Headlining a tour which shares the name of their recently released album, political-punk act Rise Against spent two nights playing shows at The House of Blues last weekend in Boston. The band brought along Massachusetts-based Four Year Strong to open for them, followed by the well known punk band Bad Religion. Both openers drew a large number of fans; more than at an average show. Four Year Strong’s set was on the short side, Bad Religion played more than fifteen songs, and Rise Against wrapped the night up with closer to twenty songs, from fan favorites to brand new ones off of Endgame.

The angst-ridden lyrics and powerful guitar lines punk rock band Rise Against are famous for mesh perfectly in the Guitar Hero library of tracks.‚  Heavy, head-banging choruses, yet in an oddly melodious nature are the staple of Rise Against’s work and are hella fun to play along to.

If the multi-dozen list of tracks we revealed earlier this week didn’t do it for you, Activision announced today three more tunes from Rise Against available for Guitar Hero World Tour March 12^th.

The Rise Against Track Pack will include:

• “Death Blossoms,” a previously unreleased single composed and recorded exclusively for World Tour.
• “Audience of One,” the hit single off the band’s new album Appeal to Reason.
• “Ready to Fall,” from their 2006 album The Sufferer & The Witness.

Rise Against in no stranger to the Guitar Hero family of titles.‚  “Prayer of the Refugee” was featured on Guitar Hero 3, and “Re-education through labor” is available on World Tour.‚  Both of which are high energy, fast paced, finger bleeding songs that are very fun to play.

Furthermore, as part of Xbox Live’s “Game with Fame” promotion, virtual rockers have the chance to shred alongside Tim Mcllrath, lead vocalist for Rise Against March 14^th from 11:00AM-1:00PM PST.‚  All you have to do is send a friend request to GHRiseAgainst1, download the new tracks, and hope for the best!

Tim Riley, Vice President of Music Affairs for Activision Blizzard had this say regarding Rise Against’s involvement with the title:

“Guitar Hero continues to be a platform for artists to deliver new music while gaining invaluable exposure, we are thrilled that Rise Against was willing to compose and record ‘Death Blossoms’ exclusively for our audience offering fans an opportunity to download music heard nowhere else.”

The Rise Against track pack will be available March 14^th on Xbox Live for 440 MS points or through the PlayStation store for $5.49.‚  If you don’t want all three, each song will be available individually for 160MS points / $1.99 and 200 Wii Points.

About Activision:

SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 6, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ — On March 12th, Rise Against will join the growing roster of artists to debut exclusively created music to Guitar Hero fans with the debut of “Death Blossoms” as downloadable content for Activision Publishing, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: ATVI) Guitar Hero(R) World Tour.

The Guitar Hero alums, with “Prayer of the Refuge” and “Re-Education (Through Labor)” appearing in previous versions of Guitar Hero, complete the Rise Against Track Pack with “Audience of One,” the hit single off the band’s new album Appeal to Reason and “Ready to Fall,” from their 2006 album The Sufferer & The Witness.

Commemorating the release of the highly anticipated Rise Against Track Pack, virtual rockstars will have the unique opportunity to join Tim McIlrath on the digital stage for performances of Rise Against smash hits. For a chance to rock with the Chicago native in the Game with Fame on March 14th from 1:00 to 3:00 PM Central (11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Pacific) in Guitar Hero World Tour on the Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, send a friend request to the gamertag GHRiseAgainst1.

“Guitar Hero continues to be a platform for artists to deliver new music while gaining invaluable exposure,” says Tim Riley, Vice President of Music Affairs for Activision Blizzard. “We are thrilled that Rise Against was willing to compose and record ‘Death Blossoms’ exclusively for our audience offering fans an opportunity to download music heard nowhere else.”

Rise Against is vocalist Tim McIlrath, bassist Joe Principe, drummer Brandon Barnes and guitarist Zach Blair. In spring 2001, the band released their debut CD “The Unraveling” on Fat Wreck Chords. After two years of solid touring, Rise Against recorded “Revolutions Per Minute” (2002), followed by “Siren Song Of The Counter-Culture” (2004). “The Sufferer & the Witness” was released in 2006 and debuted at #10 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. Rise Against released their fifth studio album, Appeal To Reason, on DGC/Interscope Records last fall and it debuted at #3 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart as well as spending one week at #1 on the iTunes album chart. First single, “Re-Education (Through Labor),” was a top 2 hit at modern rock radio and new single “Audience Of One” is poised to top the charts as well. Rise Against will embark on a summer headlining tour with special guest Rancid.

The Rise Against Track Pack will be available March 12th on Xbox LIVE(R) Marketplace for Xbox 360(R) for 440 Microsoft Points and on the PlayStation(R)Store for the PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system for $5.49. “Death Blossoms,” “Audience of One” and “Ready to Fall” will be released individually as downloadable singles for Xbox 360 for 160 Microsoft Points, PLAYSTATION 3 system for $1.99 and Wii(TM) for 200 Wii Points each.

Guitar Hero World Tour transforms music gaming by expanding Guitar Hero’s signature guitar gameplay into a cooperative band experience that combines the most advanced wireless controllers with new revolutionary online* and offline gameplay modes including Band Career and 8-player “Battle of the Bands,” which allows two full bands to compete head-to-head online. The game features a slick newly redesigned guitar controller, drum kit controller and a wired microphone, as well as an innovative Music Studio music creator that lets players compose, record, edit and share their own rock ‘n’ roll anthems. Music creators are also able to share their recordings with their friends online through GHTunes(SM) where other gamers can download and play an endless supply of unique creations.

Guitar Hero World Tour is now available for Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, the Wii home video game system from Nintendo and the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system. The game is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB. For more information on Guitar Hero World Tour, please visit worldtour.guitarhero.com.

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.

Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and South Korea. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com.

With so many of today’s bands producing music for the masses, it’s refreshing when a act comes along with a sound truly their own.

The Swill Merchants perform with a passion that only comes from a love of the music, taking them to a plane far above any band playing for a love of money.

The true magnitude of this can only be fully appreciated by seeing them live, beer in hand, grooving with the crowd. Before they go on, the five guys bullshit with their friends and fans, throw back some shots of Jack, and don’t appear any different from the rest of the hipsters and drinkers in the audience.

You might be able to compare their music to Modest Mouse or Rise Against. With focused expressions you don’t recognize, compared to the guys you just took a shot with five minutes ago.

The show has begun.

“We live life to realize potential and be fulfilled, live hard, and unlimited — that is what we sing about,” said bassist John St. Onge.

Never is that lifestyle more apparent than when they are on stage.

The road to forming Swill Merchants was not smoothly paved, but it has all come together to form a cohesive unit.

The light at the end of the tunnel has always been the same. “We write what we want to hear and what makes us feel how we want to feel” St. Onge said.

St. Onge met up with lead singer Rich Tardy in a band called Dorzia. Coming from there, the pair was in a quest to make music they loved, the pair left that band and set off creating one that they could pour their souls into.

Steve Fey, the band’s guitarist, brings an undeniable skill that leaves you breathless watching and listening.

Their drummer was not so easy to find, but a few years and a few people later, Bill Nacewicz adds skill and technicality that unifies the whole group.

The most recent addition to the band came in the form of a synthesizer. The role has since been expanded into a synthesizer and keyboard with Matt Silberstein manning both.

Although not one of the most noticeable aspects of their show the depth of sound that Silberstein creates cannot be denied.

With an inspired rocking sound and a live show that is sure to keep you entertained the Swill Merchants offer the music world the total package. Beyond good looks and rocking tunes, these five guys encompass a love and passion for their work.

“Of course we get nervous,” St. Onge said. “These are our emotions on display. But we only get one trip.”