Rage
21

It is now clear to almost everyone that metal is not experiencing one of its best moments, on the contrary: useless bands are rampant, inflating and ruining a genre that exploded in the '80s as a movement of rebellion embodied by bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica, and many others of notable importance. However, the trend has become negative, and the genre has begun a long and inexorable descent that is only made less ruinous by some episodes and a few exceptions that pop up here and there.

The Rage can be considered one of those small big exceptions, even more so after "21", understandably the twenty-first album of their artistic career. A German band born in the now prehistoric 1983, which has established itself as one of the most reliable entities in classic metal, not only in Europe. Naturally, they have also faced criticism, especially being accused of excessive transformation, as if the Teutonic band wanted to win over other fans as well. But the so-called "transformation" is due to the fact that 21 studio albums have shaped an experience that has allowed the leader Peter "Peavy" Wagner to vary Rage's offerings multiple times: there have been more power, heavy, speed, and symphonic phases. But despite this coming and going of metalliferous subgenres, one thing can certainly be affirmed: Rage remains one of the few (very few) European entities playing heavy metal still worthy of that name.

The confirmation is indeed "21", a powerful and "vintage" album as the undersigned had not heard for some time in this genre: and if we really want to say it all, Peavy's latest creation is also laden with a good dose of thrash. All combined with modern production that highlights the sounds and makes the CD compact and blemish-free. The title track brings back a band in great shape that winks at the Megadeth of the past, to say nothing of the steel hammer blow "Forever dead": an aggressive sound, captivating vocal lines, and a chorus that delivers. Lost heavy metal, the real deal. In the opinion of the writer, the highlight of the album alongside "Psycho terror", another metal gallop of ancient memory.

Compared to the recent past, "21" is a decidedly more "heavy" album, much closer to thrash than to power. Try it and believe it with "Serial killer", probably one of the toughest songs ever composed by the band. This damn brutal soul is paired with a more melodic one (naturally in the Rage style) that can be perceived in tracks like "Feel my pain", "Death romantic", and the concluding "Eternally". Important for the sonic construction of the pieces, besides Wagner's aggressive voice, is especially the six-string of Victor Smolski, with solos that are never trivial or cloying.

Here, then, is a heavy metal album in 2012 as it should be: powerful but never obsequious, and above all well-played and composed. The platter in question confirms that those who want to produce good music can still do so. There is nothing else to do but pay the rightful honor to the immortal Peavy.

1. "House Wins" (1:30)
2. "Twenty One" (6:16)
3. "Forever Dead" (6:20)
4. "Feel My Pain" (5:41)
5. "Serial Killer" (5:45)
6. "Psycho Terror" (6:58)
7. "Destiny" (5:13)
8. "Death Romantic" (5:59)
9. "Black And White" (5:21)
10. "Concrete Wall" (3:49)
11. "Eternally" (5:09)