Website: Rage
The Inside Pulse:
It seems as though in Germany, metal bands just aren’t allowed to die. Rage — who has been releasing albums since 1985 — has gone through a number of lineup changes over the years, but keeps marching forward with Speak of the Dead.
The first half of the disc is “Suite Lingua Mortis,” a sweeping power metal saga featuring the absolutely stunning work of the Minsk symphonic orchestra. The latter mixes far more gritty and modern elements, but not without leaving out their melodic side. It’s an interesting combination showcasing the entirety of what Rage has been about from the beginning while not letting latter day innovations pass them by.
Positives: There’s not enough to be said about how gorgeous it is to hear a full orchestra in a metal setting, particularly one recorded so well and mixed so high that it’s less atmosphere and more key to the song than anything else. “No Regrets,” the fifth part of the “Suite Lingua Mortis” epic, is a highly effective climax. Outside of the suite, “No Fear” provides the perfect contrast by not only kicking in your teeth, but also catchy.
Negatives: While there are a lot of bands who are making metal out of acoustic folk pieces, Rage seems more schizophrenic in a swing between brutal crunching and balladry that recalls the days of hair-band cock-rock. They’re experts in the ways of harmony, but the execution sounds somewhat dated with Bon Jovi-level overproduction. It all sounds great within the tiny scope of audience they target, but has limited appeal beyond that.
Cross-breed: Blind Guardian minus 75% of the Tolkien influence, or perhaps how one would expect Grim Reaper to sound if they were still around today.
Reason To Buy: Power metal fans will eat this up — it’s high quality power metal, too, so it shouldn’t irritate or annoy metal fans who can’t stand the genre. It’s very niche though, and its dated elements would likely turn off the general population.
