The Unraveling is the debut studio album released by Chicago-based melodic hardcore band Rise Against. The album is a perfect blend of classic hardcore mosh tracks, and slower more traditional rock songs. Similar to their later album The Black Market, most of the songs on The Unraveling are about life and personal issues.
A lot of bands take a few albums to really get their sound down, but The Unraveling is already, unabashedly, a Rise Against album. Featuring plenty of Tim McIlrath fry screaming, guitar octaves, and vocal harmonies.
One of the most unique features of this album is it's cover art, designed by Chicago-based illustrator/tattoo artist Tim Biedron. It has a similar abstract look that is reminiscent of the cover of The Sufferer and the Witness.
Are you ready to rock?
Now's the time
To rearrange your life
Live for something
Outside of your own mind
We all dream
The same dream every night
To burn the world that you call civilized
Alive and well
I live to be alive
I live to always strive
For something more
Alive and well
I'll never understand
The who, what, why or when
Of you tonight...
We face the stares of judgement
And almost everyday
The shaking heads
Of disapproval say
"Pray for you to give me something then find out that there was nothing left"
Alive and well
I live to be alive
I live to always strive
For something more
Cause I'm alive and well
I'll never understand
The who, what, why or when
Of you tonight...
Recite the words inside
Realize that this is nothing
Without your voice
I'm not giving up
Not giving up
Not giving up
And I'll blame the worst on you
I know what's wrong
Alive and well
I live to be alive
I live to always strive
For something more
Cause I'm alive and well
Nothing ventured, nothing gained
And I don't need to explain
Myself to you
Myself to you
Fighting back the impulse turn my head and close my eyes
Spending these nights awake and cold and paralyzed
Wonder how we got this far and never realized
The common thread that binds our lives
And I know you hurt
But I can help you if you can...
Take my hand
And we'll live inside the dreams we left behind
Take my hand
As we move from this place to a better life
Take my hand
Woah
If you take my hand
Fighting back the feeling that you always could deny
Anything but everything we know is just a lie
As I cremate this memory and watch the darkened ashes rise
And beneath the smoke
I'll stand and ask you if you can...
Take my hand
And I'll promise not to ever let it go
Take my hand
Cause this hope is greater than you'll ever know
(Take my hand!)
And this is all I'll ever ask of you to show
Fight back the urges
Turn my head and close my eyes
And will I wake tomorrow still alive
I'm still dreaming
I'm still waiting
I'm still sure
(I'm still sure!)
You're still living in a life
That isn't yours
(That isn't yours!)
And this is part of me
I hope you never see
This is my life inside your heart
Take my hand
And I'll promise not to ever let it go
Take my hand
Cause this hope is greater than you'll ever know
(Take my hand)
And this is all I'll ever ask of you to show