Rage
Carved In Stone

You turn on the TV, just out of curiosity, and you're bombarded with dozens of silly little songs, with silly lyrics, sung by silly pseudo-artists. You switch to MTV, and it's full of annoying pseudo-rappers whining about their miserable childhood, surrounded by babes, swimming pools, villas, and big cars: at that point, you decide to take a walk because certain things really get on your nerves. And who do you encounter on the street? Hordes of flashy dudes heading to the nightclub, or pimply teenage girls drooling over the latest "Blue"; who systematically changes from semester to semester since the little girls get bored when their hero turns twenty-one. Amidst all this sadness, one might think "we're all screwed," but a true metalhead isn't intimidated by such depressing signs: and so, besides always keeping fresh the likes of "Master Of Puppets," "Iron Maiden," and "Painkiller," they blast the latest gem from Rage: "Carved In Stone" on the stereo, at full volume. The Germans have always produced quality albums, unlike almost all their peers who, more or less, have experienced a crisis period at least once. "Carved In Stone" is powerful, yet melodic and catchy. It makes you want to crank up the volume to unruly levels, but it can also appeal to those who aren't fanatics of the purest metal. Plus, Rage members are both likeable and badass, especially after ousting the former drummer who played metal without appreciating it: "He always wanted to get into the pop scene, he was unprofessional in the studio, and then tour dates came up that he has to do with Anastasia!" declared singer and bassist Peter Wagner: that's enough to affectionately bid farewell to the traitor, even if the new drummer is less technical: "at least he's got heavy metal in his heart!"

The sumptuous intro of the title track, powerful and captivating, opens the album. Even "Drop Dead!" is rock-solid and has a truly exciting chorus, as does the overwhelming "Gentle Murders": it pumps you up, advancing towards the chorus in a whirlwind crescendo of emotions, both tough and melodic. The metal riffs that shoot you are real face blasts! "Open My Grave" is introduced by oriental melodies, but soon explodes into a devastating, granite sound. The chorus, delightful, is accompanied by the opening riffs revisited in a heavy metal style. A sweet ballad, "Without You," comes from emerging sad rhythms and becomes gritty in a melodic refrain against a solid backdrop. A decent track, especially in the solo, is "Long Hard Road." The following three tracks follow the same script that delights the whole album: powerful sound, thundering riffs, and an engaging chorus: "One Step Ahead," "Lost In The Void" (its riff-laden escapades are fabulous), and "Mouth Of Greed," the latter particularly beautiful in the chorus. The finale is epic, with a "Lord Of The Flies" introduced by organs and choirs: in the middle part, it becomes more lively and solemn.

 The result is an exhilarating album. I give it 5 stars because I liked it a lot, just like I liked the debut work of the Italians Tarchon Fist: there will be no shortage of criticism, accusations of "calling every metal album a masterpiece," but I don't care about these comments: giving it the highest rating doesn't mean placing the album in a hypothetical all-time metal top ten, it's just a judgment that doesn't compare to other works. I like the album, it pumps me up, so why should I give it a lower rating? To please the know-it-alls? I don't think so. In fact, I dedicate this review to all those who will criticize it, and may a massive metal riff bring them back to their senses!!