Album Review: Rage - Resurrection Day

There are some bands where there just isn't much to say anymore. Rage falls into that category. Other than the changes in lineup that now seem inevitable, the records keep coming with regularity, and they all fall into the category of being fine. There hasn't been anything about Rage in a long time that has set one album apart from the rest, and after years and years of getting the same decent album again and again, what exactly are we supposed to think? Good on Rage for continuing on, and good on them if they feel as inspired as ever, but it hasn't carried over to the audience, or at least not to me.

This being their twenty-sixth album (yes, you read that correctly), there aren't any surprises to be found on a Rage record. Like Motorhead before them, Rage is making music for the die-hard fans, with the minor variations being noticeable only by them. This record sees the return of a two-guitar lineup, but honestly, you can't tell from listening to the album. Guitars are almost always at least double-tracked, so whether it's one player doing it twice or two doing it once each, the record sounds the same.

Peavy Wagner's voice has held up well over the years, and he still has some big choruses in him, but the band splits their time between accessible metal and more aggressive thrash. You could argue that gives the record diversity, but the thrashier songs lack the melodic appeal that makes Rage enjoyable. The title track is the first real song on the record, and it sounds huge, both with the fist-pumping chorus and the orchestral backing. "Virginity" follows with a heavier approach, and it makes for a jarring juxtaposition, because the latter song has very little of a hook to it. Thrash doesn't have to be that way, but it almost feels like a couple of those songs are included to give Peavy a break from having to come up with a good song to riff around.

"Arrogance And Ignorance" could be an apt title, as the song begins with distorted vocals that must be there for a reason, but they sound so terrible I didn't want to listen to the rest of the song to see what came later. It's a perfectly solid song, but throwing in that unlistenable bit before each verse just means I'm going to turn the song off. There is harsh for effect, and there is harsh and painful to hear. This is the latter.

I like the heavy groove "Monetary Gods" sets up, but the song than turns into a bit of a slog as Peavy tries to get political, and ends up railing against the rich without establishing enough context for his complaints. It's not a deep enough dive into the issue he's writing about, so the sarcasm of the chorus could be taken at face value if you aren't paying close enough attention. For a band that isn't known for being funny or clever, it's a risk to ask the audience to take that trip with you. I don't think it quite works.

Look, there are twenty-five other Rage albums, and there's no way I can sit here and tell you this is the best of them. I have only heard a fraction of them, and this isn't even the best of those. It's perfectly fine, but I don't think Peavy quite knows what he wants this version of the band to be just yet. There's groove-metal, thrash, arena rock, and even a pirate-esque song. It doesn't hold together as an album, and I don't think the songs are all strong enough to work as a collection of random songs either.

Rage is Rage, and by this point, you already know if you like them. If you do, this album is more of what you want. If you don't, this album isn't going to change your mind.