RAGE
Execution Guaranteed
(Dr. Bones Lethal Recordings)
114:01min

The is the second album under the RAGE name, and the third if we count the AVENGER era. The difference between what nowadays is RAGE and this early efforts (I will say up to “Perfect Man”) is for me noticeable. I feel that some of their albums after this one were way too experimental, or mid-tempo, or orchestral, whereas RAGE as its name implies, must be fast! Although they do have a quite big discography, and some of their latest material is very much in line of their early efforts, I feel that the early days of this band were the best. Their style is that of a traditional Heavy / Speed / Power Metal band, but their songs have more hooks than a butcher’s warehouse. I always thought RAGE was on its way to becoming a bigger band, and although they have a loyal following and great songs, for some reason they never broke that barrier to be bigger. Well, back to this album, it comes in a deluxe 2 CD edition, one containing the remastered version of the album, and the other with an original mix. Ok, yes there are some differences between one and the other, mainly the re-mixed one sounds louder, more powerful, but the original mix has more of a dynamic range and that rawer sound that some nostalgia fans are wanting to get. Although the original Noise CD versions are not that hard to find and not expensive, it is good to see this material to be in print. If you have never ever experienced the music of RAGE for any reason, this is a must have album, of nothing but pure Speed / Heavy / Power Metal as it was done in Europe in the late 80s. Comparisons to METALLICA and early ANTHRAX were sure to rise back in the day, but to me Peavy and Co. were always in their own league. They do have a lot of classical music influences but they were also very heavy and liked to play fast, which is something few bands were able to do, and I just love Peavy’s vocals. Some thought they were too melodic for the music, but they do fit very good and listening to this album, I can only say that it was right. RAGE used to compose songs that were Heavy Metal maniac hymns, and since the AVENGER debut up to this and the next RAGE albums, there are many songs that are classics. Ok, almost everyone knows songs like ‘Don’t Fear The Winter’ but let me tell you that there are many similar style (and far better! – Frank) songs on the early albums like the killer opener ‘Down By Law’. A real Metalhead collection cannot miss early RAGE and this album has some of the heaviest songs the band has ever done. In this case I find the remastered edition very good, and although maybe some more extra songs would have been better (there is only one bonus song) this is the kind of album that is worthy in any edition done. Oh yeah and the new RAGE album has a new version of an AVENGER song so the guys are on track again. Speed Metal forever! www.rage-official.com, www.facebook.com/rageofficialband

Julián “Streetwolf” Núñez

Julián “Streetwolf” Núñez

Related reviews / interviews:
RAGE - Reign Of Fear (Thomas Reitmayer)

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