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│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
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│ P R E S E N T S │
│ │
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│ + Rage - Wings Of Rage + │
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│ │
│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Rls Date..2020-03-14 Encoder......LAME 64bits version ║ │
│║ Genre.....Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year......2020 Khz/Bitrate..44.1 / VBR kbps ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper....The_Patriarch Songs........13 ║ │
│║ Source....LP Covers.......Yes ║ │
│║ Url..http://www.rage-official.com ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Rage ║ │
│║ Album : Wings Of Rage ║ │
│║ Label : Steamhammer ║ │
│║ Cat.No : SPV 289261 2LP ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Sometimes I like it when I'm wrong. I had previously ║ │
│║ semi-given up on one of Germany's (and indeed the world's) ║ │
│║ most veteran speed metal acts. Rage are one of the most ║ │
│║ consistently overlooked bands in the entire genre when you ║ │
│║ consider their popularity in proportion to the quantity of ║ │
│║ their output. Having released an album every year or two ║ │
│║ since 1986, making this their 24th full-length (!), I had ║ │
│║ grown bored of their stale formula and was especially ║ │
│║ disappointed in the last two efforts (The Devil Strikes ║ │
│║ Back and Seasons Of The Black respectively). I made it very ║ │
│║ clear that this was down to the absence of guitar-maestro ║ │
│║ and riff-master Victor Smolski, whose albums with Rage are ║ │
│║ for sure my favourites. He has since departed to form his ║ │
│║ own symphonic power metal project, Almanac, whose material ║ │
│║ I have greatly favoured. However, Almanac appear to have ║ │
│║ changed their approach this year and, for once, in the ║ │
│║ eternal battle of Peavy vs Smolski, I might just put my ║ │
│║ money on Wings Of Rage instead of the upcoming Rush Of ║ │
│║ Death. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Upon first listen, what hit me immediately about W.O.R. was ║ │
│║ the riff count. Not just the quantity, but the quality. ║ │
│║ This album is loaded with riffs that hit immediately, with ║ │
│║ impact and creativity. There are groovers ("Let Them Rest ║ │
│║ In Peace"), menacing crawlers ("A Nameless Grave"), ║ │
│║ thrashers ("True"), and of course speed metal classics (the ║ │
│║ title-track). I quite enjoyed some of the down 'n' dirty ║ │
│║ riffing on the previous two LPs, but Peavy has gone all ║ │
│║ riff-happy here in 2020 and it gives the album replay value ║ │
│║ like nothing else. Obviously, there are most positive ║ │
│║ aspects to this record than just riffs, and Peavy himself ║ │
│║ is one of them. He seems to have embraced his age (an ║ │
│║ impressive 55!) and now his vocal delivery is one of ║ │
│║ confidence, full of character and not afraid to make some ║ │
│║ creative decisions. I especially love his ultra-gruff ║ │
│║ moments, like the end of the second track: 'Let them rest ║ │
│║ in...PEEAAA-AUGH!' - followed by a ball-crushing riff and ║ │
│║ another 'OUGH!' for good measure. Metal. As. Fuck. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Beyond the lead work, drummer Vassilios Maniatopoulos does ║ │
│║ a sterling job of keeping the momentum driving forward with ║ │
│║ precision and control, and the bass rumbles in a ║ │
│║ satisfyingly metallic way underneath the maelstrom. The ║ │
│║ production quality is seriously tight, especially the ║ │
│║ mixing on the drums which are super snappy. Overall, the ║ │
│║ sound is one of crispness and grit - no better exemplified ║ │
│║ than on the fantastic re-recording of "Higher Than The ║ │
│║ Sky". This End Of All Days classic now sounds more ║ │
│║ aggressive, tighter and loaded with attitude. I love the ║ │
│║ positioning of the interlude, "Shadow Over Deadlands (The ║ │
│║ Twilight Transition)", which acts as a brief respite before ║ │
│║ the more progressively-tinged centre of the album drags you ║ │
│║ into its murky depths. This part of the LP, with the ║ │
│║ brooding "Don't Let Me Down" and the balladic "Shine A ║ │
│║ Light", will require more attention and repeats to fully ║ │
│║ enjoy, but only point out the strengths in the other ║ │
│║ segments of the record. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Overall, Wings Of Rage might be a track or two too long. ║ │
│║ Cutting the middle-of-the-road finale "For Those Who Wish ║ │
│║ To Die" would work better, leaving the album to properly ║ │
│║ climax on the furious riff that closes "Blame It On The ║ │
│║ Truth". But, truth be told, the quality of the Germans ║ │
│║ never dips below an acceptable standard on this LP, and ║ │
│║ even the lacklustre tracks are enjoyable to fans of the ║ │
│║ band if no one else. Among the soaring choruses, gritty ║ │
│║ riffs and blazing solos is the true heart of Rage finally ║ │
│║ trying to shine once more. Wings Of Rage is a considerable ║ │
│║ step up from what's been offered in recent years, and I'm ║ │
│║ finally excited about the power trio again. Just one final ║ │
│║ note: the artwork is awesome, and I'm really glad a band ║ │
│║ has finally referenced The Twilight Zone in a song - theme ║ │
│║ tune and all! ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ Disc 1/2 │
│ -------- │
│ 1. True 5:01 │
│ 2. Let Them Rest In Peace 4:30 │
│ 3. Chasing The Twilight Zone 4:29 │
│ 4. Tomorrow 5:01 │
│ 5. Wings Of Rage 4:31 │
│ 6. Shadow Over Deadland (The Twilight 0:33 │
│ Transition) │
│ 7. A Nameless Grave 6:00 │
│ │
│ Disc 2/2 │
│ -------- │
│ 1. Don't Let Me Down 4:52 │
│ 2. Shine A Light 6:43 │
│ 3. HTTS 2.0 3:29 │
│ 4. Blame It On The Truth 3:55 │
│ 5. For Those Who Wish To Die 5:20 │
│ 6. Shine A Light (Reprise) 5:11 │
│ │
│ │
│ Total Length : 00:59:35 │
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│ ╔═════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
│ │
│ │
│ │
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