After the recent wave of proposed and actual book bans, Rise Against recently shared a cinematic, action-packed new video for their latest single Pain Mgmt. The video was directed by activist art collective Indecline and depicts a world where literary works are under attack. Indecline explained “Of the many unthinkable battles we find ourselves forced into by those who seem hell bent on paralyzing an educated and inspired populace, the battle for knowledge seems more relevant today than it ever has. From our classrooms to our collectives, knowledge is the only weapon that can liberate a people without violence. In the face of the ever changing brands of fascism and control, all resources and energy must be exhausted to ensure everyone has access to their own mental and spiritual liberation.”
The band’s singer and guitarist Tim McIlrath stated: “‘Pain Mgmt’ is one of my favourite songs off II, and Indecline went way above and beyond creating this video that manages to pack so much narrative, suspense, and meaning into one song.”
As McIlrath said in his statement the track comes off the Nowhere Generation II EP, which was released back in June via Loma Vista Recordings. It is a five song collection which was produced by Bill Stevenson (The Descendents, Black Flag) and was written and recorded alongside 2020’s album Nowhere Generation. Pain Mgmt followed after the EP’s lead single Last Man Standing.
Nowhere Generation II focuses on a generation younger than the band, those struggling to find a path forward in an increasingly inhospitable world. The impulse to dig into these issues first came after McIlrath met fans all across the globe, everywhere from the United States to Australia to Japan to Germany and each of them were articulating similar apprehensions. The EP is available now both digitally as well as on CD and cassette, with the vinyl version set to arrive in stores soon. Fans can pre-order the vinyl now.
Rise Against are also set to embark on a European tour that will close out 2022 running through most of November, with tickets still available. You can also keep up to date with the band via their Twitter.
Rise Against European Tour Dates:
11/03 – Zurich, CH – Halle 622
11/04 – Paris, FR – Bataclan
11/06 – Amsterdam, NL – AFAS Live
11/07 – Esch-sur-Alzette, LU – Rockhal
11/09 – Vienna, AT – Stadthalle
11/11 – Düsseldorf, DE – Mitsubishi Electric Halle
11/12 – Leipzig, DE – Quarterback Immobilien Arena
11/13 – Hamburg, DE – Barclaycard Arena
11/15 – Munich, DE – Zenith
11/17 – Berlin, DE – Max Schmeling Halle
11/18 – Frankfurt, DE – Festhalle
11/19 – Stuttgart, DE – Porsche Arena
11/21 – London, UK – O2 Academy Brixton
11/22 – Manchester, UK – Manchester Academy
11/23 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Academy Birmingham
