Rush
2112

The Rush announce their most experimental breakthrough after a predominantly hard rock beginning with this album.

"2112" while still very much tied to the Led Zeppelin-style influences of the early albums, presents a definitely much more experimental attitude compared to its predecessors, so much so that many identify it as the beginning of the band's progressive era; an experimentation not yet at its peak, a level that will be reached with subsequent albums, but these almost 40 minutes of music we are presented with, I can assure you, will excite all rock lovers. Six songs, one very long, the other five short, which alternate captivating hard rock melodies and pure Pink Floyd-like psychedelia.

The first track is precisely the long suite that gives the album its name: 20 minutes of true prog-rock, a very experimental start with strange sound effects, then a continuous alternation of hard rock parts and complex guitar weavings with sounds of waterfalls; all designed to leave you speechless. And after twenty minutes of attentive and never distracted listening, here comes a very peculiar "A Passage To Bangkok", certainly influenced by hard rock but with heavy ethnic cadences. Then, the exciting notes of "The Twilight Zone" based essentially on psychedelia thanks to delicate acoustic arpeggios. "Lessons", halfway between acoustic and electric, has a slight country flavor. The track worth glorifying is "Tears", an acoustic and above all atmospheric ballad thanks also to the keyboard background. And it ends beautifully with a gritty and energetic "Something For Nothing" which once again demonstrates their love for hard rock without sacrificing psychedelia.

Overall, an album of great depth, perhaps a step below those that will follow (the real masterpieces), but still with the merit of opening a cycle.