Music Review: Wilson, Right To Rise

By Tyler Hodg

Many would argue that rock’n’roll is in a sad state of suffering, and to be honest, those people have a strong case. Very few bands are flying the rock flag with originality and honesty, which is the core essence of the genre. Detroit band Wilson isn’t shy about the music they love and play, but which side of the respect coin are they on? Unfortunately, their latest release Right To Rise proves that they, as of right now, aren’t the band to lead the rock’n’roll army to victory.

Opening the album, the title track “Right To Rise” doesn’t actually get off to a bad start. Setting a clear vision of what’s to come, the song features decent guitar work and is produced and recorded to perfection. In fact, all is well until singer Chad Nicefield adds his voice to the track. Nicefield is not a bad singer by any means, nor do his vocals feel out of place with the music, but his lyrics instantly add a cringe-worthy factor. The final line of the first verse, “Only the darkness knows our names / Covered in black, we walk through flames” only reiterates the brutally lame, “macho-badass” image that rock’n’roll is often associated with. Rock’n’roll is about passion and truth, not forced representations sold to a misguided audience.

From the title track to the best-of-the-worst finale of “Before I Burn,” there is little variation between songs in terms of theme and general sound. Each track blends to create one extremely long hell-raising, fist-pumping bro-fest, with “I Am the Fly” being the only (slight) rest for the wicked. The song commences with a slower and cleaner feel, but quickly reverts back to Wilson’s musical safe-house. It would have been refreshing had the band chosen to continue down the alternate path into diversity, but it seems as though that just wasn’t in the design of Right to Rise.

Not to discredit Wilson’s work ethic or willingness to do whatever it takes to become successful, but Right to Rise is cock-rock at its finest. There is little originality in either the music or lyrics, and the band shows absolutely no remorse for their clear attempt at fitting into the absurd pre-conceived notion of what a rock band should be. After listening to Right To Rise and its regressive attitude, it’s regrettably apparent that bands like Wilson are the reason why rock’n’roll is in a sad state in the first place.

Right To Rise was released on June 29 from Razor & Tie.

Tour Dates:
July 10 – Winchester, VA – Blue Fox Billiards
July 11 – Wilmington, NC – Ziggys
July 14 – Albany, NY – Trick Shots
July 15 – New York, NY – Studio
July 17 – Lancaster, PA – Chameleon
July 18 – Pawtucket, RI – The Met
July 19 – Syracuse, NY – Lost Horizon
July 21 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre
July 23 – Toledo, OH – Frankies
July 24 – South Bend, IN – Cheers Pub
July 25 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Stache
July 26 – Columbus, OH – Al Rosa
July 28 – Joplin, MO – Venue 3405
July 31 – Ringle, WI – Q&Z
August 1 – Minneapolis, MN – Povs
August 7 – Montreal, Canada – Heavy Montreal 2015 (with Slipknot)