"We've written our Bush-hating songs and our anti-war songs," says Rise Against's Tim McIlrath. "I don't want to be beating a dead horse thematically." So on the Chicago punk group's fifth disc, McIlrath and his crew focused their energies on other political and social injustices. "Collapse (Post-Amerika)" takes on the destruction of the environment, and "Re-Education (Through Labor)" imagines blue-collar workers overthrowing the wealthy. The group has expanded its sonic arsenal, too, after spending last year opening for My Chemical Romance. "I love that band — they have a great sound," says McIlrath. "Some of these songs trickled down from those shows that are still in our ears."

"Re-Education (Through Labor)"

Behind-the-scenes video of Rise Against.

Listen to "Re-Education (Through Labor)"

Check out all of the albums in the 2008 Fall Music Preview