Rage - Seasons Of The Black - review
Rage - Seasons Of The Black - review
Tracklist
Disc I01. Season Of The Black
02. Serpents In Disguise
03. Blackened Karma
04. Time Will Tell
05. Septic Bite
06. Walk Among The Dead
07. All We Know Is Not
08. The Tragedy Of Man - Gaia
09. The Tragedy Of Man - Justify
10. The Tragedy Of Man - Bloodshed In Paradise
11. The Tragedy Of Man - Farewell
Disc II [Limited Edition CD / LP / Digital bonus tracks]
01. Adoration
02. Southcross Union
03. Assorted By Satan
04. Faster Than Hell
05. Sword Made Of Steel
06. Down To The Bone
A review by
D.T. Metal July 29, 2017
Let's disregard everything after End Of All Days because 2016's The Devil Strikes Again, the first album with the new members, was advertised to be a comeback to the older sound of Rage. Some people liked the album, some didn't, I assume folks were just too used to Smolski's way of doing things; good, bad or indifferent I might add. I liked their new effort and I think this year's Seasons Of The Black might even surpass its predecessor.
Neoclassical atmospheric theatrical guitar sounds...well, I for one like Rage with their rough, gritty, dirty tried and true way of riffing. Some songs on the album, "Walk Among The Dead" in particular, could have been on 1995's Black In Mind. It seems that the new guys found their place within the band and the once lost harmony is restored.
While I don't want to dismiss Victor Smolski's accomplishments during his reign, Marcos brings the traditional riffs back to life and his solos, while not as plentiful, do assure the listener that Rage haven't lost their heaviness. Vassilios Mani?, too long of a name, in short Lucky, takes complete control over his kit and adds the rhythm to Peavy's bass thumping.
Mid-tempo groove laden songs such as "Septic Bite" don't take away from the heaviness of Seasons Of The Black; even though I thought the dinosaur roar at the end was a bit cheesy. "Time Will Tell" not only is one of the strongest tracks on the album, but also convinces with a perfect solo and very catchy chorus.
"Serpents In Disguise" will satisfy any Rage fan due to its familiar song structure and once again Marcos's solo gives the song the little extra, while the soft spoken words at the end fit perfectly.
"The Tragedy Of Man"; this opus is separated into four different parts. "Gaia" - a one minute long softly sung intro to the rather happy-go-lucky, peppered with great riffs and solo, "Justify", before continuing with, probably one of the toughest songs on the album, "Bloodshed In Paradise". Headbanging galore on this track for sure and it's also the darkest song on the album.
While "Farewell" is not only the closer, it is also the longest song on Seasons Of The Black. A kick ass ballad and fans of the early 2000 era of the band will sure like this one a lot.
Birds chirping at the end - "farewell my friend, good-bye" - indeed Peavy, indeed - farewell until the next album.
Written on 29.07.2017 by
Written on 29.07.2017 by
Former boss lady. Now just a professional concertgoer... dangerously armed with a camera! Comments
Comments:
5
Visited by
233 users
|
Posts: 1208  |
Posts: 1208
Well, I may give it a try but from your review I can clearly see that you didn't like much from the Smolski era while I enjoyed it a lot...
Loading...
|
| Posts: 4193 |
Posts: 4193 Written by s_t_s on 29.07.2017 at 09:50 Well, I enjoy most of Rage's albums. Wouldn't say I didn't like the Smolski era ones, just prefer the less 'dramatic' approach of guitars 
Loading...
|
 Posts: 8258 |
Posts: 8258
Well I have only heard "Blackened Karma" and "Season of the black" so far and I liked them both. I also prefer my heavy metal gritty and rough  so I will definitely give it a try My favourite Rage album is the one they put out as Avenger..
Loading...
|
|
Posts: 1208 |
Posts: 1208 Written by nikarg on 29.07.2017 at 20:47 I have just listened to "Season of the black" and I have to admit that it seriously kicks ass ! Think I already listened to "Blackened Karla" but it left me with no noticeable impression... Need to check it out again. One thing is sure tho, RAGE is still doing their stuff with passion !
Loading...
|
|
Posts: 298  |
Posts: 298
Have listened to it in full already. Good album, though I more liked the previous one. And for sure, is amazing to see that a band with such lenghty catalogue is still able to release great stuff, and most important, and as mentioned above, with passion.
---- Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
Loading...
|
Hits total: 8119 | This month: 3