RSS Feed


RAGE
A New World Rising

Steamhammer / SPV (2025)
Rating: 7/10

Twenty-six albums into the career of Rage and it’s fair to say that there’s not much to say about the band that hasn’t been said before. When it comes to reflecting on the incredible career of this German outfit one can only applaud the consistency, Rage – forever fronted by Peter “Peavy” Wagner – has spanned the decades with ease, prolifically crafting great slabs of cold steel while somehow remaining extremely underrated. In fact it’s downright criminal how the metal mob is constantly overlooked when accolades are put out there, but as A New World Rising attests, this is a band impervious to the ignorance of others. Rage is a band somewhat immune to enemy fire; the metallic armour may sport a few dents but it’s an impenetrable shroud that enables the clan to march into eternity.

As with previous records – take your pick – A New World Rising offers the usual barrage of thrashy riffs and a message which, although more positive this time round, still can’t shake its dystopian edging. Everything Rage constructs is colossal, and in spite of the contemporary feel, it’s more just a case of extra polishing of the glinting steel. However, Rage has never been that straightforward in spite of what many people say and A New World Rising is very clever at providing a recognisable framework which, when fully navigated, features some interesting experimentation.

While you still get battered by the same potent Rage, the trio also injects a few less predictable moments such as the industrialised feel of ‘Fear Out Of Time’, the singalong chorus on ‘Freedom’ and a spine of playfulness and positivity throughout the album. Yes, the thrashy parts remain intact, but there are some very interesting progressive flecks dotted here and there too alongside some incredibly catchy passages, the end result being a surprisingly uplifting album that doesn’t sacrifice weight in spite of its positive nature.

I do prefer Peavy’s lower register rasps over the cleaner assaults which tend to show the cracks with age and appear too far forward in the mix. When it all comes together though, which it does most of the time, Rage is a volatile beast both robust and persistent. The album offers a batch of juggernauts, including ‘We’ll Find A Way’, alongside some more methodical rockers, like ‘Paradigm Change’, but whichever track hits you can be sure the melody will be strong. In fact, this could well be the most melodic Rage album of their career, an opus littered with infectious slices of groove metal (‘Next Generation’) as well as more subtle yet darker mid-paced reflection (‘Fire In Your Eyes’) and borderline power metal (‘Leave Behind’). I still prefer the more aggressive moments although they are less frequent. In fact, the album at its most hostile can be heard in the very early stages on ‘Innovation’ with its serrated axe work.

Rage are the musical equivalent of those veteran doormen you see at certain well manned nightclubs. They’ve stood, formidable, for decades, worn by time, but never once letting their reputation slip. Rage may not have followed the impressive Afterlifelines (2024) with a classic, but A New World Rising is another strong entry into their eternal discography.

Neil Arnold

<< Back to Album & EP Reviews



Related Posts via Categories
Share