Rage – The Soundchaser Archives
27th April 2014Isn’t it strange how some bands just seem to completely pass you by? German power metallers Rage have been going for 30 years and during that time have released 21 albums. And yet I have never knowingly ever heard a single track by them. So I received this album for review with some interest – curious to hear what I’d been missing all these years.
The Soundchaser Archives is a double CD (and bonus live DVD) album that has been released to celebrate Rage‘s 30th anniversary, and includes everything from “previously unreleased material to alternate versions, demo recordings and incomplete ideas“.
The album opens with new song ‘Anybody Home?‘. It’s a fast moving track with some decent riffs – and listening to it meant I had high hopes for the rest of the album. Unfortunately, the next track, ‘Mystery Trip‘ is a massive cheese-fest, and pretty much sets the tone for the rest of The Soundchaser Archives. I’ve never really been a huge fan of German power metal, and I found myself skipping track after track.
It’s not all terrible by any means, as there is the odd decent track – such as the catchy and heavy ‘Spiritual Awakening‘ – but, for me there is nothing groundbreaking or unique in what Rage are doing on this album. However, it is an album of previously unreleased material, alternate versions and demo recordings – so maybe it’s not a true representation of their music.
If you’re a fan of Rage, this is probably worth picking up. If, like me, you’ve never really heard anything of their stuff, but are curious to hear what they sound like, I’d give it a miss – and instead check out one of their more recent studio albums.
Score: 6 out of 10
ALBUM INFO
Tracklist
CD1
01. Anybody Home?
02. Mystery Trip
03. In Union
04. Long Hard Road
05. Full Moon (international version)
06. Nevermore
07. French Bourrée
08. A Perfect Day
09. Enough Is Enough
10. Here Comes The Night
11. Spiritual Awakening
12. Lost In The Void
13. The Missing Link
14. Another Kind Of Madness
15. Down To The Bone
CD2
01. The Speed Of Sound
02. Darkness Turns To Light
03. Death Is Alive
04. Gentle Murders
05. From The Cradle To The Grave
06. Refuge
07. Fugue No. 5
08. Last Goodbye
09. Dirty Wings
10. The Pit And The Pendulum
11. Waterfalls
12. Heads Off
13. Assorted By Satan
14. Shame On You
15. Soundchaser
DVD – Live At Masters Of Rock Festival 2013
01. Cleansed by Fire
02. From the Cradle to the Grave
03. Scapegoat
04. The Devil’s Bride
05. Empty Hollow
06. Lament
07. Suite Lingua Mortis:
– Prelude of Souls
– Innocent
– Depression
– No Regrets
08. Witches’ Judge
09. Straight to Hell
+ Interviews & Bonus Videos
Release Date
May 23rd 2014
Record Label
Nuclear Blast
Links
http://www.rage-on.de/
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialRage
Well, you said it, “maybe it’s not a true representation of their music.” This compiation is a kind of special release for the 30 th years of the band, something for the fans. It’s a shame that people with zero background in the music that’s been reviewing have to do this. I mean, your reiview doens’t say anything usefull about the songs in there, which ones are new, redone, or where do we find the original material in this compilation.
But at least in this this case you have been honest and said you “never really heard anything of their stuff”, and that instead this cd you might have to check out one of their more recent studio albums. I think you should check out not only the recent albums, which are great in my opinion, but also the ones made in the 2000’s and 90’s, (Trapped!, The Missing Link, Black In Mind, and others), hell, even in the 80’s RAGE has done great old school music.
RAGE is a great band, very diverse, i can’t find a single bad record made by them, of course they went through ups and lows in 30 year of carreer, but most of the releases are great heavy power metal music, with a thrash touch here and there. To me they’re different and better that a lot of “german power metal” bands, but that’s subjective.
Anyway, i hope you check out their back catalog, you will find great metal music. Cheers