Perfect Man('88): **1/2
Probably the least exciting Rage album I own, Perfect Man takes a while to get going, but really hits its stride through the middle. Songs like "Don't Fear the Winter" and "A Pilgrim's Path" show the early potential of Rage, while the final song "Neurotic" shows what a goofy guy Peavy is.

Secrets in a Weird World('89): ****
Secrets is the most consistent Rage album. Every song is of nearly equal quality, and although it has no standouts, it is an extremely solid album. Interesting songs include the instrumental intro by Prokofiev, and the 9:10, three part "Without a Trace."

Reflections of a Shadow('90): ***1/2
Rage slows up slightly for Reflections, and some even say softens up. But this album is nearly as good as the previous one. The title track and "Saddle the Wind" are two excellent, catchy songs. The final track, "Wild Seed" is one of my favorite Rage songs, with the great lyrics and and a beautifully placed " ". (You'll know what I mean when you hear it.)

Extended Power('91): ****
This is an EP, with five tracks. One is just a filler taken off Reflections, but the rest, including "Bottlefield," a "fun-version" of an old song, "Battlefield," and "What's Up," an instrumental jam, make for a very solid EP. And a secret four second sixth track!

Trapped!('92): ****1/2
By far the catchiest Rage album, Trapped! has some of the best Rage songs on it. Out like a shot, the first five or six songs make you sing along and jump around. It starts to fade a little towards the end, but only with respect to the beginning. If you're going to get one Rage album, this is the one to get.

Beyond the Wall!('92) ****
Another EP, this one combines the sounds of Trapped! and the Missing Link. It's just as solid as Extended Power. "Bury All Life" and "On the Edge" are great songs, "I Want You" is slightly disturbing, and the acoustic version of "Light Into the Darkness" is interesting, and kind of funny. It's exactly what you'd expect out of Rage between these two albums.

The Missing Link('93) *****
This album is one of the best albums I own. When I first heard Trapped! and The Missing Link, Trapped! seemed better. But over time, The Missing Link took over. The songs on The Missing Link aren't quite as catchy, but overall, they are more complex, and they stay strong 'til the end. The 9:39 "Lost in the Ice" gives insight into Peavy's strange fears/beliefs. Quiet-loud-quiet-loud "Raw Caress" is my favorite Rage song. "Firestorm," "Refuge," and "Certain Days" will all want to make you go out and beat the crap out of someone.

Refuge('95): ****1/2
Damn, is Rage cool. This is a four track EP/single. Of course, the title track, "Refuge," from "The Missing Link" is a great song. But the important stuff from this disc is the three other songs, all covers. Rage covers songs like no one else. They could probably make anyone from Oasis to the Spice Girls sound good. Here, they help out The Police, The Troggs, and The Mission, with "Truth Hits Everybody," "I Can't Control Myself," and "Beyond the Pale" respectively. The first could be a Rage song, just a great melodic, almost punkish, song. The second is the least interesting, just a little womanizing rock-n-roller, but it still is infused with that Rage energy. The last song is very interesting, it's a very subdued song, and it really highlights Rage's versatility. Damn, Rage is cool.

Black In Mind('95): ****
This is the first album of new material with Spiros Efthimiadis and Sven Fischer taking Manni's place on guitar. They aren't quite as good as Manni, but they can still get the job done. As suggested by its title, Black in Mind is darker and heavier than previous Rage albums. But that doesn't make it any less melodic. With fourteen songs and 68 minutes of music, some songs get forgetten, but "Black in Mind," "Alive But Dead," and "Sent By the Devil" stand out. "In a Nameless Time" essentially tries to repeat "Lost in the Ice," but doesn't do quite as good a job. "All This Time" is a ballad which finishes the album quietly.

Lingua Mortis('96): ***1/2
Lingua Mortis really shows what a mature band Rage has become. The guys got together with the Symphonic Orchestra Prague and recorded orchestral versions of several of their songs. But it's not just classical instruments, the band is playing and singing too. Actually I think I'd rather have it being entirely instrumental. Some of the quiet piano parts are quite beautiful. As the band said, it was "amazing to discover how much music is actually in our songs." It's difficult the give a rating to this album, since it's not exactly metal. But it's really cool, and if you think you'd be interested, you probably will like it. It's over 45 min., but there's really only 32 min. of new music on it.

End of All Days('96): ****1/2
With this album, Rage has taken the fusion of metal and melody to a new level. This is easily the most melodic Rage album, and quite possibly the most melodic metal album ever. It's less heavy than Black in Mind, but it's still enough to get you jumping around. The whole album is a little more raw, reminiscient of Perfect Man. The album structure is like Trapped!: the first bunch of songs are just incredible, and then there's a little bit of filler on the second half. But "Fading Hours" finishes the "official album" strong, and then there's still a cover of Iron Maiden's "The Trooper" which is pretty cool. Peavy no longer sings about his aliens, although they are still pictured. Now every song is about death, but death in a questioning, awe-struck view that only Peavy could have and convey. Get this album, and you'll never be able to get it out of your head.

Live From The Vault('97): ****
Sometimes, after listening to a mediocre live album like Gamma Ray's "Alive '95", I wonder to myself, "What's the point of live albums anyway?" Then I listen to a disc like this, and say, "Oh yeah, THAT'S the point!" It's hard to define, but Rage definitely offers something 'new' to the listener here...something that instills a burning urge to see a Rage concert. The songs are all from the new Rage era, with the exception of the Prokofiev intro and the cover of Metallica's "Motorbreath" (which, like all Rage covers, is incredible.) Two of the best songs off "End of All Days," "Visions" and "Higher than the Sky" are joined with "Sent by the Devil," "The Price of War," and "Shadow Out of Time" from "Black in Mind." A great song selection from the new era, except that not enough songs are included. I don't really understand why there aren't more tracks, since they must have played longer than thirty minutes. Oh well. I still don't feel ripped off in paying $21 for this disc. One thing that's a little strange is that it's a Japan-only album, and has live photos from a Japan show inside, but it was recorded in Germany. Go figure. Anyway, if you haven't heard live Rage before, you should give this album a listen. And then curse yourself for not being able to see them in concert.

Other Rage Sites: