Rise Against have released their second new single of the year, Prizefighter. It’s a track that digs into the push-pull between artistic autonomy and the mounting weight of expectation.
Out now via Loma Vista, Prizefighter is less rally cry, more internal monologue. It’s Tim McIlrath at his most reflective. He breaks down the cost of creating, performing, and showing up for a fanbase when your mind’s not always on your side. “It’s about a compulsion to create,” he said, “and the responsibility that comes with it—what you owe your fans versus what you owe yourself.”
Sonically, it’s everything Rise Against do best: urgent, melodic, and loaded with tension. Produced by Catherine Marks (Boygenius, Foals) and mixed by Alan Moulder (NIN, QOTSA, Paramore), it’s a polished punch to the chest that doesn’t water down the grit.
The track follows Nod, their first new material since 2021. That one landed hard post-inauguration, drawing a line in the sand with its message about community, technology and not tuning out. Prizefighter hits differently. It’s less about the world and more about staying steady in it.
The video blends symbolism with live footage, capturing the band’s connection to their audience without needing to spell it out. It also reinforces what’s clear in the music: Rise Against aren’t here to play the algorithm, they’re here to make it personal.
They’ve spent 2025 touring across three continents, and they’re still in the thick of it. Their Rise of the Roach tour rolls through North America this winter, with European festival slots and amphitheatre dates lined up through the back half of the year.
With Prizefighter, Rise Against continue to evolve without diluting their core: fast, loud, emotionally sharp punk with a pulse and a purpose.
And at a time when most bands are either burning out or blending in, they’re still swinging. Still showing up, still fighting the fight.
You can listen to the track below.
