Unity
SPV
Unity is I believe Rage's sixth or seventh album (sorry, I lost track.) This band is still going strong in Germany and throughout Europe. But there's always been something about this band that just doesn't click. Take the opening track, "All I Want," as an example: It opens with that standard classic-metal drum-intro (we've all heard this before, whether it be the intro to Diamond Head's "Am I Evil" or the mid-break in Purple's "Child In Time"), than into this superb power-metal riff, and then the cheesy vocals kick in (after a cookie-monster grunt, of course!) over this funky rock beat, then back into German power metal mode, before the song is crucified with a cheesy '80s rock chorus! That song pretty much describes Rage's music as a whole. I don't know whether I love it or hate it. I do appreciate their diverse metal style but the tunes are just too hard to get into...one minute your banging your head to a killer power metal riff and the next minute it's Stryper! (It's not that bad, but you get the picture.)
A great production courtesy of Charlie Bauerfeind (who also produced Blind Guardian's latest epic) helps compliment Rage's rage and power, and the musicianship is undeniably excellent, particularly that of guitarist Victor Smolski who provides some blistering Blackmore-ish leads throughout the disc.
There is one definite standout track, that being "Dies Irae," which contains a church-choir chorus that is not only brilliantly original, but powerful as all hell, showing hints of Therion. The song also contains an excellent lead break, even though it doesn't fit in with the song at all, but it's still commendable. For a power-trio, this band certainly delivers musically, but vocally, I just can't get into it. Bassist/vocalist Peter Wagner isn't necessarily a bad singer, it's just that his voice doesn't fit in with the music. My suggestion...add a killer vocalist/frontman into the fold and you will have a band to be reckoned with! BN
Shockwaves CD REVIEWS ISSUE 8 Page 18