that into consideration upon reading this review. Thank you.

The Unraveling is the first release of the major punk band Rise Against. Recorded in 2001 through Fat Mike's (from NOFX) label Fat Wreck Chords, The Unraveling is a sincere attempt by the band to bring a fresh perspective into the punk genre. With a good balance of screaming and melody, the band tweaks the melodic hardcore side of punk and provides an honest attempt at making a forgotten sound more accessible.

However, there are problems. By no mistake is The Unraveling a genuinely interesting (and fun!) album, but sadly the poor mastering and recording quality overshadows the true flair of Rise Against.

Songs such as "Alive and Well," "The Unraveling," and "Weight of Time" begin with furious attempts at hard-edged bass lines; but the poor quality of the mixing completely ruins any emotion sought to be earned. "Alive and Well"' opening with "Are you ready to rock?" shows us that Rise Against mean's business, but the weakness of the opening riff is almost laughable. Again, this is by no means a reflection of the band's ability as serious performers; it's the sound quality that kills the emotion.

"Everchanging" could be considered one of the best songs on the 2005 remaster of the album, if not in Rise Against's entire career. The lyrics are filled with emotion, detailing the compassion and heartbreak of a lost bond between two people. Very rarely is pathos so powerful felt from other bands, if not within the punk genre at all. The 2005 remaster is beautiful, but, as always, the poor quality of the 2001 album hurts "Everchanging," with the clicks and pops of the recording severely damaging this incredible track.

As an example of the recording's failure to live up to the band's attempt, "Remains of Summer Memories" suffers a fate similar to "Everchanging," this time impacting the vocals. The beginning line is full of that classic McIlrath yell, but with the muffle from the mastering, emotions simply bubble just below the surface. It's a very sad impact on a fantastic voice. This problem isn't present in the 2005 remaster, where McIlrath's updated intro completely wipes out any competition.

To close this review, I'm going to be honest: Rise Against is phenomenal, the The Unraveling is no exception. If it weren't for the poor mastering/mixing done by the studio, the 2001 version would have greatly accelerated the band's rise to punk stardom. If you're just trying to complete your Rise Against library, then do yourself a favor and buy the 2005 version. It's the same album, but everything is redone and the quality is so much higher. Unless you're a serious-minded collector, there's not really a reason to purchase the 2001 original.