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The 90s are known in the metal genre landscape more for the birth of new musical trends that were forming during those years, like Nu (Korn, Limp Bizkit), Alternative (Nine Inch Nails), or Stoner (Kyuss). Although the heavy genre had already said a lot between 1982 and 1987, there were other bands trying to revive that genre which had gradually been overshadowed over time. Indeed, the attempts of Hair/Glam Metal bands, which gained fame in the first half of the 80s, to incorporate influences from the aforementioned genres into their new albums in hopes of regaining fame, mostly ended in failure. Skid Row, Warrant, Motley Crue, Poison, Tesla, to name a few.
Germany was the nation where the heavy genre was not yet completely overwhelmed by this wave of change, and where bands like Running Wild (who were at the peak of their popularity in that era), Grave Digger, Accept, and Axxis still stood strong. Among them, Rage might be the ones who stayed the most consistent with their music, both looking at the past and now. Emerging in 1985 under the name "Avenger", and later in 1986 as Rage, the band led by Peavy Wagner has always shown a consistency and perseverance in their career like few others. Anchored to a speed/heavy metal style in the beginning, characterized by Wagner's hoarse and powerful voice, in 1996 Rage collaborated with the Lingua Mortis Orchestra to create a project that allowed Rage to add symphonic and orchestral elements to the band, a project that would see its fullest expression in works like "Lingua Mortis" (1996) and "XIII" (1998). It's precisely between these two albums that the record I am going to review, "End Of All Days", finds its place, an album that stands out for recalling the early days, especially works like "Trapped! (1992) and "Perfect Man" (1988), but adding a fierceness and a more insistent search for melodies.
There are indeed two characteristics that make this album one of the most beautiful of the German band, and which will also be the most appreciated by fans of the more direct and sparse period of the band. Melody and power. Explosive tracks like the opener "Under Control", with a chorus repeated over and over again to get stuck in your head, and "Deep In The Blackest Hole" are proof that Rage, even though they embraced a significant musical change with the LMO, demonstrate that they haven't forgotten their roots. Another track to highlight is "Let The Night Begin", where the drums become the true protagonist of the piece. Connecting to melody instead, there are more paced songs characterized by stunning guitar solos such as in "Fortress" or the more digestible but still superb title track "End Of All Days". There is also space for a piece supported by a piano and accompanied by a violin, with the piano played by Peter Wagner, namely "Fading Hours", which I personally find excellent, but would have been more suited for orchestral albums like "Ghosts" or "XIII". More mysterious and dark however are "Desperation" and "Voices From The Vault", which in the listening seem to be connected by a single thread, and contribute to composing an excellent melody. No less effective is the cover, as simple as it is effective, depicting the group's mascot, the Soundchaser, a monster similar to an alien that would accompany Rage for almost their entire career and whose story would be explained in the album "Soundchaser" (2003). But that is another story.
In a decade where the Heavy genre was gradually disappearing and becoming less appreciated, Rage represented a real lifeline for many genre lovers. It should obviously be noted that "End Of All Days", according to Wagner himself, was not an album released just by chance. After the turning point album with the Lingua Mortis Orchestra, many fans did not appreciate the change of sound made by the German trio, and they released this album precisely to reconcile with their fans. The releases with the LMO still represent the compositional peak of the band for many supporters, which means that over time many albums once deemed horrors get reevaluated, becoming the crown jewels of a group.
Peace made? I’d say yes.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Under Control (04:06)
Like a kiss of evil it took hold on me.
Creeping paranoia, it will get me day by day.
Like the deadly viper with it's poisoned teeth
it is getting in my blood, a killing brain desease.
Oh, no, the thrill became a curse,
oh, the right has turned to wrong.
It's just me, myself to blame,
yes I could have seen it coming.
Now I'm a wasted man
this is 'cause I am under control.
Inside a self built cage,
screaming out the rage, under control.
Enslave my soul, I'm under control.
I can't live without it and I need it now,
what is I know about it will destroy me anyhow.
I have lost my free will, it's enslaving me.
Face inside me mirror let me out and set me free.
Oh, no, the thrill became a curse,
oh, the right has turned to wrong.
It's just me, myself to blame,
yes I could have seen it coming.
Now I'm a wasted man
this is 'cause I am under control.
Inside a self built cage,
screaming out the rage, under control.
Enslave my soul, I'm under control.
Yes, I am
02 Higher Than the Sky (04:19)
So, now my time has come.
I will be dead and gone
from the earth's face.
It is my destiny,
this time I cannot hide
from this cruel fate.
A never ending memory,
a life before my eyes.
Whatever comes, whatever's been,
my pocket full of lies.
Like an arrow in the air,
falling endlessly and I know we're gonna be
Higher than the sky, we're
higher than the sky.
An ordinary flight,
who could imagine this
will be our death cell.
No miracle in sight,
We're diving faster now,
as for as I can tell.
I see the faces passing by,
there's fear inside this eyes.
They all will be my company
we're brothers now for life.
Like an arrow in the air,
falling endlessly and I know we're gonna be
Higher than the sky, we're
higher than the sky.
So, now my time has come.
I will be dead and gone
from the earth's face.
It is my destiny,
this time I cannot hide
from this cruel fate.
A never ending memory,
a life before my eyes.
Whatever comes, whatever's been,
my pocket full of lies.
Like an arrow in the air,
falling endlessly and I know we're gonna be
Higher than the sky, we're
higher than the sky.
An ordinary flight,
who could imagine this
will be our death cell.
No miracle in sight,
We're diving faster now,
as for as I can tell.
I see the faces passing by,
there's fear inside this eyes.
They all will be my company
we're brothers now for life.
Like an arrow in the air,
falling endlessly and I know we're gonna be
Higher than the sky, we're
higher than the sky.
03 Deep in the Blackest Hole (04:23)
Hey, what have they done to you?
Say, do you mean what you do?
Just like a spark that fell aside, or what -
you're telling me you're happy but I know you're not.
I look into your eyes and see you heart is black.
Are you afraid of me or why don't you look back?
You're telling me to follow, do it like you've said,
you'll get me never, never, never...
What has happened to you life?
Do you really want it so, 'cause
I don't want to be like you, the time will come,
when everything too late
Deep in the blackest hole.
I'll never be like you and you will end
frustrated, full on hate,
deep in the blackest hole!
You don't like to see the world
like it is, you try to change it all.
You're in defense, only appologize,
you're telling me you're lucky but I know your lies.
I look into your eyes and see your heart turns red
like if you're wounded but no drop of blood is shed.
You don't look for a cure, instead you're hurting me,
You'll get me never, never, never...
What has happened to you life?
Everything you had is missing.
I don't want to be like you, the time will come,
when everything too late
Deep in the blackest hole.
I'll never be like you and you will end
frustrated, full on hate,
deep in the blackest hole!
What has happened to you life?
Do you really want it so, 'cause
I don't want to be like you, the time will come,
when everything too late
Deep in the blackest hole.
I'll never be like you and you will end
frustrated, full on hate,
deep in the blackest hole
05 Visions (04:17)
Headed away and took off in the sky,
the air was as bright as my mind.
And everything on the ground floated by,
a land of toys, undefined.
Glittering clouds that were puzzled in the air,
hiding a secret, not easy to share.
I've got visions and I can't
get then out of my mind,
it was a moment in time.
I've got visions and I can't
get them out of my mind,
what am I leaving behind?
I've got visions...
I saw a face that I'll never forget,
staring at me through the mist.
Leaving a trace that lead into my head,
the other side I have missed.
There in the hemispheres I caught a view in life
where all is streaming and nothing will die.
I've got visions and I can't
get then out of my mind,
it was a moment in time.
I've got visions and I can't
get them out of my mind,
what am I leaving behind?
I've got visions...
06 Desperation (04:55)
Oh, can't you tell me what makes me fell this way?
It's overwhelming, obscuring all my days.
Give me a reason to carry on for more.
The change of season, it undermines my core.
A constant darkness coating me,
I cannot see you, no more...
Excuse me for the things I've said,
if I could change it I'd be glad,
it is just, it drives me to desperation,
to desperation.
There's no solution, I'm heading for the end.
The consecution is lying in my hand.
A constant streaming, opening me.
I cannot feel you, no more...
Forgive me all the things I've made
for peace of mind, now it's too late,
it is just, it drives me to desperation.
Excuse me for the things I've said,
if I could change it I'll be glad,
it is just, it drives me to desperation,
to desperation
09 Fortress (03:56)
The wall inside, he built to defend himself.
He needs to hide, to keep independency.
The race is on, it can't be won.
A fortress in you head
one step among the dead.
Security for fear,
a fortress, caging in
for what you're here.
The pain inside, disappoinments everyday.
To keep his pride he can't find a better way (than)
to lock his mind, though he'll lose life.
A fortress in you head
one step among the dead.
Security for fear,
a fortress, caging in
for what you're here.
A fortress in you head
one step among the dead.
Security for fear,
a fortress in you head, oh.
A fortress caging in,
unreal behind your grin.
Security is lie,
a fortress caging in untill you die
13 Silent Victory (04:55)
Here we are, we talk about too many things.
But we can't
find the words when death is on it's way.
If we don't remember this
we won't be prepare for the final day.
A silent victory, it made me see
that all is meant to be,
my dearest friend, it's not the end.
Our time is short,
our castles built on sand of make believe.
At the gates of eternity the heart is free.
And I will remember this
something's there that's stronger than our pain.
A silent victory, it made me see
that all is meant to be,
my dearest friend, it's not the end.
A silence victory, it made me free
to step outside on me
and in the end I'm born again.
I reach out my hands to reality of life
far beyond all images.
And I will remember this
something's there that's stronger than our pain.
A silent victory, it made me see
that all is meant to be,
my dearest friend, it's not the end.
A silence victory, it made me free
to step outside on me
and in the end I'm born again
16 The Trooper (03:59)
[IRON MAIDEN]
You'll take my life but I'll take yours too
You'll fire your musket but I'll run you through
So when you're waiting for the next attack
You'd better stand there's no turning back.
The bugle sounds and the charge begins
But on this battlefield no one wins
The smell of acrid smoke and horses breath
As I plunge on into certain death.
The horse he sweats with fear we break to run
The mighty roar of the Russian guns
And as we race towards the human wall
The screams of pain as my comrades fall
We hurdle bodies that lay on the ground
And the Russians fire another round
We get so near yet so far away
We were meant to fight another day.
We get so close near enough to fight
When a Russian gets me in his sights
He pulls the trigger and I feel the blow
A burst of rounds take my horse below.
And as I lay there gazing at the sky
My body's numb and my throat is dry
And as I lay forgotten and alone
Without a tear I draw my parting groan
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By creative
"End Of All Days is certainly their masterpiece!!!"
"The melodies are so catchy that you find yourself humming them in your mind even on the street."
