Rage – Strings to a Web (4.5/5)

01. The Edge of Darkness 04:33 02. Hunter and Prey 04:33 03. Into the Light 04:24 04. The Beggar’s Last Dime 05:43 05. Empty Hollow 06:20 06. Strings to a Web 03:54 07. Fatal Grace 01:21 08. Connected 02:54 09. Empty Hollow 01:51 10. Saviour of the Dead 05:45 11. Hellgirl 04:13 12. Purified 03:48 13. Through Ages 02:06 14. Tomorrow Never Comes 03:41

Some of you may have noticed that the song ‘Into the Light’ was played in the 49th episode of the podcast. This song is in fact the first single of Rage’s brilliant new album ‘Strings to a web’.

Strings to a Web is astonishingly Rage’s 20th album and by God they still know how to write an amazing album. The album is made up of high soaring guitar solo’s, wild moving synthesized keyboard parts and a Power Metal style of sing along choruses. Everything you could possibly want and more from a power/symphony metal record can be found on this album.

The only problem is its title track - the song ‘Strings to a Web’. I was expecting something of higher quality, with sing along chorus’s and mosh worthy beat downs. (Everything you’d expect from a title track). But no the listener is given a 4 minute musical. No singing, No Heaviness seen in sight. Just pure soloing from the guitar, effects and filler from the keyboard. It frustrates me that when you listen to the rest of the album it’s all party anthems and music that you can mosh to, but when you come across this specific track it lets you down and the listener goes into shut down mode.

Strings to a Web contains 14 amazing songs and 1 ‘let down’ song. The album lasts for around an hour, but believe me when I tell you; it will be one of the most energetic/exciting hours of your life. When listening to this album for the first time I automatically became a fan. From never liking Power Metal, to becoming a fan. It was all Rage’s influence that kept me defending the Faith in this sub genre. So get your air guitars out and play ‘Strings to a Web’ hard!

Strings to a Web is available to buy or download at Play.com

Genre : Power Metal

Article by Matt Seddon