CARESS OF STEEL

Here I am finally grappling with Rush, the progenitors of Heavy Prog. Very considered by fans of progressive in America, little considered in Europe (in Italy, at least). But just for this, I take care of Rush: I listened to them very carefully, trying not to be influenced from the evaluations of european critics.

This is the third album by this canadian group. The first that tries an evolution into prog. The first song "Bastille Day" (4:36, vote 7,5) is a good example of hard rock, Black Sabbath debtor. The second track maybe is the worse of the Lp. Not a really bad song but... a confuse song that goes nowhere ("I think I'm Going Bald", 3:35, vote 6). The guitar riffs (Alex Lifeson) are the best sound, in my opinion, produced by the record. The players are all very skilled, but what lacks so far is the musical writing, the composition. The third song is the slowest, almost a ballad, and it is definitely lacking in music ("Lakeside Park, 4:07, vote 6,5). The voice (Geddy Lee) is coarse and I confess that makes me regret Robert Plant. So far the rating would be two stars.

Here comes "The Necromancer", twelve and a half minutes, divided in three movements. A short suite. Maybe this long piece could take higher the rating... but after a recitative, the music starts, with a certain inertia and a good guitar arpeggio. Then the song stops again, in fact it is hard to take off, but here comes an instrumental part heavy rock and roll, rather forced. Finally with the guitar solo the mini suite can melt, and then you can also hear the great work on bass and drums (Neil Peart). Then comes a piece at high speed (speed rock?), with guitar virtuosity and great repetition. The problem in my opinion with heavy metal are precisely the forced and repetitive steps. Then the third movement begins, with another recitative, and with an acoustical passage. This mini suite in the complex is rather blurry. Vote 7+.

Average side A: 6,81. Vote side A: 6,5.

Side B is entirely occupied by "The Fountain of Lamneth" (19:50), suite divided into six movements, which starts slowly with a piece of acoustic guitar, then comes a hard rock part, followed by a tour de force on the drums, which finally takes place, leaving room for a moment of silence. Another movement, another forced hard rock part, another silence. I dont understand suite with a break between a movement and another. Then comes an acoustic ballad, maybe the best piece on the entire album. Then a silent pause again, following by an electric ballad and then by a powerful hard rock. Acoustic tail. What do I think about the suite? Alternates some moments of high quality and few moments of low quality, on the whole does not take of. Vote suite and side B: 7,5

This Lp does not convince me, it did not succeed (in my opinion) despite the great effort and great performance of the three musicians. The quality of the musicians and their high ambitions also allow the album to be more than dignified. It has opened new paths to prog, and is therefore a forerunner of the albums to come, which are definitely better achieved, have a much clearer focus.

Medium quality side A and side B: 7 Vote album: 7. Rating: Two (and a half) Stars.