“…A gem of a record that manages to walk the line of recaputuring the heart of his early works yet still feels totally vibrant for today …moments that shine best here are the album opening “Touching The Divine”, “The Death of Me”, the Stones-ish balladry of “Waiting On The Demons” and “HYPE”. Keifer’s second act is something to rise up and cheer. – Chad Childers, Loudwire (RISE Top 50 albums of 2019)
“…a return to form for KEIFER and company. RISE features a cross section of tunes that cull inspiration from NIGHT SONGS and LONG COLD WINTER with a potent, modern age punch that will please diehard and casual fans alike. On RISE, KEIFER is showing the kids and his contemporaries how it’s done. Well done KEIFER BAND. 5.0 Out Of 5.0” — Ruben Mosqueda, KNAC.com (RISE #3 Top 10 albums of 2019)
“TOM KEIFER is an outstanding guitarist and songwriter, and that’s apparent on his solo music. KEIFER’s 2019 release, RISE stands out for its gritty songs and riffs, with each track offering its own character.” — Anne Erickson, Audio Ink Radio (RISE #22 Best Albums of the Decade: Rock and Metal in the 2010s)
“The former Cinderella mastermind’s second solo release contains Rolling Stones nods (‘Waiting on the Demons,’ ‘Breaking Down’), Cinderella-styled scorchers (‘All Amped Up,’ ‘Life Was Here’), and modern sounds (‘The Death of Me,’ ‘Hype,’ ‘Untitled’). ‘You Believe in Me’ is a soul-baring tribute to his wife/songwriting partner/bandmate, Savannah. KEIFER and Tony Higbee trigger ringing acoustic and electric parts throughout.” — Bret Adams, Vintage Guitar
“In sum, with RISE, TOM KEIFER succeeds in proving (once again) to be an artist who knows no creative boundaries and remains in a league of his own.” — Christopher Long, Ink19.com
“Brutish riff-rock intensity comes stampeding from the speakers carrying forth a lead vocal from Tom Keifer that instantly sends a powerful rush through our systems. In both the music video for “HYPE” and the track itself, Keifer and his eponymous #keiferband return to the spotlight with some of the heaviest riffs he’s ever committed to master tape via an anti-establishment anthem handcrafted for hard-rockers and metalheads everywhere. Hard rock with heart and a little brains is still reigning supreme thanks to artists like Tom Keifer. If you’ve been hungry for some heavy grooves, this is the first song/video combo I would point you towards.” — John McCall https://toomuchlovemagazine.com/
“Set to the pace of a grinding groove that recalls both White Zombie and Soundgarden simultaneously, the guitars that come crashing through in full-color stereo in Tom Keifer’s “HYPE” are as thick and smoking as they come. “HYPE” reminds us that righteous riffing is the cornerstone of every great rock song in history. Keifer is coming into the spotlight at a time for rock music that has seen more underwhelming content than it has any of the chest-beating gems that made the genre great in the first place. He’s one of the only artists bringing any sort of heat into the studio nowadays. Rockers everywhere, keep a close eye on #keiferband ‘s work in this unfolding decade.”
— Mindy McCall https://indiepulsemusic.com/
“It’s difficult to predict what’s about to come clawing its way out of the white noise the song begins with. In “HYPE” Keifer sits in the eye of the hurricane but his presence is never obscured by the destruction #keiferband is producing. It takes a big voice to come out on top in a situation like this. For Tom Keifer, said voice seems to come as second nature. Tom Keifer is playing for keeps in this latest single and anyone who expected less than another stellar addition to his discography is in for quite the surprise to say the least.” — Scott Carlito https://indiebandguru.com/
“Tom Keifer has come back as a force to be reckoned with. #keiferband’s latest release RISE features the hard-hitting single “HYPE”. Written with Savannah Keifer, the track is loaded with distorted sounds and big guitar chords. Keifer wields the power with that ever-present voice as the guitar moves around him and the drums smash explosively. True to the hard rock power of the track, the video is all green light and shadows. The band is showcased with their larger-than-life personalities as Tom Keifer leads the show.” — Kaitlin Ruether http://newsickmusic.com/
“Yet the biggest surprise proves to be among the heavier offerings of the bunch in ‘Hype’ and ‘The Death Of Me,’ which have more of a muddy groove that is dark and forbidding enough to rival the heaviest fair heard on Motley Crue’s mid-90s eponymous quasi-grunge opus.” — Sonic Perspectives Sonicperspectives.com