Rage - Unity

*=Staff's pick	All I Want* Insanity* Down Set This World On Fire* Dies Irae* World Of Pain Shadows Living My Dream Seven Deadly Sins* You Want It, You Get It Unity Mystery Trip (Bonustrack Digi-Pack) Down (Videoclip Digi-Pack) Darkness Turns To Light (Japan Version)

Genre	Power Metal	Peavy Wagner	Vocals
Tracks	11	Victor Smolski	Guitar
Runningtime	51 Min.	-	Guitar
Label	SPV	Peavy Wagner	Bass
Release	27 May 2002	Mike Terrana	Drums
Country	Germany	Victor Smolski	Keyboards
Similar artists	---

Rage are back with their 20th (!) album since they took their first trembling steps back in 1985 under the name of Avenger, with Peavy Wagner as charismatic frontman. During these years they have grown to be one of europes most classic and respected metalacts, since not many bands can claim to have maintained such a high standard on the quality as Rage. They have always delivered good, solid metal and have been a reliable source for a good listeningsession of fine metal.

This album has in the pre-talks been described as an album that would bring us quite a bit back in their career - to the times of Black In Mind and Missing Link - where the focus were on basic metal with strong melodies and catchy refrains, and in this albums best moments - which are quite a few - we feel the beautiful wings of nostalgia sweep over our heads. Because this is a little step back to the great times when they produced hit after hit, but still this is taking yet new steps to the unexplored with one foot. Dies Irae, for example, is a very powerfula dn majestic song with strong choirs in operastyle and heavy riffs to create a very enchanting mood.

Unity brings us song after song that contain choruses that are potential classics already, and all is nicely wrapped around Victor Smolskis eminent guitarplaying. This is heavy, this is melodic, this is good, old Rage in a modern and fresh package. The first half of the album is breathtaking with 5 pure hitsongs, and by the time Set This World On Fire(which is one of the best songs ever come from Rage) and Dies Irae(extremely powerful and epic, but yet catchy) fades out it feels like the day is already saved, so to say, and the rest is just a very pleasant bonus. But it continues with a neverending enthusiasm and energy throughout the album, and no song falls under the high standard this cd carries.

They have decided to let the Lingua Mortis Orchestra rest for a while now, and concentrate on playing pure metal using Victor Smolskis eminent guitar as the main tool for our listeningpleasure. The riffs are brilliant - heavy, intelligent and very melodic in true Rage-spirit and the solos and leads are a pleasure to hear. Songs like Set This World On Fire, Seven Deadly Sins and You Want It, You Get It are among the most catchy, but yet heavy and headbangingfriendly they have written in years. An interesting fact is also that two wellknown musicians make guestappearance on this album: Hansi Kürsch from Blind Guardian and DC Cooper from Silent Force singing background vocals.

Overall the album contains some touches of progressive elements here and there - some riffs, some twists and turns, and some experementing with tempo occasionally - but that fact just serves as that extra spice to the whole soundpicture instead of bringing us to the outer realms of metal - this is metal to the core. The only exception is the - i must say it - totally useless instrumental titletrack Unity that in my eyes only takes up 7 minutes of valuable space from other and better songs. I will never stop being amazed over the fact the Rage almost spit out record after record with never below 12-13 songs of which 75% holds very high quality in a tempo that are nearly uncomprehesable, considering the fact that they actually do tour too, and they also manage to make it sound fresh and interesting from album to album.

I have always claimed that Peavey Wagner is somewhat of a genius, and this didn't give me the slightest reason to reconsider that thought. This is not THE metalalbum of the year as some people already have named it, but an album that definitly will end up high on the "best-of-lists" sometime around new years this year when it is time to sum it up.

Production	Vocals	Compositions
8	8,5	8

Summary
8 chalices of 10 - Tommy